The author (not pictured) keeps holiday decorations in the garage and attic. Sturti/Getty Images

2025-12-18T14:24:49.506Z

• I decorate the house every year for the holiday season in December.
• My garage and attic are full of boxes of Christmas stuff during the other months of the year.
• The house feels cluttered and claustrophobic, and I have vowed to take action in January.

I finally got around to putting my fake, battery-lit garlands around our front door and railings the other day.

It took a while to get it right, but I was happy with the result when I stepped into the front yard to take a look at the overall scene. I’d already placed a set of outside cushions with holiday trees on the wooden furniture out front. Then, I’d put fake wreaths on the chairs, trimming them with red bows, and building a fawn and a doe that sparkle at night.

It fell short of the beautiful house in "Home Alone," but our property was certainly noticeable from the street.

I had too many Christmas decorations

Coming back inside, I saw another pile of plastic boxes packed with even more holiday decorations in the family room. I wondered where I could put everything.

There was no more space on my window sills, shelves, or the Christmas tree. The mantelpiece was adorned with pine cones, candles, and a nutcracker figure.

It seemed like every inch of the house was covered with tinsel, snow globes, and other trinkets.


The author’s leftover Christmas decor this year. Courtesy of the author.

In March 2020, we moved to a larger place than our previous home, partly because we needed an extra bedroom for our new au pair from Chile.

COVID-19 struck a few days after her arrival. Things were grim, and I wanted to cheer everyone up. I wanted our guest to enjoy the Easter holiday.

I bought lots of Christmas decor for outside the house

Stores like HomeGoods weren’t open, so I ordered things online, including egg and rabbit-shaped ornaments. Our au pair — and the kids, who were 12 and 10 at the time — appreciated the effort I made.

I did a similar thing for Halloween. Then Christmas came along. I purchased a couple of fake deer for the lawn. Then there was the yard sign that spelled out "Joy," and some oversize baubles to hang from the tree outside.

During the winters of 2020 to 2024, it became "my thing" to buy holiday decor. It would take me ages to bring the stuff out of storage, but I didn’t mind. It was fun to decorate.


Part of the author’s superfluous outdoor Christmas display. Courtesy of Jane Ridley

I haven’t bought anything new this year, following strict instructions from my high school senior, who no longer shares my love of decorations. Still, she didn’t stop me from going all out with the tchotchkes I already had.

Then, all of a sudden, I felt claustrophobic and uncomfortable. How on earth had I managed to acquire all this junk?

I thought of the new year clean-up when everything would need to be packed in boxes and stowed once again. It filled me with dread.

Some people hire professional declutterers

The feeling was enough to make me cringe. I was embarrassed by the stuff on display. It no longer seemed exciting to welcome guests when our home resembled a hoarder’s.

It’s too late to take the items down because I’ve got so much to do ahead of the holidays. I cannot face the bother of "undecorating" the house. It will have to wait until January.

Some people hire professional declutterers. But they’re too expensive for my budget.

Instead, I’ve made a vow to spend an entire weekend sorting through my holiday decor after Christmas. I’ll donate at least half to my Buy Nothing, Sell Nothing group on Facebook.

If nobody wants them, they’re going in the trash. I never want my home to feel so cramped again.