Seasonal items rarely get a proper purge. Unless you’re the neighbor leaving lights up until April (no judgment!), these decorations spend 10-11 months a year out of sight. Our tastes change, but we hold onto holiday items out of sentimentality—gilding them with nostalgia for family traditions while never actually using them.

Stored in attics, basements, or garages, these items often fall victim to pests, mold, or humidity damage. When we say, “I need to think about it,” what we really mean is, “I need to suffer about it.” By leaving things unused and unloved, you’re making an unconscious choice that drains your energy and lowers the vibration of your home.

Let’s change that. With gratitude for the role these items played in your life, you can consciously release what no longer serves you and unlock your best holiday life. These 5 steps make it simple:

1. Get all your seasonal items out at the start of the season.
2. Discard trash, dislikes, and unused items.
3. Do a space and container audit.
4. Clean, repack, and label.
5. Discard what didn’t make the cut.

Unlike most decluttering methods, these steps include two rounds of discarding to help you enjoy and evaluate your items fully. This process works—100% of the time—if you’re willing to show up and do the work. Feelings will arise, but that IS the work. Ready? Let’s gooooo…

Step 1: Get ALL Seasonal Items Out

Start by pulling out all your seasonal items at the beginning of the season. Did I already lose you? If the idea of tackling everything feels overwhelming, break it into categories and focus on one at a time.

This approach ensures you see everything you have—not just the easy-to-access items—so you can make informed decisions. Here are some categories to get you started (adapt as needed):

• Outdoor Decor: Inflatables, large decorations, furniture
• Lights & Electrical: Strings of lights, timers, extension cords
• Trees & Wreaths: Artificial trees, tree skirts, stands, wreaths
• Tableware & Entertaining: Holiday dishes, serveware
• General Ornaments: Tree decorations or small themed items
• Home Decor: Seasonal pillows, blankets, stockings, menorahs, nativities
• Cards & Paper: Holiday books, old cards, paper mementos
• Sentimental: Popsicle-stick crafts, heirlooms, or anything deeply meaningful

Seeing it all at once might feel like a lot, but that’s the point. The goal is to take stock of what you really have before deciding what you want to use this year—and what you’re ready to let go of.

Step 2: Discard Trash and Unwanted Items

As you unpack your seasonal items, start with the obvious:

• Anything broken, moldy, or deteriorated? → Trash it.
• Not planning to use it this year (or ever)? → Donate it.

Why keep paying—physically and mentally—to store things you don’t like or use? If an item is still in good condition, donate it at the start of the season so someone else can enjoy it. If it’s trash or beyond repair, let it go with gratitude for what it taught you.

Tips to Evaluate Items:

• Plug in your lights. If they don’t work, recycle or trash them (just don’t put them back in the box!).
• Refresh wrapping materials. Toss old newspaper or tissue paper and replace it annually to avoid pests and mold.
• Shake out empty containers. Remove glitter, dust, and even roach poop (welcome to Texas!) before reusing.

If something is so damaged that it’s unrecognizable, it’s no longer serving you and may even be a health hazard. Let it go! And then…

Enjoy the Good Stuff:
Holiday decorations are meant to make your heart lighter and your soul brighter. If you love your 75 Santa mugs, get them out, make some hot chocolate, and let the joy flow!

Step 3: Do a Space and Container Audit

How much space do you really want to dedicate to seasonal items? Be honest. Are you using half your garage for decorations you only use a few weeks a year? (Spoiler: the storage math doesn’t add up.) Consider your available space, future moves, or “right-sizing” for your current home. When your designated storage area is full, that’s your limit.

Now, check your containers:

• Are you using cardboard boxes? These are basically snacks for roaches and silverfish—not to mention they disintegrate with moisture or pests.
• If you’ve got mismatched bins that are still in good shape, wipe them out, reuse them, and thank them for doing the job.
• When upgrading, invest in durable, acid-free, clear storage bins. They’re pricier, so save them for items you truly cherish. My go-to favorites are “Our Bins” in various sizes from The Container Store, beloved by professional organizers everywhere.

