The holidays are just around the corner, and you now have plenty to time to celebrate, relax, and most of all, catch up on all the cleaning you missed in the past few months. Yes, cleaning. You have to do a bit of cleaning to prepare for the holiday unless you want to lump your decorations with all that’s cluttering your home.
You don’t have to tidy your entire home in one go. Prioritize your living room for now since its where the decoration will be put up and where you’ll be entertaining guests. That said, here are some simple tips for decluttering your living room this holiday season.
Sort Items
Another year has passed by, and it’s only natural that you’ve accumulated a number of items, which are probably cramping your living room. Now, it’s time to sort them out and determine which ones have to go.
Before you start, prepare four boxes or bags for things you’re going to keep, donate, throw, or sell. Go through all areas of your living, from the shelves to the coffee table, and get rid of everything that you don’t have a use for.
You can throw away old magazines with outdated content, but books can still be donated. Your nonholiday decor pieces may be out of season now, but you will have to take them out after the holidays, so keep them for later. There may be some item in good condition but don’t want to keep, so you can earn some extra cash by selling these things online.
Your living room deserves a new look for the new year. Why not try a different vibe like a relaxing nautical home decor to freshen up your home and keep things interesting?
Clear Out Damaged Furniture
It’s not just small items that you need to remove from your living room. Broken furniture also needs to go unless they can be fully restored. It’s not just a matter of being clutter-free, but it’s also for your safety that you need to remove defective furniture in your living space.
You never know when a wonky cabinet or shelf will collapse or a defective glass table will fully crack. Better be safe than sorry, and clear out damaged items from your living room.
However, you don’t have to throw out your furniture if the problem is superficial like dull paint or minor scratches. Restore an old piece’s shine with a new polish or paint job.
Get Smart on Storage
Organization is key to a clutter-free space. That said, you should have a system to organize your living room. Books, magazines, decor pieces, and remote controls—everything must have their place while maximizing whatever space you have.
Use chairs that double up as organizers, such as an ottoman that’s also a storage box or a bench with shelves under the seat. Instead of a regular coffee table, you can use a large chest as a centerpiece in your living and store your extra throw pillows and blankets inside.
Cabinet, drawer, and shelf space can also be optimized by using dividers to organize the items inside. Add hooks on open walls to store coats, jackets, hats, and scarves.
Take advantage of open wall space by install floating shelves to replace cabinets and table. If you want to expand your living area without doing a renovation, embrace vertical storage to clear more floor space.
Clean from Top to Bottom
Once you’ve gotten rid of all the litter in your living room, the next and final step to make the room tidy and clutter-free is to clean everything from top to bottom. Take your favorite cleaning supplies and start dusting, wiping, vacuuming, and mopping.
Gather all supplies, and place them in one area. Prepare the basics in a caddy, including microfiber cloth, all-purpose cleaner, and disinfectant spray. Start with the ceiling, but don’t forget to cover your couch or move it back to avoid getting dust on it. Then proceed to wipe windows, shelves, cabinets, and tables.
When wiping away dust, use a damp cloth as a dry one will not remove the dust but only move it along. Make sure to dry the surfaces and remove residue to avoid stubborn watermarks. Use the right products for different surfaces, and make sure that they don’t contain chemicals that are harmful to your health and the environment.
You can follow these helpful cleaning tips from professional cleaners to declutter your living room like a pro.
Let Natural Light In
Sunshine is not just for giving you that much-needed dose of vitamin D, but it’s also essential for sanitizing your home. A new study published in the journal Microbiome has found out that sunlight can eliminate germs in your home. It also helps clean the air indoors and relieve symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Sunlight is also necessary for houseplants to stay alive and work in improving the indoor air quality. Plus, it helps warm up your home this cold season and gives you the perfect lighting for an Instagram-worthy picture of your home. So why not open those curtains, keep them parted with fancy curtain holders, and let all the warm and germ-killing sunshine in?
Last Thoughts
Don’t wait for spring to get your living room all cleaned up. The holidays are the perfect time to tidy the space and be confident in displaying your holiday decors and entertain guests. In the spirit of the season, you can donate your used items that still in good condition to people who are in need and greet the coming year with at least one major part of the house clean and clutter-free.
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