Tips and Tricks for Organizing, Packing, and Storing Your Holiday Decorations

A beautifully decorated home during the holiday season puts most people in a festive mood. Some families even turn decorating into a holiday tradition with special treats and music to make it its own occasion. However, when it comes to putting all those decorations away, some people turn into a Scrooge. Instead of avoiding the task or rushing it through it, only to see the error of your ways next holiday season, why not make this the year to organize and properly store everything from wreaths and garlands to linens and ornament? These suggestions for getting your holiday decorations in good shape before you tuck them away may take some of the pain out of this chore.

Upgrade Your Storage

One of the features of a well-organized home, whether it is the kitchen pantry or seasonal decorations, is having the right storage containers to hold your stuff. Invest in storage containers to make it easier, rather than relying on old boxes that take up a lot of room or barely stay together year after year. Try to save packaging for larger items, such as an artificial tree or outdoor inflatables. If you do not have the original box, however, purchase a storage bag to keep your artificial tree in tip-top shape.

Clear storage totes are a great choice because they are roomy and easy to stack; plus, they are durable and transparent, so you can see what’s inside without opening them. If you opt for thick plastic containers in holiday red and green, label them to indicate their contents to prevent the need for digging around to find your favorite decorations. You may also want to number your containers to keep track of how many you should look for when taking them out of storage.

Scale Back and Weed Out

Your taste and style may change from year to year, even with your holiday décor. When you update or replace decorations, including new stockings, tree skirts, or ornaments, get rid of the old ones you do not plan on displaying anymore. In addition, any broken or worn items should either be repaired or discarded rather than just stuffed back in a box and taken out again next year.

By decluttering your holiday collection, you can free up needed attic or garage storage space and make the most of the room you have. See if any of your decorations are in good condition and donate them rather than tossing them in the trash.

Sort by Category

Another tip for storing your holiday décor is to focus on an organizational system. Classify your items either by type, color, or other designation to make it easier to keep track of what you have. For example, organize your decorations by room with boxes labeled as such. When you are ready to decorate next holiday season, you can pull out your dining room, family room, and kitchen boxes and get straight to work. 

If you prefer to categorize decorations by type, consider separate containers for each of the following:

• Indoor lights

• Outdoor decorations

• Wreaths

• Garlands

• Dishes, barware, and serving platters

• Tree skirts

• Stockings and holders

• Nutcrackers

• Ornaments

• Village houses

• Other decorations

• Wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, and tags

By taking inventory of your assortment and putting them in some sort of order, you can see the benefits every year when you are ready to decorate and know exactly where and how you stored everything.

Gather Your Supplies

You’ve got your storage containers, even a wreath box to protect your front door beauty in the off-season; now, it is time to pack it up. Get materials, including tape, pens for labeling, and packing paper or bubble wrap. Work through your collection, taking time to carefully wrap breakable ornaments or glass accents. A container with compartments is a great idea for your delicate baubles and collectibles for the tree, as well as stackable storage bins to keep your holiday decor well organized.

Take your time by carefully wrapping each breakable and separating each string of lights and garland and placing them in their respective containers. Add a layer or two of bubble wrap or paper in between for extra padding, and if possible, do not overload the boxes. Make sure your storage containers are airtight to keep out musty smells, mildew, or pests.

Mind the Details

Since you made all the effort to get more organized, go the extra step by paying attention to those smaller minutiae that can cause problems down the road. For instance, remove batteries from any stored decorations to prevent any corrosion while in storage. Also, do not store candles in a space where the temperature fluctuates because they could melt and ruin other decorations.

If you store linens, including tablecloths, dish towels, placemats, wash and dry them before putting them away. The same is true for holiday throw blankets and pillows; inspect them for stains and freshen them to remove odors that can compound when kept in a container for the next ten to eleven months.

Not sure where to find all your storage needs for your holiday decorations? Max Warehouse has it covered for the best in storage and organization. Check out our assortment of bins and containers to protect your seasonal favorites so you can enjoy them from one year to the next. We also have decorations for inside and outdoors if you need to replace any décor that has seen better days.