How to Embrace a Messy Season Without Losing Control of Clutter

Feeling overwhelmed by seasonal clutter? Learn how to make peace with temporary chaos while crafting, decorating, or preparing for holidays—without losing your mind or your progress.

Life Is Messy—Even When You're Decluttering

As someone who loves crafting, this time of year is always a little more chaotic.

I'm crocheting items for my Garden Club's winter fair table. I'm hand-making greeting cards to send and to gift. I tidy up after each session, but the truth is... things are stacking up.

Boxes and tote bags of finished items are waiting to be sorted. Card-making supplies are taking over the dining table at times. And Christmas decorations will be coming out soon.

Even though I consider myself organized, this season brings a different kind of energy. It's full of movement, creative mess, and partially completed projects.

And I've realized... that's not a sign that things are falling apart. It's just a sign of life.

My Journey From "Always Organizing" to Actually Organized

For years, I didn't understand the difference between organizing and decluttering. I followed in my parents' footsteps, believing I needed to hold onto everything. My decluttering attempts were really just about eliminating some things, so I had space for new things.

This was incredibly stressful because I was always organizing but never succeeding in getting organized.

It wasn't until I emptied my parents' house that everything changed. Seeing how much stuff they held onto for years but never used made me look at my own possessions with fresh eyes. But even then, I struggled in the beginning because I didn't know how to decide what to keep and what to let go of.

The breakthrough came when I realized decluttering had to start with identifying what was important to me.

Yes, I enjoyed the watercolor classes, but how often did I do watercolors when I wasn't in class? Was I improving my skills in the embroidery class or was I frustrating myself with a form of crafting that didn't excite me?

Over time, I donated a lot of supplies and narrowed in on what I most enjoyed: crochet and hand-making cards. I realized that I chose the crafts that I shared with others, giving them gifts. And to craft, you also need to do something with the items you make.

So, over the years, I made a lot of things to give as gifts. And this creates its own special—albeit temporary—chaos to deal with.

Why Temporary Clutter Isn't a Setback

Decluttering is often thought of as a way to create peace and simplicity. And it absolutely can be.

But even a decluttered home will get messy from time to time. Especially during seasons of:

• Creative work

• Holiday prep

• Family hosting

• Project sprints

• Transitions

The key is recognizing the difference between permanent overwhelm and temporary fullness.

Understanding the Difference

Temporary fullness happens during specific seasons of life. These can be joyful things, like holidays and parties, or challenging things like work deadlines. These times can feel chaotic. Your routines may fall apart. Your hard-earned organization in areas of your home may become cluttered faster than you'd like.

Maybe, unlike me, you don't craft but you bake tasty specialties during the holidays or host guests in your home. Even when you know life is full temporarily, it can still be stressful. It's the subtle changes that distract you.

But here's the crucial part: you can look at your calendar and say, "A few more weeks and then things can get back to normal."

Permanent overwhelm is different. It's a stuck state. You're doing stuff but you feel like you're barely getting through your days. You don't feel you deserve to take care of yourself with nourishing food (instead relying on processed food) or exercise because there is so much to do. But whatever you do isn't enough.

You feel like you're on a treadmill that never stops.

While I might feel temporarily overwhelmed by all the craft supplies and projects I have going on, I know that during a short period of time, projects will be gifted and my craft supply stash will dwindle to manageable quantities. On the other hand, when I look at my schedule and it's filled with commitments and obligations, I feel drained because I don't know when I can recharge.

The Reality Check: How to Know Which One You're Experiencing

If you aren't certain whether you're in seasonal chaos or permanent overwhelm, ask yourself this: How long has that pile of items been sitting there, and how did it get there?

If you know, "Oh, these are the supplies I need for baking the dozens of cookies I make at this time of year," then you know this is temporary chaos. If you look at a pile and panic because you don't know what's in the pile or how long it's been there, then that's a sign it may be a reflection of overwhelm.

The good news? Permanent overwhelm doesn't have to remain permanent. You can declutter a Little Space—a drawer or shelf—when you find a few moments. Or you can focus on the flat surfaces in the rooms where you spend the most time: kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room. That way you see the spaces you are creating.

This isn't an overnight solution, and yes, it is one more thing to do each day. And it's a choice you can decide to make because you know that less clutter will reduce your stress when you're at home.

Living With My Seasonal Creative Chaos

When I'm in card-making mode, the dining table, a couple of chairs, and the floor around the table can get covered with card stock, my Cricut machine, glue, paper crafting tools, and scraps of paper.

Since I live in a small house, I have to clean up and put everything away before going to bed. Sometimes, this feels stressful because a third of my evening can involve setting up and cleaning up.

However, I know that cleaning up is my decision. I could choose to leave things where they are because I'll return to the project the next day.

Over time, I've learned that I'd feel more stressed if I leave things strewn about. So, even though it's a bother to put everything away and turn the living room/dining room back to that purpose as opposed to keeping it as my craft room, I realize that putting things away is the more peaceful choice.

I also know that I want to finish space-consuming card making projects before the Christmas tree and decorations go up in the room because then there would be too much stuff. I'd get flashbacks to my parents' crowded house.

The Systems That Keep Chaos from Spiraling

Tidying after a crafting session means bringing everything back to my bedroom closet. It's a small house, so it's a short walk... but multiple trips.

Cardstock has its own shallow storage box. Tools and supplies have their own storage box. I have a cardboard tray where the finished or in-progress cards sit.

Knowing that everything has a space is important because everything is ready for me during my next session, whether it's the next day or in two weeks. I don't have to go looking for things—I know where they are.

This is the difference between organizing and just putting things away wherever you find the space. Yes, it takes extra time versus just sweeping things into one big box and figuring I'll just sort it out the next time I sit down to craft.

Does this mean that I'm super organized with an Instagram-worthy craft closet? No way! It's really just about figuring out what works for me. It's a process that I consciously and unconsciously tweak so I don't feel overwhelmed by a hobby that brings me joy.

When Different People Have Different Tolerance Levels

My husband builds models, and he keeps his craft space in the basement organized to his needs. He'll tease me about my crafting mess and rolls his eyes when I make multiple trips to put things away in the bedroom, but he knows I enjoy crochet and card-making. I think he appreciates that the house stays functional.

We each have our own creative spaces and systems, and there's mutual respect even if we approach things differently.

How to Allow the Mess Without Losing Your Mind

Here are a few gentle strategies you can try when you're in the middle of your own seasonal chaos:

1. Name the Season

Try saying:

"This is my creative holiday season."

"This is our family hosting season."

Naming it helps you stay grounded. You'll remember the reason behind the extra stuff—and why it's worth the mess.

Remember, this is temporary and this is intentional. The clutter can feel like chaos, but you are choosing it. Consider why the chaos has shown up. Note that it's for things you want to do and will enjoy in the moment.

Instead of feeling discouraged by the mess, think of it as anticipation and the lead-up to the holidays and what they mean to you.

2. Designate a 'Project Zone'

Instead of letting supplies spread to every room, give yourself a bin, table, or corner labeled "In Progress."

This gives your work a home and gives your brain a break from constantly trying to organize it.

3. Set a Reset Date

Pick a natural point in your calendar (end of the week, post-event, etc.) when you'll pack things up or reset the space.

This helps you let things stay a little messier for now, because you know it's not forever.

The Celebration of Completion

Over the past few years, I've done major crochet projects where I fill a display case with themed items to promote the Garden Club's Plant Sale. The items then get donated to the library for future scavenger hunts or get sold by the Garden Club.

I'll spend four to five months creating 15 to 40 items for this display. When it finally gets set up, I sort through my yarn and check on colors I've run out of. I sort through printed crochet patterns to put them in recycling. Basically, I pull out all my crochet supplies and sort through everything to make certain everything is where it belongs.

I use a lot of tote bags for these projects, so I empty them.

I actually find it soothing to spend an afternoon doing this. It feels like the completion of the project.

Think of tidying the space after the season or completion of the project as a form of celebrating what you've accomplished.

Of course, if you've been hosting guests for a week, it can take longer to get your home back to your normal. The principle remains the same: the reset is part of the ritual, part of marking the end of that full season.

Final Thought: Progress Isn't Always Pretty

You can be a person who values order and live in a little mess. You can be making progress in your decluttering journey and still have a season where surfaces are covered with stuff.

Organizing doesn't have to be done perfectly... whatever that even means. The goal is to make your life easier and more functional so you can enjoy yourself.

Remember why you are involved in seasonal activities that bring a bit of chaos into your life. If the chaos feels draining, consider if it still has a place in your life. If it feels energizing, then you know you're in the right place, doing the right things.

Let yourself live fully. And remember—it's not chaos if it has a purpose.

Ready to move from permanent overwhelm to intentional living? If you're a woman in your 50s, 60s, or 70s who wants to identify what's truly important so you can make meaningful decluttering decisions, I'd love to support you. Learn more about The Confident Declutterer program where I help you build decision-making skills that create lasting clarity and peace in your home.