If you ask me, putting away all the holiday decorations isn’t nearly as fun as getting things out. Am I right? Talk about a letdown — not to mention all of the work. Whether you’re hauling out the holly or putting it back where it came from, you probably wonder every year if there’s a better way to store all that stuff. For good or bad, the answer is likely a resounding yes. Let’s look at 6 ways to better store your holiday decor.
1. Protect Ornaments
You likely have some fragile ornaments you have bought or inherited as heirlooms. It’s important to pack them carefully to avoid unpleasant surprises next year. But you really don’t have to buy specific ornament storage boxes unless you want to. You can actually make your own with some simple supplies. Use hot glue or super glue to attach paper cups to a piece of cardboard that fits your storage bin. Wrap ornaments in tissue paper and place them in the cups. You can build multiple levels this way, and use egg cartons for the small stuff.
2. Keep Lights Neat
Every year it’s the same thing…strand after strand of lights that you thought were neatly put away end up a tangled mess when you pull them out again. The solution is simple: wrap each string of lights around a rectangular piece of cardboard before packing them away.
3. Unload the Unused
If you’re anything like me, you tend to hoard Christmas decorations like a crazy cat lady. I know I have way too much, and every year I think I should get rid of some things. But do I? Rarely. Don’t be a crazy Christmas hoarder like me. This year, when you come across things you don’t really love, that are broken, or you never use, donate them. Maybe this year, instead of having 42 boxes of decorations, I can cut it to 41.5. 😉
4. Categorize
Aside from getting rid of things you don’t need, categorizing your decorations is a great idea. As you’re getting things out, take a mental inventory or even jot down notes of what should really be stored together. Make sure you know how many of these items you have, so you don’t forget to grab something that goes in each box when you’re putting things away. Maybe you have 3 boxes for ornaments, 1 for nutcrackers, 2 for lights, etc. Or, if you have specific things you like to put in each room, you could even store those items together.
5. Get the Right Storage
To properly store your decorations from year to year, you’ll need storage bins that fit your space and can sit neatly when stacked. A lot of people end up with cardboard boxes, but they don’t stack as well and aren’t as protective. What if your basement or garage flooded? Plastic bins are the way to go.
6. Label, Label, Label
Especially if you aren’t using clear storage bins, you’ll need easy-read labels for every box. It’s the only way to find specific items without wasting your time digging. This principle applies to all your organization projects, but you gotta start somewhere, right?
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