Yes, it’s that wonderful time of the year where you find yourself wondering how on earth you are going to put Aunt Sophie up when the spare bedroom is full of stuff and where are you going to squeeze that Christmas tree in the living room!

Or maybe you have moved home since last Christmas and things simply don’t fit where they should.

If this sounds like your typical Christmas ‘conundrum’ then read our top 5 tips for gaining more space this Xmas!

TOP TIP 1 - Clear the Clutter

If there are any items of furniture, such as an occasional chair, floor lamp,side table, or any unused gym equipment, that is filling up much needed space in you home - this is the time to put them out of the way. If you can, place this items safely in an attic, shed or garage over the festive period. Or you can pop them in to self store for a few weeks. You will then have plenty of extra space for the tree and presents, plus your family and friends.

TOP TIP 2 - Sell Stuff

During your declutter you may find some unwanted items that are ideal to sell on an auction website or on your social media and make a little extra cash before Christmas. Books, furniture, tech, sports equipment and toys all sell well on the run up to Xmas.

TOP TIP 3 - Use Flexible Furniture

Having furniture that can double up and perform a variety of functions can help make space at Christmas. Investing in a sofa bed is a great way to be prepared for the odd extra guest that decides to stay over, or there are some great inflatable guest beds our there too. Whilst extendable dining tables and foldable chairs that can be stored in the garage or shed are perfect to bring out when there are few more people to sit around the table.

TOP TIP 4 - Make your Space Work for You

You will be surprised how re-arranging some of your furniture in you rooms can make instant space for entertaining. Pushing the sofa slightly more against the wall, moving the coffee table to another room or simple putting the tv in a corner or mount it on the wall, can all help to create that important tree space.

Also be careful when choosing your tree, a 7ft bushy one in the shop can look perfect but seem a lot bigger when you finally get it up in your room. If you can, choose a narrower style tree as this will naturally feel taller and take up less space.

TOP TIP 5 - Use Existing Storage

Your holiday suitcases are a great place to put anything that you need to store temporarily over Christmas. You can the declutter any surfaces around the home and fill them with picture frames and ornaments so that you can make space for all the Christmas decorations and cards.

If you have any underbed storage boxes, these can be used to temporarily hide away all sorts of things from out of season clothing or toys that the kids are not currently interested in. They can even be a good place to keep some of your presents hidden and away from prying eyes….

And if your home is still at bursting point, even after following these top 5 space saving tips, then think about renting one of our self storage units for a the festive period. They are easy to book, not very expensive, and you can just have them for a week or two,. Plus we can always collect and deliver your items to store, to save you much needed time! Find your nearest Ease the Squeeze store.