The Bottom Line:
Only keep items you value enough to protect in the storage space and containers you have. If an item doesn’t deserve that level of care, why are you keeping it?

Step 4: Clean, Pack, and Label (After the Season)

End-of-season packing day might not be the most glamorous moment of the year, but there’s something oddly satisfying about wiping down bins, organizing your decor, and setting your future self up for success. Here’s how to make it easy and effective:

1. Wipe Down & Empty All Bins
Did you leave some stuff in there from last year that you didn’t even use? Out it comes! Wipe down the interior and exterior of your bins to remove dust, mold, and any other surprises.

2. Box by Category or Item Type
Remember step 1? If digging through random bins made you want to scream, now’s your chance to fix that. Keep like items together:

• Lights in one bin (or two).
• Ornaments grouped by theme (if that’s your jam).
• Tableware, wreaths, or stockings each in their own place.

Before packing, I lay everything out in piles—ornaments here, tree skirts there—so I can wrap and box items carefully. Pack your favorites first, ensuring they claim space in your bins. Any items you didn’t use this year? Back of the line, Buster! Leftovers go into a discard pile for post-season processing.

3. Label Everything
Once your bins are packed, label them clearly.

• Use a Sharpie to list categories on the lid (e.g., “Shatterproof Ornaments,” “Tree Skirt & Stockings”).
• If reusing an old bin, check that the contents still match the labels and update as needed.

Prefer something fancier? Use a label maker or tape an index card to the bin. Do what works for you, but don’t skip labeling. Your next-year self will thank you!

This process might feel like extra effort now, but trust me—next year, when you open those beautifully organized and labeled bins, you’ll be so glad you took the time.

Step 5: Discard What Didn’t Make the Cut

You know the drill—it’s time to say goodbye to the items that didn’t fit in your designated storage space. If you packed thoughtfully, you can take comfort knowing your most precious items already claimed their place of honor.

The remaining items might still have value, but they’re not valuable enough to take up your cherished, limited space. Some things you didn’t even use this year—so let them go! Donate or trash them with gratitude for what they’ve taught you.

Pro Tip: Set a one-week limit for donation items to leave your home. If they’re still hanging around after that, toss them. Sticking to a deadline prevents lingering clutter from sneaking back in.

Reminders for Decluttering (Seasonal or Otherwise):

• You’re not throwing away memories. Those live in you as long as you choose to keep them.
• You’re not throwing away a person. A gift’s purpose is fulfilled the moment it’s received. The love it came with doesn’t depend on keeping the item.
• Throwing something away isn’t disrespectful. Making a clear choice about an item’s future is empowering—and more respectful than leaving it to deteriorate in a rat-chewed box.

Finally, while donating or rehoming can feel good, don’t use it as a way to avoid processing your feelings. Let go with love and intention, focusing on the life you’re creating—not just the stuff you’re leaving behind.

Bonus Step: Refresh and Reclaim Your Space

This step is optional, but oh-so-satisfying. Once your seasonal items are packed and put away, give your home a quick refresh:

• Run the vacuum in the areas where decorations lived.
• Wipe down tables, the mantel, or shelves.
• Replace seasonal decor with year-round favorites—or nothing at all.

You’ll likely find a stray ornament hook or an overlooked Santa hat to add to your labeled boxes, but most importantly, you’ll create a sense of calm and spaciousness in your home. Luxuriate in it—you’ve earned it!

Ready to declutter more spaces with confidence? Download my free Declutter Flow Chart to make quick, stress-free decisions about what to keep or let go. It’s the perfect tool to help you start clearing clutter fast.

👉 Download the Flow Chart Here

Question for you: What’s the weirdest seasonal decoration you always put up? (For me, it’s a vintage collection of soft Dole fruit ornaments!) Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear!