Holiday Décor – It’s All Too Much

When we work with clients to downsize, declutter and get them ready to move, one of the top 5 categories we create when sorting their excess belongings is HOLIDAY DECORATIONS.  I was reminded of this after being overwhelmed with the amount of Halloween décor that was evidenced at a recent visit to a local Home Goods Store.  Table upon table of so many pumpkins, ghosts and witches that my head was spinning.  I witnessed cart after cart of happy shoppers buying the latest and greatest decorations for their homes.  These were not the type of things that people buy to pass on to the next generation, these were things that would fall into the general category of just more stuff and will ultimately find their way to donation. So much stuff, with no sentimental value, items that are meaningless and tossed aside when something shinier, cooler or bigger comes along. 

If you do decorate for the holidays, follow the golden rule when buying: 

Don’t buy it if you don’t have a place to responsibly store it when it comes time to put it away.  And no, this does not mean to just add it to the pile in your garage. For those of you that need further clarification, a pile is not considered an appropriate storage place.  

Instead of buying things at random because they look cute and are shiny, maybe consider the following:

• Pause and ask yourself if you really need it, is it something special or is it just another pumpkin.
• Use that money and put it in a family fun fund and go out to an event or dinner. 
• Go to a pumpkin patch and buy real pumpkins to display.  They can be composted!
• Look at what you already have before adding something more to your collection.
• If you buy something, then something must go away. Clear space by purging other clutter and excess to make room for it.  
• If you do purchase, pick something that is memorable and can be used for years to come. Multicolored pumpkins with flashing lights do not fall into that category.
• Purchase at a thrift store or donation center because they are packed with holiday décor from organizers like me who clean it out of homes every day!  This does not solve the problem of too much stuff but at least you are spending less money.

As consumers we are bombarded with stuff, we buy it because we want it, (or we think we do) not because we really need it.  It makes us happy; it is fun.  That philosophy works for a while if your space can accommodate it comfortably.  Unfortunately, it is that same stuff that eventually overloads us, clutters our spaces, weighs us down and keeps us from living our best lives. 

So just think about it the next time you are tempted to buy that newest piece of Holiday décor that catches your eye. 

Christy Urdal is owner of NextStep Transitions, LLC and a relocation and home transition specialist in the greater Seattle area. She helps people with downsizing, move management, getting their homes ready for the market, and many other home related services.