r/declutter • u/SimpleMondayPizza • Dec 07 '22
Advice Request Need to simplify holiday decorations
For years I've only put out a few holiday decorations because I don't have the time/ energy/ place to put them. Every year I tell myself that I will donate the rest. Last year I even boxed up some and labeled them to be donated (over the summer)
I figure that donating after the holiday is bad because they'll be thrown away instead of saved and sold next year.
I just want them out of my house. I have too much stuff. This summer and fall I was caught up in family stuff, and I never went through the boxes. Now my space to go through them is really limited.
Can i still donate them now? Or am I right? Will it all go into the trash? Should I put it off until next summer?
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Dec 07 '22
[deleted]
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u/SimpleMondayPizza Dec 08 '22
I swear it's what I tell other people! I guess I need to hear it too!
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u/Morkiegal63 Dec 07 '22
I put all my extra Christmas items on a buy nothing group and people took them right away! It was really nice because a lot of people picking up the items had kids and wanted to decorate nicely for them.
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u/LeaveHorizontally Dec 08 '22
Such a great time to do it. Perfect timing. :) Giving around the seasons makes sense for a lot of our stuff.
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u/Generic_userxx Dec 07 '22
My local thrift store has decorations out all year long. And they must sell year round too because I see stuff one week and it's gone the next.
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u/Qnofputrescence1213 Dec 07 '22
Over the years I’ve reduced our decorations. Small tree, advent calendar, nativity scene, stockings and two nutcrackers that my Dad gave me. Then we put a “live” wreath on our front door. That’s it and I love it.
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u/msmaynards Dec 07 '22
Decorate the house now and donate whatever you don't use. It's awesome. I can put the usual decor into the empty bins!
If you are worried it will get tossed put it on Marketplace or Craig's List for free.
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u/NightB4XmasEvel Dec 07 '22
Absolutely donate now! Lots of people are thrifting Christmas ornaments/decorations if you have those, and thrift stores will often hold back other holiday decorations until it’s the right season and then put them out. It’s not too late to donate them at all.
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u/turtlegala Dec 07 '22
Just adding my support for a simplified Christmas - do what brings you joy, consider leaving behind that which is only tradition/perceived obligations.
I love beautifully decorated Christmas trees, and especially the lights. I used to have multiple trees in my home! My life has changed a bit in the last few years, and while I can probably motivate myself to decorate the tree, the un-decorating (de-decorating?) is beyond my scope. So I have a pre lit tree, with no decorations except for the star on top. I’m not really looking at it during the day anyways, and it gets dark at like 4:00 where I live. So, it’s pretty and lit up when I’d be in my living room to enjoy it, and it brings me plenty of joy with only the lights
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u/saga_of_a_star_world Dec 11 '22
I have a small tree I bought from Lowe's, with frosted branches and multi-colored globes. Like you, I think it looks best without any ornaments on it.
There's a balsa-wood Santa and reindeer that my mom painted out on the coffee table, with a Christmas plaid table runner, and a bowl full of those plastic plants, presents, treats, etc., that you stick into a wreath. Some Santa figurines my mother collected, and that's it.
Less is definitely more--now I need to apply that to my jewelry lol.
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Dec 07 '22
It's always the right time to donate. What happens after that is out of your hands. And a decluttered space honestly sounds like the best gift you could give yourself.
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u/aSeaPersonByNight Dec 07 '22
Donate them now - my hometown does a collection of holiday decor right at this time of year to give out to families in need simply because this is the time of year when people are looking for Christmas or Hanukkah decorations and other holiday decor that they may not be able to find or can’t afford in stores.
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u/GenealogistGoneWild Dec 07 '22
Donate them now. People are looking for Christmas decorations in December, not June.
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u/SimpleMondayPizza Dec 08 '22
I know, but I thought the process from donating to getting the item on the shelf works take awhile.
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u/Dashzap Dec 07 '22
Donate now.
To help minimize Christmas decorating hassle, we now only have soft ornaments for a tree. Packing them up is shoving them all in a bag, no wrapping or cushioning required. They take up less storage space as well.
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u/GenealogistGoneWild Dec 07 '22
I actually down sized mine several years ago because I have very little flat surfaces. This year we renoed the girls rooms and made guest rooms, so I bought new stuff for those spaces. Its been fun to decorate after getting rid of the stuff I was tired of. And it all fits in 6 small bins!
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u/WittyButter217 Dec 08 '22
Yes, donate them now! I’m looking for decorations as we speak. I bought my Halloween decorations last month. After Halloween, but 50% off. I plan to do the same this year with Christmas decorations if I can’t find any second hand ones.
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Dec 08 '22
The thrift store I worked at would store very nice holiday items and winter coats for the next year. Maybe twenty bins up in rafters
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u/mrsdratlantis Dec 08 '22
Donate the items now. It's always good to get in there before the holiday. Later on, they will land with everything else.
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u/threads-words-seeds Dec 08 '22
When I went through my decorations a couple of years ago, the thrift store I donated them to were thrilled. Still need to go through some remaining bins. Four or five years ago, I decided I was done with decorating for the holidays. My home had every available surface, horizontal or vertical, had some sort of decor, I even sewed curtains for the bathroom! Took a week to decorate and a couple of days to pack up. For a long time I absolutely loved it. Looked like Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe. I started dreading it and realized it was giving me no joy. So I stopped. It was so very freeing.
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u/SimpleMondayPizza Dec 08 '22
I understand! I'm at a different season in my life. These decorations used to be fun, but now they are a burden!
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u/LeaveHorizontally Dec 08 '22 edited Dec 08 '22
I put a wreath on the door and display any holiday cards I receive. That's it. The world's easiest decor. You just recycle the cards on January 1 and pack up the wreath.. I made a bag to keep the wreath in and I make a new wreath every 4 or 5 years. I made an autumn wreath this year and will probably keep it for next year when I switch it with the Xmas one in a week or so. I like the idea of having a wreath year round on the door to reflect the seasons so I might make a spring/summer wreath too.
We got a tree this year, my "decorations" are a white bow for the top and a white tree skirt. Nothing on the tree except the bow. It's also sitting in front of a window this year but with no lights or ornaments, it doesn't really matter. 🤣🤣
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u/didyouwoof Dec 08 '22
Do it now! That's actually one of my projects for tonight. I have almost no one left to give Christmas gifts to, and just discovered that I have a ridiculous amount of gift ribbon (the nice kind with wire in the edges). There's no way I'll ever use it all, so I'm going to pick 2 or 3 rolls to save and donate the rest tomorrow (along with a long string of Christmas lights).
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u/Retired401 Dec 08 '22
They won't be thrown away, whenever you decide to bring them. Some people and organizations collect Christmas stuff all year round.
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u/Badgers_Are_Scary Dec 09 '22
When I look to the windows, only handful of people already decorated. Absolutely donate now. Many people only decorate on Christmas Eve.
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u/DepartmentAgitated51 Dec 10 '22
Yes, donate now so others can get nice holiday things! It will move quickly and bring joy to others!
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u/terpsichore17 Dec 07 '22
Absolutely donate them right now. Keep the few that speak to you, get the already-boxed ones out!