Organizing after Christmas Chaos

Christmas is so much fun, but can also bring a lot of “stuff” into your home. These simple tips will help you organize after Christmas – without the stress! 

Originally published December 2013, updated December 2021 with additional photos, tips and video.

All of the gifts that we spend hours meticulously wrapping need to find a home – as well as the paper itself! Organizing after Christmas chaos can feel a little overwhelming, so I like to take the day after Christmas to organize our home for a much needed reset.

An otherwise organized home is often quickly covered in toys, clothes, boxes, plastic bags, dishes and laundry after Christmas. 

How to Organize After Christmas

Remove items from their packaging

Boxes consume more than double the space. Open items, maintaining any assembly instructions and recycle packaging.

Create a recycling “center”

For quick cleanup, I use a big box that a toy came in in the living room for all recyclable packaging to go in. I used another large box for the upstairs, which kept me from running to the recycle bin frequently.

Sort existing toys and donate while you still have a chance

The easiest time to openly donate clothes and toys is when something new enters the home.

Seize the opportunity (quickly) and talk to them about making room for their new toys and work through their toy room or bedrooms together to see what they are ready to let go of.

Rotate toys 

Move existing toys that you want to keep to a storage closet or basement when they’ll go unnoticed. Kiddos can be so enamored with their new, that for a short time, they won’t notice the old.

Again, take advantage of this opportunity while you can and rotate toys. In a month, you can rotate them again, bringing new life to the older toys you have chosen to keep. Use another large box or large bins (I use these bins) and pack old toys that you want to keep.

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Assess what you have and where it will go

If you’re like us, toys linger around the living room, because that’s where they were opened.

Divide into piles/areas. Separate clothes, bedroom decor and toys that will go to bedrooms for each individual. Separate anything that will go to a toy room or additional space.  

File away

Start putting it all away. This should be easier now that you have completed the previous steps.

While doing so, take it one step further and find additional items to recycle, donate or dispose of.  For example, when putting new clothes away see if there’s any you can eliminate. 

You can find all of my favorite storage solutions, including Christmas decor storage here!

Drop off donations

The sooner you remove things from the house, the more organized you’ll feel

Take down the greens

The day before your Christmas tree pickup, remove any fresh greens including your tree, Christmas Wreath and garlands so you can immediately take them to the curb, eliminating needles lingering in the garage. PS learn How to Keep Live Christmas Wreaths and Live Garlands Fresh

I hope you enjoyed these tips for organizing after Christmas. Now you can kick back, relax and enjoy a glass of wine and start thinking about the new year!

You can find all of my organization posts here with free printable labels to organize your laundry room and kitchen, beautiful ideas to organize your linens, organize cleaning supplies, organize paint colors, and SO much more!

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