How to Prepare Your Home for the New Year Without Going Bankrupt: A Month-long Plan

There are just a few weeks left until the New Year, and it's time to start preparing your home for the holidays. According to a VCIOM study, Russians spend an average of 18 thousand rubles on pre-New Year preparation, but you can create a festive atmosphere with a smaller budget.

Main points from the article:

• Start preparing in advance to avoid chaos;
• Distribute tasks by weeks;
• Do a deep clean two weeks before the holiday;
• Decorations can be made by hand;
• Plan storage for festive dishes and decor.

Where to start so you don't panic later

Create a weekly action plan. A month before the holiday, organize your closets and storage areas, sort items you don't use regularly. This will free up space for gifts and New Year decorations. You might also find forgotten holiday decorations from previous years.

Why you should do a deep clean in advance

Don't leave deep cleaning for the last few days of December. Wash windows, clean carpets and soft furniture, unpack wardrobes two weeks before the holiday. In the final days, you'll just need to maintain order. Make a checklist by room to ensure nothing is missed.

How to create a festive atmosphere without overspending

Start with scents: mandarins, cinnamon, fir branches create a New Year mood. Make compositions from natural materials like pinecones, branches, dried oranges. Hang garlands—warm light transforms even the simplest interior. Use old Christmas ornaments in new ways: create a composition in a large glass vase or hang them on branches inside a vase.

How to organize storage for New Year decorations

To prevent ornaments from breaking, store them in special containers with compartments or wrap each one in soft paper. Wind garlands on cardboard to prevent tangling. Label boxes with decor: this will save time during next year's holiday preparations.

Where to store festive dishes all year long

Beautiful tableware is an important part of the holiday table, but storing it all year long can be challenging. Set aside a shelf in your kitchen cabinet or store the set in boxes with soft dividers on the attic. Take out dishes in advance, wash and check their condition—maybe something needs to be bought.

Why it's important to plan gift storage

Find a quiet spot for gifts, especially if there are children in the house. You can use upper shelves in wardrobes, storage rooms or suitcases on the attic. Wrap gifts in advance and label them for whom they are intended—everything can get mixed up during the holiday rush.

How to prepare the guest area

If guests are staying over, prepare sleeping areas in advance. Check the condition of fold-out sofas, freshen bedding, prepare extra blankets and pillows. Plan a place for guests' outerwear and organize additional hooks or hangers.

What to do with the Christmas tree so it lasts long

If you plan to use a live tree, prepare a spot for it in advance. Think about protecting the floor from water and needles—cardboard or a special mat will work. Buy a convenient stable stand. Take out an artificial tree a few days before decorating to let it straighten out.

Preparing for the holiday can become a pleasant family activity if you do everything in advance and without rushing. Involve all family members in the process—creating a festive atmosphere together brings people closer and creates warm memories. Remember: the most important thing about the New Year holiday is not perfect tidiness or expensive decor, but the mood and time spent with loved ones.

Cover: pinterest.com