Prepare your home for the holidays with this simple 10-day Christmas Declutter Challenge. Spend just 15–20 minutes each day to clear out clutter, create space for new gifts and decorations, and make your home feel calm and welcoming. Below you’ll find the full plan and a printable checklist to keep you on track.
Table of Contents
Create room for new gifts, favorite decorations, and holiday guests with this approachable daily plan. By the end of the ten days your home will feel lighter, your routines simpler, and you’ll be better prepared to enjoy the season.
Declutter for Christmas Challenge Details
Keep each task to 20 minutes or less. The aim is steady progress, not perfection. Do what you can each day and you’ll notice a big difference in how your home looks and feels.
If you like checking boxes, there’s a printable checklist available to help you track progress. Enter your details where prompted to receive it.
Day 1: Walk your house with a donation box
Start with an easy win: a quick walk-through to gather donation items.
Grab a box—a spare shipping or storage box works well.
Walk each room and add items you no longer need: unread magazines, clothes you don’t wear, duplicate gadgets, or broken items. Separate trash and recyclables as you go.
Keep the donation box accessible so you can add to it during the rest of the challenge.
Day 2: Declutter wrapping paper and supplies
Get your wrapping area organized so gift prep is quicker and more pleasant.
Sort wrapping supplies: go through paper, ribbons, gift bags, and bows. Toss unusable scraps and badly wrinkled paper.
Contain small items: store tags, small bows, and extra tape in clear bags or small containers for easy access.
Take inventory of anything you need to buy—scissors, tape, or replacement ribbon—and neatly arrange what’s left.
Day 3: Declutter Christmas decorations
Sort through decorations so your favorites can stand out.
Pull out all holiday decor and decide which items truly spark joy. Keep what you love and use.
Discard or donate damaged or unused pieces. If decorations haven’t been touched in a couple of years, consider letting them go.
Limit how many boxes of decorations you keep to prevent future buildup and ensure you only store items you’ll actually display.
Day 4: Put away everyday decor
Simplify your living areas to make room for holiday accents.
Create space for the tree by moving a chair or small table if needed.
Pack away everyday items like seasonal throw blankets, extra candles, or decor that will be swapped for holiday pieces. Store them in a designated spot so they’re easy to return after the season.
Day 5: Declutter toys
Free up space for new gifts by sorting children’s toys.
Set a short goal: 20 minutes or a target like 10 toys to keep it manageable.
Remove broken or outgrown toys and set aside gently used items for donation.
Include kids when possible to teach decision-making and generosity.
Day 6: Glow up your guest room
Prepare a warm, tidy space for visiting family and friends.
Clear out drawers and closet space for guests’ use and remove personal items from surfaces.
Provide fresh towels and basic toiletries and leave a visible note with Wi‑Fi information for convenience.
Keep flat surfaces clear so guests have room for their belongings.
Day 7: Simplify your Christmas kitchenware
Make cooking and entertaining easier by organizing seasonal kitchen items.
Gather holiday-specific dishes and tools: serving platters, festive plates, cookie cutters, and specialty bakeware.
Check cookware for what you’ll actually use and remove items that are damaged or rarely used.
Store essentials within reach so you can quickly access the tools you need during holiday cooking.
Day 8: Clear your kitchen counters
A clear counter gives you space for prep, serving, and festive displays.
Put away small appliances you don’t use daily and relocate decorative items that take up work space.
Sort mail and paper piles and return stray items to their proper homes.
Wipe surfaces for a fresh look; if you finish early, clear the dining table too.
Day 9: Quick pantry, fridge, and freezer purge
Clear out expired or unwanted food to make room for holiday treats and avoid waste.
Check expiration dates and toss anything past its prime from the pantry, fridge, and freezer.
Plan meals around items you already have so you use them up before holiday shopping peaks.
Day 10: Tidy your entryway
Create a welcoming arrival for guests and family this season.
Remove excess shoes, bags, and jackets and store them neatly.
Add baskets or hooks to corral winter accessories and keep them off floors and counters.
Shake out the doormat and give the area a quick vacuum for a tidy first impression.
Bonus Challenge: Fill your empty boxes
Whenever a package arrives, reuse the box to collect items you no longer need. Making this a habit helps decluttering become an ongoing, manageable part of your routine.
These short daily tasks add up quickly. By following the plan, your home will feel more organized and serene for the holidays. Don’t forget to use the printable checklist to monitor your progress and celebrate each small win.
More posts & challenges you might like
If this challenge helped, consider these other decluttering and minimalism plans for later in the year.
- 30-Day Minimalism Challenge: 30 simple tasks to simplify your home and reduce mental clutter.
- 30-Day Declutter Challenge: A month of short decluttering assignments you can complete in 20 minutes or less.
- 5-Day Toy Declutter Challenge: Quick daily prompts to tackle toy categories and keep play areas manageable.
- Minimalist gift ideas and experience gift suggestions to help you find thoughtful presents that won’t add clutter.