apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Why is that rug so incredibly small?

In Winter I'm all about designated areas, often with big nice baskets around the house for different items, although I'm thinking of a trunk next year to put near the entry way to hide most of the clutter. Other things I do I learned from Apartment Therapy: Open and sort mail daily, put things in their place, hang things when there are no other horizontal surfaces available. I also learned a long time ago - keep it as simple as possible during the holidays. Make a list, make a schedule, something comes in, something goes out (or gets put away). When it comes to cooking, my brilliant Dad taught me to clean as I go - this way there are very few pots and pans to deal with later. For example while the cookies are baking, clean the bowls and tool, etc.

I've also been known to hire a cleaning person during the holidays once or twice a week. It just makes like a lot easier and helps me keep neat before the cleaning person comes. (anyone else here raised by uber polite parents who actually cleaned BEFORE the housekeeper arrived? I was!)

1. Wrap gifts as you bring them home! Don't let it pile up. I keep gift wrap and all the trimmings stowed in the front hall closet in a bamboo umbrella stand. I just grab the stand and wrap gifts in front of the tv. If possible, I stow wrapped gifts in the trunk of the car ready to be delivered or dropped at the postal center. The rest go under the tree for the dog to pee on. :-) Hopefully this year that won't happen - all the presents are in a big basket and the tree is in a big planting pot.

2. After decorating immediately haul the storage boxes back to the closet/garage/attic.

3. Keep blank Christmas cards, stationery, pens and stamps in the Christmas card basket. As I open my mail or my kid and I open gifts we can quickly write a card or a note and deal with it right then.

4. Keep the poinsettias and bulbs watered. The a/c or heat - it varies from one day to the next in Houston - sucks the life out of expensive holiday plants.

If I try to add the tree, decorations, gifts into a room without FIRST taking out as much, then I feel crowded, stressed. It can be easily avoided by editing the room first (this can be donating, but also simply storing some things that won't be needed for a while). Creating the space for Christmas, as it were.

also that coffee table is so small

incredibly small? how big do they need to be?

Lizzy C - my mom was the same way! I can remember the charge "I hope your bedrooms are clean Nelly is coming today!".

I wrap gifts as they are purchased. We don't put up the tree until Christmas Eve (too little space to have it up sooner) so having wrapped gifts neatly displayed makes the place more festive.

It looks like a drunken master ran through that room and Karate-chopped all the pillows!