Christmas

9 things to get rid of between Christmas and New Year’s

Be ruthless and start the New Year fresh!
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If you find yourself at home during the Christmas and New Year’s Eve break, it’s a great time to declutter and reorganise your home.

Take stock of what’s around you and look to getting rid of unwanted and unused items that create disorder in your life, so you can start the New Year fresh and clutter free.

Here are 9 common clutter culprits to get you started!

1. Wrapping and packaging

Now that you have your loot safely home and hung, stored or put on display, throw away the box it came in. If it’s unmarked and you’re likely to reuse it, make sure you have a place to store it first, or press it straight into service as you pack away your Christmas decorations in coming weeks. Otherwise, recycle it.

2. Old containers

If your home has been a revolving door of guests and parties to attend with plates of food, now is a good time to gauge which food containers simply don’t suit your needs.

You can repurpose these containers in your own home (they often come in handy when organising a pantry). If they’re still in good condition, consider donating them to an op shop or contact your local council to find out how to recycle the containers correctly.

Organised butler's pantry with open storage
Now is a great time to get rid of any damaged or unnecessary food containers. (Credit: Photography: Simon Whitbread | Styling: Corina Koch)

3. Old swimming costumes

With summer well and truly underway, it’s time to sort out old swimmers and beachwear you haven’t embraced this season and part company with them. Go through clothes drawers and laundry for towels and sarongs that are past their best and donate, or cut up for rags.

4. Summer shoes

Like swimwear, summer footwear gets a big workout in the summer months and the sun, sand and sea can take their toll on sandals, thongs and sneakers. If you’re not wearing them, they’re simply taking up valuable space so, if you find yourself reaching past a couple of pairs in favour of newer ones, either give shoes a wash and a polish to freshen them up for the season, or toss them out.

Organised mud room
Shoes are stored out of sight in this well-organised mudroom. (Credit: Photography: Louise Roche | Styling: Kylie Jackes)

5. Platters

Serving platters are one of the most cumbersome items to store and must earn their keep on big occasions. If you didn’t use it this Christmas, let it go.

6. Christmas cookware

It’s actually a great time to donate seasonal kitchenware items that you’ve grown out of or have replaced. With the feasts of the festive season still fresh in our heads, people are more likely to appreciate their worth.

Classic kitchen with a pavlova on the island bench
Seasonal kitchenware can be stored up high where they won’t interfere with everyday cooking items. (Credit: Photography: Simon Whitbread | Styling: Nonci Nyoni)

7. Christmas cards

Shocking, but true! Christmas cards are a joy to receive and form part of the celebration at the end of each year, but they are not designed to clutter your life all year thereafter. Store with your Christmas decorations only if you have a craft idea in mind for next year, otherwise, read again, enjoy update your own list of recipients and… recycle!

8. Toys

This is the time kids will feel less attached to their old toys and more interested in the new stash they’ve received, which you may well be struggling to find space for!

If it’s still a challenge getting them to let go, remind them how happy they were to receive toys at Christmas and encourage them to give other children that same joy by way of donating them to charity.

9. Broken, unwanted or outdated Christmas decorations

Fix what you can, store the rest with care and chuck out those you continue to leave at the bottom of the box each year.

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