6 Pre-Holiday Declutter Moves That Make Hosting Way Easier

Most “getting ready for company” advice focuses on cleaning, not on all the stuff that makes cleaning slow in the first place. If you declutter a few key spots before the holidays kick into high gear, the actual hosting part gets a lot easier—you’re not digging for serving spoons or clearing a chair every time someone sits down.

These moves don’t take forever, but they pay off all season.

1. Edit your serving pieces and drinkware

Casserole dishes, big bowls, platters, and extra cups are the first things you’ll reach for when people show up—and the first things to make your cabinets feel packed. Pull everything out and be honest: what do you actually use for company?

Keep the pieces that stack well and serve multiple purposes. Donate the oddly shaped, chipped, or “someday” items. When you can grab a platter without starting an avalanche, hosting instantly feels less stressful.

2. Clear one fridge shelf and a freezer section

Holiday food needs somewhere to land. If your fridge is already full of old leftovers, random sauces, and things no one touches, you’ll be juggling dishes like a circus act on the day of.

Do a quick fridge and freezer sweep: toss anything expired, freezer-burned, or unrecognizable. Consolidate duplicates. Your goal is one open fridge shelf and a bit of freezer space. When guests bring dishes or you prep ahead, you’ll have room instead of rage.

3. Simplify the entry area

Guests and Amazon boxes are going to hit the same spot—your entry. If that area is already full of shoes, backpacks, mail, and random stuff, it’ll look chaotic the entire month.

Cut shoes down to the few pairs each person actually wears. Move the rest to closets. Clear off any console or shelf so there’s room for keys, small gifts, and a candle or lamp. Give coats a real home—hooks, a rack, or a cleared-out section of a closet.

4. Thin out living room blankets and pillows

You want the living room to feel comfortable, not like a pillow warehouse. Too many textiles make it hard for guests to sit down without feeling like they’re ruining your arrangement.

Pick a reasonable number—maybe four pillows and two throws in the main room—and pack the rest away for now. When every seat is easy to use, the room automatically feels more ready for people.

5. Empty the “junk” half of your dining table

If your dining table doubles as a dumping ground, hosting becomes complicated fast. Packages, mail, craft projects, and school things all have to be relocated before anyone can eat.

Commit to clearing the table completely at least once before the season gets busy. Sort what you can and place truly unsorted items in one bin to tackle later in a quieter room. Once that surface is open, it can flex for puzzles, food, or extra seating without drama.

6. Make space in the guest bathroom

Even if guests are family, they don’t want to wade through your entire bathroom routine. A crowded sink and cluttered back-of-the-toilet shelf make the space feel chaotic.

Clear the counter down to soap and maybe a candle or small plant. Put extra products in a basket under the sink. Make sure there’s room for guests to set a toiletry bag or makeup pouch down. Hosting feels a lot easier when you know the bathroom situation isn’t stressing anyone out.