Why Custom Floating Shelves Make Holiday Organizing Easier

The holidays bring a mix of joy, guests, and more stuff than we’re usually ready for. Between wrapping paper, baking supplies, winter gear, and all the decorations, it’s easy to run out of room fast. And when clutter starts showing up in every corner, it can suck the enjoyment out of the season.

That’s where custom floating shelves come in. They don’t just look clean and modern. They actually help solve the real problem of not having enough space. Around this time of year, finding smart ways to stretch your storage can make a big difference in how your home feels. With the right shelves in the right spots, staying organized feels a lot more doable.

Make Room for Holiday Decorations Without Closet Overload

Boxes of holiday decor can take over a whole closet if there’s no plan for where things will go. Storing everything mixed into the attic or basement works for off-season, but during the holidays you want those pieces easy to reach.

• Use shelves near the entryway or main living space to rotate decorations in and out without taking up counter space
• Swap out everyday decor for seasonal pieces, placing smaller items like candles or ornaments on open shelves
• In tight kitchens or bathrooms, add a shelf for festive candles, hand towels, or seasonal greenery, just enough to feel decorated without the clutter

Unlike bins or totes, shelves keep things visible and off the ground. That’s key when space is limited. You might be surprised how much just one well-placed shelf can hold without overwhelming the room.

Custom floating shelves from The Mortise & The Hare are made to order and can be designed in hardwoods like walnut, white oak, or sipo mahogany. Each shelf is finished by hand in our local shop to fit right into your home’s style and space.

Create Space for Gift Wrapping and Crafting

Holiday gifts and crafts have a funny way of ending up in piles. Bows, ribbon, wrapping paper, markers, cards, they pile up fast. Without a place for them to land, you’ll be digging through closets every time you wrap.

• Set up a small wrapping station using floating shelves in a guest room, office, or corner of a hallway
• Assign each shelf to a purpose, paper rolls on the lower shelf, tape and scissors up top, gift tags and ribbon in small containers
• When everything is out of the way but easy to grab, wrapping gifts can actually be kind of fun rather than just a task

The key is to keep items grouped and visible without leaving them all over the floor or table. Floating shelves keep it simple and help you work without losing track of what you’ve already wrapped.

If you’re short on space, even adding a single shelf can make a difference. By placing supplies at different heights, you free up room on desks or beds, making the wrapping process smoother and less crowded. Little touches like baskets or small bins on shelves make it easier to sort essentials and keep them at hand. You’ll spend less time searching for tape and more time enjoying the creative part of gift wrapping.

Control Entryway Clutter Behind the Scenes

Cold-weather gear and holiday visitors often mean the entryway turns chaotic. Boots pile up, gloves go missing, and someone’s always asking where their keys went. It doesn’t take much for that space to feel overrun.

• Add floating shelves based on what that space needs, maybe one for baskets of gloves and hats, another up higher for items you don’t use daily
• Consider adding hooks under a shelf for jackets, dog leashes, or guest bags
• Grouping everything by use keeps the floor clear and makes it easier to leave the house without scrambling

This kind of setup doesn’t have to look like a full mudroom. Even one or two small shelves can make a difference between chaos and calm in those high-traffic spots.

Custom sizing makes it easy for shelves from The Mortise & The Hare to tuck into narrow entryways, corners, or spaces above furniture, helping you use every inch wisely.

If your entry is especially tight, try using vertical space by stacking two shelves above each other. That way, you separate items by use but don’t crowd your walkway. Mixing open and closed storage, like bins or baskets paired with shelves, keeps things tidy but still easy to spot. During the holidays, keeping entryways organized helps guests store their things quickly when they arrive, so coming and going stays easy for everyone.

Maximize Kitchen Storage During Big Meals

The kitchen tends to become the center of everything in late December. Between baking, cooking holiday meals, and trying to keep things cleaned up, extra storage quickly becomes a priority.

• Use open shelves for holding serveware, cookie tins, or seasonal mugs, things you need handy but not stacked in your prep space
• Create a mini hot cocoa or coffee station that keeps ingredients neat and ready for guests
• Store plastic containers or foil rolls up high so you don’t dig for them when it’s time to pack up leftovers

Kitchen drawers and cabinets can only hold so much without turning into junk drawers. A few custom floating shelves let you store with intention and keep surfaces ready for whatever the day brings.

Adding a couple of shelves above the counters or even at the end of a cabinet frees up drawer space for utensils or baking tools. If you entertain during the holidays, a shelf near the stove can hold spices, serving utensils, or festive platter stands. When there’s a spot for everything, cleaning up after a big meal feels much less overwhelming and you’ll avoid the stress of last-minute searching for what you need.

Keep Extra Essentials Handy but Out of the Way

During the holidays, the little things matter. Guests need an extra box of tissues or a spare towel. You want candles or flashlights nearby just in case. But that doesn’t mean these items should end up on the kitchen table.

• Mount floating shelves in guest rooms to hold spare toiletries, folded towels, or decorations
• In the bathroom, they can hold extra soap, tissues, or small supplies without crowding the counter
• Choose strong, simple shelf designs that fit your space without drawing too much attention

By giving everyday extras a place to live, you won’t be scrambling when someone needs something, or wondering where you put that second pack of batteries.

Shelves in bedrooms and bathrooms also bring a clean, finished look. Placing extra essentials neatly on a shelf means you can quickly see when supplies are low, making restocking easier. Guests will appreciate finding what they need without searching, and you’ll keep common areas uncluttered. Even a couple of small shelves at eye level or just above a towel rack can hold the basics while creating a sense of order.

Enjoy a Calmer Holiday Home

Holiday stress often comes from not being able to find what you need when you need it. When every item has a clear spot, life just works better. Custom floating shelves make that possible. They give you room to decorate, wrap, cook, and welcome people in, without things feeling tight.

With thoughtful choices about where you add a shelf and what it holds, your home can work with the season instead of against it. Less clutter, less chaos, more comfort. That’s the kind of energy we want for the holidays.

A well-placed shelf can transform your home into a calmer, more organized space this holiday season. Adding a custom floating shelf gives everything you use a designated place without overwhelming your decor. Whether in the kitchen or guest room, the right shelf keeps things tidy and easily accessible. At The Mortise & The Hare, we handcraft each shelf to suit your space and style. Contact us today to get started.