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If you’re anything like me, when it’s time to put away the holiday decor, I am so ready to put it away that everything tends to find a haphazard place in a box in the basement. I don’t always remember what I put where and then it feels like a disorganized mess left for me the next year. Last year I took some time to minimize our holiday decorations and this year I went a little further with the organization. I have a pretty good system and thought you might enjoy seeing what I’ve come up with. Sources are linked up below.
Holiday decorations should follow familiar organizational strategies. This makes it easier to keep track of these seldom used items and makes it easier to locate and find what we need when we need it.
When I start undecorating I quickly go through the house and gather things up by type and put them on the kitchen table. Then once I have everything taken down I take those items and put them in bins or boxes.
SEPARATE AND GROUP BY CATEGORY – Sort like with like – soft items like stockings and the tree skirt and go together in a bin. Garland and other greenery can be stored together.
I use these white storage totes in the basement for holiday decor and storage of other items as well. They’re large, stack easily and keep the storage light and bright in the basement.
I put smaller ‘collections’ in 2 gallon zip top bags to keep the items together and easy to grab and decorate. Lights, smaller greens, and ornaments are great to keep sorted out this way.
EVERYTHING HAS A PLACE – Make sure you have a place for your decor and that it is easy to locate. The kids each have their own ornament box – this keeps their ornaments separate and some day they’ll be able to take their box to their own homes.
ONLY KEEP WHAT IS USED – If there are decorations you haven’t put out for a while consider donating them instead of continuing to store them. It’s okay to not keep everything. I feel like less is more when it comes to holiday decorations.
I use large divided storage bins for large items like village homes. They keep these items together and eliminate the need for the large, bulky boxes that these items came in.
Rose McCluskey Says...
I saw a red holiday wrapping paper bag. They were sold out, just at the store. I actually do my Christmas stuff as organized as can be. We do every other Christmas at my parents in Minnesota. I have a large tote with small tree and ornaments for away years. Then medium tote with extra ornaments for big tree years. I really like those tree bottom covers, they are metal. I am not sure exact name. I am more old fashion, but I like the clean look. Do you prefer totes with clip handles or any tote. I do love the clear ones. You have great ideas and life hacks. Sometimes we do have antique from my parents, Christmas decor. I never know what to do. My grandpa gave us a 3 foot santa. I am not getting rid of it but we don’t put it out. We might though. My nana gave us yard sleigh and reindeer, I am donating them. I am grateful but there’s only so much room and someone else can enjoy it.
On decluttering, my friends been going through old stuff. She asks herself, Does this bring me joy? Nope-donation or posts it on FB and gives it to friend. Thank you for all you love you share. I got your new book and it’s great. Actually it made me decide to get another one I have wanted for a while.
I am a crafter and that’s a hard one, even if you try hard. Thank you!
Good morning! I hope you have or are enjoying your coffee.
Love,
Rose
Robin Says...
You should take the batteries out of the lights lest they leak battery acid, yuck! 🙂
Monica Says...
I have a lot of Christmas decorations. I store them based on where they go instead of like items together. This makes it much easier when I go to decorate each year. For instance, everything that goes in my family room is in green bins, everything that goes in my living and dining room goes into a red bin. My kitchen and misc areas (bathrooms, front door, etc…) stuff goes in a clear bin. This way I can decorate room by room instead of pulling everything out at once. When I’m ready to decorate, I pull the green box out first and decorate my family room. Next I pull out my red boxes and decorate my living and dining rooms. Then I pull out my clear boxes and decorate my kitchen and other areas like bathrooms. I can’t imagine putting all like items together and having to pull all the boxes out, then trying to figure out what goes where. I also take pictures of everything every year so I know how it was the previous year.
Marcia Says...
Thanks, Becky. I have a similar, less detailed system. I need your encouragement to pitch things, especially things the kids made 20 years ago 🙂
Julie Barnes Says...
Thanks for the great ideas! I too had a bin for each of my children and their ornaments. They are all out of the house now, and I found my ornament collection sorely lacking this year, haha! I will be thoughtful in what I purchase next year for our tree. I haven’t purchased ornaments in a long, long time! Happy New Year!
Mary Says...
Hi Becky. I love your website. I just bought an artificial Christmas tree this year. The box that it came in weighs a ton. Any ideas on how to store a 7 foot tree?
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorThank you Mary! I use a tree bag!