Make room in your home before running to the stores this Black Friday
Key Points:
- To make space for Black Friday goodies, you must reorganize these key spaces in your home, according to this expert
- Don’t forget to look under your bed, a space that’s often forgotten and full of things that haven’t been touched in years
- Fully emptying and reorganizing pantries and closets will reveal how much space you have for new Black Friday finds
As Black Friday sales approach, shoppers are eager to grab the best deals for the holiday season. But before diving into the whirlwind of online carts and store shelves, an essential first step is often overlooked: decluttering.
Leading home organization expert, Wayne Mills, urges consumers to clear out their key storage spaces ahead of time. “This quick process prepares homes for incoming purchases while also encouraging mindful spending in line with the rising trend of minimalism”.
With more people prioritizing functionality over excess, a pre-sale decluttering session can make room for new items that serve a more meaningful purpose.
From attic storage to garage shelving, there are five specific areas that Mills, from Seven Seas Worldwide advises to focus on. These overlooked spaces, where clutter quietly accumulates, can transform a home’s organizational flow once cleared.
By the time Black Friday hits, these refreshed spaces will make it easier to find room for new items and help shoppers avoid impulsive buys. Here, Mills shares his top five areas to declutter and why starting now can make all the difference.
1. Attic Storage
The attic often becomes a dumping ground for items we don’t use but can’t seem to part with.
Mills explains, “Attics are full of seasonal décor, old keepsakes, and forgotten boxes. By sorting through these items, you’ll uncover space that can be better utilized for things you actually need.”
Pro Tip: Decluttering your attic creates room for new seasonal items, making it easier to rotate décor without having to rummage around with a flashlight at the beginning of each new holiday.
2. Under Bed Space
Under-the-bed storage is convenient, but it can quickly become cluttered with shoes, out-of-season clothes, or random household items.
“The space beneath your bed is prime real estate for organized storage,” says Mills. “However, if it’s cluttered with things you don’t need, you’re missing out on its full potential. Clear it out now, and you can use it for smarter storage solutions post-Black Friday.”
A well-organized under-bed space can serve as a perfect spot for newly purchased linens or bedding.
3. Garage Shelving
Garages are notorious for collecting everything from tools to unused sports equipment.
Mills recommends a thorough purge before the holiday sales. Kids always want the newest outdoor toys and change their minds about sports from year to year, often leading to abandoned rollerblades and deflated footballs collecting dust on garage shelving. These items take up space that could be used for new Black Friday purchases.
“Garages become clutter magnets, but clearing those shelves will give you space to store new purchases like home improvement items or larger gifts you may pick up during the sales. Plus, having an organized garage makes finding and accessing items so much easier,” he adds.
4. Pantry
An overcrowded pantry can lead to forgotten food items and unnecessary purchases.
“Now is the time to fully empty your pantry and take inventory of what’s inside before Black Friday, especially with grocery sales around the corner,” advises Mills. “Decluttering your pantry helps you avoid overbuying and reminds you of the non-perishable holiday foods you didn’t go through last year.”
A tidy pantry also makes meal planning easier during the busy holiday season.
5. Closet Corners
Finally, those hard-to-reach closet corners are often filled with things you no longer wear or need. Mills suggests tackling these areas now to make room for new clothing purchases.
“Closets can get overwhelming fast, especially when you only wear a fraction of what’s inside. Decluttering a few times per year helps you better organize and visualize what you have, and more importantly, what you need,” he says.
This will help you avoid accidentally purchasing items of clothing that you forgot you already owned and shoved in the back of your closet months ago.
Wayne Mills, Head of Operations at Seven Seas, comments:
“Beyond the practical aspects of preparing for holiday shopping, decluttering can have a massive positive impact on mental health and productivity, too. A cluttered space can lead to a cluttered mind, so clearing out these storage areas reduces stress, improves focus, and creates a more peaceful living environment.”
“By decluttering these five key areas before Black Friday, shoppers can enter the holiday season with a clearer mind, a more organized home, and a more thoughtful approach to spending
