A Simpler, More Meaningful Holiday

Julie Fergus, ASID
24 minutes ago
2 min read

The holiday season can be joyful… or overwhelming. With constant sales, endless inspiration online, and the pressure to make everything “perfect,” it’s easy to lose sight of what matters. But a wonderful holiday doesn’t require more — it requires intention.

Here’s how to simplify your season and make room for joy:

1. Clear the clutter. A calmer home sets the tone for a calmer season. Before decorations, guests, and baking supplies arrive, make space. Clear counters, pare down surfaces, and store anything that adds to the visual noise. Your holiday décor — and your sanity — will shine brighter.

2. Plan ahead (just a little). Check in with family, mark key dates, and map out the basics. A few minutes of planning now saves hours of scrambling later.

3. Trim the gift list. Fewer gifts mean less shopping, less decision fatigue, and less stress. Create a list, set a budget, and stick to it. Thoughtful always beats excessive.

4. Shop smarter, not longer. Whether you shop online or in-store, batch your errands. Gather what you need efficiently so you have more time for things that matter.

5. Keep decorations simple and meaningful. Before buying more, look at what you already own. Curate a few pieces that create warmth and impact. Remember — whatever you bring in must be packed away later.

6. Make decorating social. Invite a few friends over and decorate together. Add music, snacks, and laughter, and suddenly a chore becomes a tradition.

7. Bake together. Choose a menu, split the ingredient list, and enjoy the process as much as the cookies. One kitchen, one cleanup, lots of joy.

8. Plan your meals. If you’re hosting over multiple days, sketch out simple menus. It saves last-minute runs and frees you from spending your holiday in the grocery store.

9. Keep gatherings small and meaningful. Focus on the people you truly want to spend time with. Smaller groups mean easier prep, less stress, and better conversations.

10. Shorten your to-do list. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming big — until your time and energy run thin. Cross things off freely. Do what matters, skip what doesn’t.

I write this as a former “everything must be perfect” holiday person. I’ve done the big, magazine-worthy holidays — beautiful, yes, but exhausting. One year I finally simplified, and everything changed. My home still looked lovely, but I had more time to enjoy the people I love. The memories were sweeter, the season calmer.