Once the busy holiday season is over and you’ve had a chance to relax, consider organizing and storing your holiday decorations in a way that will make things even easier next year. Here are some tips that should make next Christmas a cinch:
- Holiday lights - When packing up your holiday lights, use masking tape and a permanent marker to label each strand and where it goes. You can keep strands from getting tangled by wrapping them around a piece of cardboard, such as a cut-out lid from a shoe box top. You can also use an empty coffee can – just cut a slit in the plastic top, put the receptacle end inside the can, and wrap the lights around the outside. Extra bulbs can be kept inside the can. Also, if you store colored lights in a dark place, then they won’t fade.
- Ornament storage - Wrapping ornaments in zip-locked plastic bags prevents scratches, and storing the delicate ones at the top of the box keeps them from being damaged if you have to dig through the box. Egg cartons also work well for packing smaller ornaments, while partitioned wine boxes can be used for larger ones. Save the used tissue paper from opened gifts and use it as packing material for your ornaments.
- Labels – Organizing decorations can be much easier with some simple labels. By storing indoor and outdoor holiday decorations in different labeled boxes, you can decorate one area of the house at a time. Putting a few bullet points on each box will allow you to easily identify the contents. You might even want to mark one box “Open First” with the holiday decorations that you’ll need right away.
- Smaller items - Clear food storage containers work well for extra ornament hangers, gift tags, small holiday decorations, and other easy-to-lose items.
- Bulky items - Zippered garment bags can be used to store larger, bulky holiday decorations. They’ll take up less room than a box, and you can hang the garment bag from a hook in your garage or a spare closet in your house.
- Wrapping paper - A clear garment bag is also a great place to store wrapping paper so you can easily see what you have on hand. If you have a paper shredder, consider shredding your used wrapping paper after opening gifts, and using the shredded bits for packing material for your ornaments and fragile holiday decorations.
- Wreaths - While a wreath storage box is handy, it’s not necessary. To keep your wreath looking fresh for next year, you can also wrap it loosely in plastic and hang it on a hook in the garage.
- Candles – Storing candles in a cool dark place prevents them from warping or losing their color. Alternatively, you can use candles in a neutral color so you can leave them out all year, and decorate the bases with holiday greenery every Christmas.
Organizing decorations now is a simple way to make the holidays more relaxing so you can enjoy the magic of this special time of year. Check out our Pinterest board for more Organizing Tips.
From all of us at McCaffrey Homes, we wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!
