Making Space for What Matters: Downsizing During the Holidays
The holiday season is a time for joy, family, and reflection but it can also be a time when our homes feel the most cluttered. Between Halloween decorations, Thanksgiving centerpieces, Christmas ornaments, and New Year’s party supplies, the boxes pile up quickly. For many people, these seasonal treasures represent cherished memories but yet year after year, we find bins of décor that never make it out of storage. The items that you don’t quite love as much or are too complicated to display.
If you’ve ever opened your holiday boxes and realized you only use a fraction of what you own, this is your sign: the holidays are the perfect time to downsize.
Start with the decorations you skip
As you unpack your Halloween pumpkins or Christmas lights, take note of what stays in the box. Are there items you haven’t displayed in years? Pieces that no longer fit your style, your home, or your family traditions? Those forgotten items could bring joy to someone else and lighten your own load in the process.
Before you start decorating, set aside a donation box. As you sort through each holiday bin, place unused decorations, linens, tableware, or even serving pieces in that box. When you’re done decorating, donate those items to a local charity, church, school, or community center. Organizations often welcome gently used holiday décor, especially before the season begins. Some of our favorite organizations are:
Fresh Starts Furniture Bank in Hudson
More than Words
Household Goods in Acton
Habitat for Humanity
Buy Nothing Facebook Groups
Give before you receive
The holidays are also a time of giving and receiving which means new items will soon enter your home. Whether it’s gifts, new kitchen tools for Thanksgiving dinner, or winter décor, making space ahead of time helps prevent clutter from creeping in.
Think of downsizing now as an act of preparation and generosity. Donating holiday items before the season begins allows others to enjoy them when they need them most. Do you have unopened gifts that you’ve kept year after year and never given? Donate them to Globe Santa. You’ll create more space in your home while supporting local families, shelters, or thrift organizations that rely on donations to brighten their clients’ celebrations.
Extend the mindset beyond the décor
Once you get into the spirit of letting go, you might find it’s contagious. That coat closet stuffed with old winter jackets? Old holiday books that you no longer look through? The set of guest towels you never use? These are great candidates for donation, too. Many local charities, veterans’ groups, and family shelters need warm clothing and household items before winter truly sets in. We love Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts and Vietnam Veterans who pick up donations from your front door!
Downsizing during the holidays isn’t just about creating space, it’s about creating peace. A simplified home lets you focus on the experiences that matter most: gathering with family, enjoying traditions, and celebrating without the stress of excess.
A fresh start for the new year
Finally, remember that the end of the year is a natural time for reflection and renewal. Starting January in a cleaner, more organized home can set a positive tone for the year ahead. By letting go of what no longer serves you, you make room both physically and emotionally — for new memories and opportunities.
At Downsizable, we believe downsizing isn’t about losing things instead, it’s about making room for what matters most. This holiday season, consider giving your unused décor and household items a second life. Your home (and your heart) will thank you.