2018 is officially here, but the remnants of Christmas 2017 are almost certainly still taking up your living room. We can fix that. Well, you’ll have to fix that, but we’re here to help. Here are some tips for getting your home back to normal again after Christmas.
Break it down
Looking at the enormity of the job at hand might cause you to inwardly promise that you’ll ‘do it tomorrow’ and sit down to enjoy yet another rerun of the Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special. Don’t do it. Instead, create mini goals that will make the job seem less daunting. First, take the ornaments off the tree and put them away, then take the fairy lights down, then the decorations from the house etc. Give yourself little rewards every time a job is completed. For example, when you finish the baubles have some leftover chocolate. When you’ve done the tinsel, have a biscuit. Once you’ve taken the lights — arguably the most annoying job — have a break. You’ve earned it.
Fix the fairy lights
Ever wondered how to put fairy lights away neatly and avoid the trauma of untangling next year? Well, make use of all those empty Pringles cans and use them to store your fairy lights for the year. Make sure to wash the tube out properly as any crumbs could attract bugs. Make a slit in the top of the can and simply wrap the lights around, tucking each end into the slit and keeping plugs etc. inside the tube. You’ll thank yourself next year!
Recycle the tree
Research what your local council offers in terms of Christmas tree disposal. Many local councils offer to collect Christmas trees and will pick up your tree from home. While this is the easiest option, there are a few ways you can recycle your tree a bit more creatively. Pine needles are the perfect mulch material, as they dry out and break down slower than other organic matter. Throwing the branches into a compost pile at the end of the garden will give your soil a health boost, meaning come spring your garden will be adorned with spring flowers.
The more ambitious among us may take on the entire trunk of the tree. If you’re handy with a hand saw, you can chop a tree into small pieces to line your flower beds. Or, for less dangerous work, turn the tree trunk into an all-natural bird feeder. Hang bird food, seed strings from the branches and feel like a Disney character when all the birds start flocking to your garden.
If you had an artificial tree this year then you’ll get to skip all the vacuuming and cleaning up that comes with real pine trees, but that doesn’t mean to say the tidy up is any easier! As tempting as it may be to rip down the decorations and chuck it in a box and not worry about it for a year, come December next year future you is going to really resent past you for not making it a little easier. Taking a few minutes to organise your decorations and put the tree away properly will save you a lot of headaches when Christmas rolls back around.
Enjoy your rediscovered old space
Once the tree is down, the decorations are away and your home is finally looking normal, take a moment to revel in the fact that your room seems to have gained a massive amount of square footage overnight.
If you’re wondering what it would be like to spend Christmas in a new home next year, pop into your local branch or give us a call to see how we could help.
