Before the presents, decorations, family and friends arrive, get ready for Christmas with this expert advice to help you declutter and make space.
SIMPLIFY THE KITCHEN
Make space for Christmas food and add little touches so guests feel at home
- Throw away anything that's out of date. 'Remember, herbs and spices don't keep for ever. If you can't smell them, you won't be able to taste them,' says professional organiser Jon Ramsay of Clutterbee.
- Use the full height of cupboard shelves by adding internal 'step-up shelves' and hooks that hang on the inside of doors – try Store or Lakeland.
- Re-pack the larder. 'Take dry pastas and cereals out of bulky boxes and store in plastic containers. Non-essentials can be stored short term in the garage,' says Jennifer Sbranti of Hostess With The Mostess. Label anything ambiguous to avoid guests putting salt in their coffee. Containers with chalkboard labels can be updated when their contents change.
- Give yourself as much preparation space for the Christmas lunch as possible by clearing surfaces of clutter, or add extra work space with a butcher's trolley.
- On Christmas Day, it's natural for guests to gather in the kitchen with you. Set up a drinks table, away from where you're working, so they can celebrate without getting in your way.
- If you're stocking up on wine glasses but you don't have the cupboard space, try a wire stemware rack that hangs below overhead cabinets.
- 'If you have guests staying for a few days, put tea, coffee and sugar together on a tray next to the kettle along with cups, saucers and spoons,' suggests Jennifer. 'That way, you won't feel you have to keep offering.'
CREATE A WELCOMING HALLWAY
Greet guests with a festive entrance clear of muddy boots and bulky coats
- Curb the clutter before it spreads throughout the house. Store post on a console table and allocate a drawer for each family member.
- Don't let big coats take up all the space. 'If you're using coat hooks, add another row below the existing ones at child height to thin out the bulk. Both children's coats and adult jackets can be hung at this height,' suggests Jon.
- Position a freestanding cupboard, if you have the space, either in your hallway or on the upstairs landing to hold out-of-season jackets and shoes. Or move them into the loft temporarily to create space for guests' coats.
- Place an umbrella stand by the door so wet brollies never make it into the house.
- Hang a key rack and memo board on the hallway wall out of sight of the front door. Include an extra set of keys for guests so they can come and go as they please, and encourage older children to note on the memo board what time they'll be home.
BRING ORDER TO THE LIVING ROOM
Clear a way for the tree and create an elegant space you\'re proud of
- Be ruthless with things you no longer love. Invest in DVD boxes to keep home media tidy and sort into categories to help guests find something to watch.
- Make space for the Christmas tree. A bushy six-foot pine takes up a lot of room. Move furniture closer together or swing major pieces around for a better fit. Most living rooms are arranged so that every seat has a good view of the TV, but at Christmas, consider giving the tree this prime focus. If a big tree won't fit, two miniature potted trees either side of a fireplace will create a lovely focal point.
- While it's good to get rid of things, it's just as important to treasure the pieces you love. Store toys in boxes, so children still feel welcome to play, show off family photos and turn Christmas cards into a beautiful display.
- Keep your colour scheme calm. Too many colours can crowd a room just as quickly as clutter can. Interior designer Monique Kovnaty-Pienkowska of House Proud Interiors suggests a neutral palette for your living room, and then choosing just one or two colours that blend with the scheme to decorate the tree.
CREATE A HOMELY GUEST ROOM
Turn the home office, junk room or children\'s room into an inviting space for guests
- If your guest bedroom moonlights as a home office, start by paring back your paperwork. 'Sign up for online statements,' says professional organiser Beverly Wade of Cluttergone. 'Throw away manuals you can find on the internet and hard copies of documents that are on your email. Just ensure you've backed them up on a memory stick.' Keep paperwork and stationery in uniform boxes for a more bedroom-like atmosphere.
- Create space in the wardrobe so guests can unpack. 'It's not the clothes that take up space, it's the hangers,' says Beverly. 'Throw out bulky coat hangers and invest in matching slimline versions instead.' Pack away out-of-season clothes. 'Use vacuum bags to store spring/summer clothing,' says Jon.
- Make the best use of wardrobe space by dividing it up using boxes, baskets and tidies. A stylist's trick is to take a photo of what's inside each box and then stick the image on as a label.
- If you can't make space in your own wardrobe, or don't have any storage in the room where guests will be staying, invest in a hanging rail that folds out as a temporary place for guests to store a few clothes and keep them crease-free.
ORGANISE THE LINEN CUPBOARD
Making up beds is less of a chore with an organised linen cupboard
- 'Plan sleeping arrangements early, laundering pillows and duvets, and storing them together with the right-sized bedlinen,' says Beverly. 'Make matching sets easy to find by folding duvet covers around the sheets and pillowcases that go with them,' she continues.
- Always wash linens before you store them as some stains can set over time.
- In your laundry cupboard, label the edges of shelves with metal name plates to tell you what's kept where. This way you won't have to unravel perfect bundles of sheets and duvet covers to find out if they're singles or doubles.
TIDY UP THE BATHROOM
Turn a bathroom in disarray into a serene sanctuary
- Clear the basin area and the edges of the bath of messy toiletries. 'Put duplicated products in a box to store elsewhere and throw away any almost-finished bottles you won't use,' says Beverly.
- Hide cleaning products and spare toilet rolls in boxes, and then store them on shelves above eye level. Beverly also suggests putting the backs of doors to good use by investing in over-the-door hooks.
- Invest in a few sets of matching towels to add a touch of luxury to a plain bathroom and lift the whole scheme. They'll look luxurious stacked in piles.
- Greet overnight guests with an early Christmas present – a beautiful towelling bath gown will help them feel snug and comfortable at bedtime and allow them to linger over breakfast in style.
- Roll towels and arrange them in a basket to save space and create a luxurious atmosphere. Invest in a heated towel rack, which will keep towels dry and warm.
