Did you celebrate the Spring Equinox with an overdue declutter? With Google searches for ‘spring cleaning’ up 69% past month in the past month1, many of us have welcomed in the new season by taking stock of our homes and prioritising cleanliness.
But with the days finally getting longer and brighter, Spring can also mark a rebirth of our social lives. Whether you’re making the most of the warmer weather and hosting a BBQ with family, have a children’s birthday party to organise or simply inviting friends round after work, Amy Greenshields, party expert at cardfactory has shared five tips for hosting a clutter-free celebration…
- “One in, one out” rule
Amy says: “Gifts are often part-and-parcel of a party – especially birthday gifts. While this is, of course, a big part of many celebrations, if you’ve recently done a big spring clean-out to declutter your items, this can undo your efforts.
“For each new item you accept as a gift, try to donate an existing item to keep a balance of items in your home. Implementing this “one in, one out” rule is a great habit to get into to prevent an accumulation of unnecessary items and keep your home clutter-free.”
- Invest in a reusable party pack
Amy says: “Decorating your home for a celebration is part of the fun of hosting – but, if you’re looking to keep mess to a minimum, a party pack may be the way to go. Choose a kit with reusable accessories, such as a garland, table cover and banner and opt for a simple theme so you can use the same pack over and over for different celebrations.
“Not only will this massively streamline and simplify your party prep while still adding the ‘wow’ factor to your home, but having a go-to party pack will also save you from building up a cluttered collection of mismatched decorations.”
- Communicate with guests prior to the event
Amy says: “Social norms often mean guests feel obliged to arrive at a soiree laden with a gift – be it presents, flowers, or foodstuff. While these are lovely gestures, they inevitably add to the clutter in your home. Sending a quick text to guests prior to your celebration to let them know what you do/don’t need can prevent an unnecessary build-up of items.
“If you’re hosting a food-focused event, you can also use this as an opportunity to streamline your hosting duties and minimise mess. Delegating different guests to bring different components of the meal not only saves you prep time but also encourages people to take their cooking dishes home afterwards – keeping your dish pile minimal and kitchen clean throughout the celebration!”
- Set boundaries in your home
Amy says: “When hosting large groups of people in your home, some element of clutter will be unavoidable. However, to keep your mess to a minimum, it’s important to be strategic with your efforts.
“Think about high-traffic areas where guests are likely to gather and choose the best room/s to concentrate the event. Set boundaries with your guests to ensure other rooms are left untouched – this can be as easy as keeping the door closed or a polite comment when guests arrive. This may seem like a simple step but will save you a lot of time when it comes to tidying up after the celebration.”
“Remember: mess tends to breed mess. In your chosen room for hosting, try to clear away unnecessary clutter to create more space for mingling and activities. When guests arrive, be sure to set designated areas for coats, bags, and shoes to prevent a mess from building up.”
- Store your decor
Amy says: “In many homes, party decorations are often stored away under a bed or at the back of the cupboard – and this is usually done so in a rather haphazard manner because of the awkward shape and sizes of these items.
“Post-party, take stock of the party decorations you already have and be sure to create a system to properly organise these items. Store your decorations in transparent containers and clearly label them for easy identification for future celebrations. Think how you can best organise these supplies in a way most efficient for your party needs – for example, this may be by theme or function, such as outdoor decorations, birthday, and table settings.
“This also gives you a chance to reflect on what you did and didn’t need at the gathering. Use this as an opportunity to further declutter items you may be holding onto – whether that be a decade-old fancy dress costume or unusable cake candles!”
For more inspiration, explore party decorations, supplies & accessories, here: https://www.cardfactory.co.uk/party/
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