How to declutter after Christmas and purge what you don't need

Christmas is a time of peace, love and often, the accumulation of more stuff.

Aswe look towards a clean start in the New Year, we asked professional organizerElinorWarkentin for her advice on purging what you don't need.

"It's an excellent time of the yeardecluttering. Out with the old and in with the new. Theenergyyou will create will be fresher and more inspiring," she said.

Warkentinlives in a tidy385 square feet home in Vancouver and has been amember of theProfessional Organizers of Canadasince 2003.

Here are hertips on managingthe excess itemsin your life.

One in, one out

"You can probably take a look at what you got that's new, a present, that might replace what you already have," suggestsWarkentin.

So, ifyou've received or boughttwo pairs of socks this season, try getting rid of two existingpairs of socks.

Guilt-free returns

Warkentin says we shouldn't feel guilty aboutgifts we don't like; if a gift receipt is included that means it's OK to return it for something you will enjoy.

"I tell people, 'Don't keepthings out of obligation.' That's not what the person gave you,that's not what they want you to feel," said Warkentin.

Re-gifting, as long as it's to a different person, is also acceptable.

Wrapping paper galore

Try thinking of ways to reuse wrapping paper to keep it out of the garbage. Consider giving it to kidsfor crafts. Or it can be shredded and used as packaging down the road.

"In my building, I wanted to avoid thelandfill," said Warkentin. "So Iput up a nice box that said, 'Leave me your Christmas wrap and I'll take it to the daycare.'"

Christmas baubles

If you boughtnew Christmas decorations,try to keep to the amount of space you use to store your decorations the same as it was before the Christmas season.

Give the rest away to charity or friends.

"I designate an amountof space for everything ... Ifigure if Ihave more than what fits in that box, thenthat's too much for me."