A Few Simple Tips for Organizing Christmas Decorations

Every year I decide it is high time to re-organize my Christmas decorations: I plan to buy plastic ornament storage boxes, red and green storage bins, and it will all be organized.  Then, sticker shock sets in when I realize just how many ornament boxes and storage bins I'd have to buy to get my stash under control.  This year, I was determined to make it work with items I already had on hand. 

Here are a few of my tips:

1. Group like items together.  Here are a few groupings I used: Garland and Wreaths, Tree Trimmings (which included tree skirt, ribbon, tree accents, tree topper), Outdoor Decor, Mantle Decorations, Ornaments, etc.....

2.  Purge unused items (trash or donate).  Every year we pull out almost 10 storage bins of Christmas "stuff" and I wonder "what in the world do we have in here"?  Then after I'm done decorating the house, half the boxes go back into storage still full of stuff. 

Last year I was determined to remedy this situation.  And then I got lazy.  It seemed easier to toss everything back into the boxes and just hide them away so I didn't have to look at it.  Then this Christmas season I spent half the days tripping over half full boxes which moved from room to room while I tried to finish decorating.  So I did it the right way this year:

• Reserve one box for Goodwill donations.  If you do this right, you will have at least one less box to go back into storage.
• Have several garbage bags on hand to trash non-working stands of lights, broken ornaments, greenery, etc.  Check with your village, they may have a place to drop off the strands of Christmas lights.
• Label your boxes.  Masking tape and a sharpie will do.  This way, next year when we get the tree up I will only grab the tree trimming and ornament box until I have more time to decorate

3.  Ornament Storage.  Where do I start with this one?  I'm still looking for better ideas and I do something different every year.  Here is what I did this year (in pictures).  I think this one might stick.

This:

Became this:

I grouped and wrapped other breakable ornaments in small storage boxes:

Thank you 2010 Wall Street Journal, I knew there was a reason I subscribed to you....

4.  Use stockings, tree skirts, Christmas throws, anything soft, to provide extra cushions for breakable items. 

5.  Store Christmas lights in individual containers/bags.  This way you won't be cursing under your breath next year as you struggle to de-tangle and test multiple strands of lights!  I used gallon food storage bags and labeled each strand either color or white.   

6.  Take one last trip around the house.  Every year I sigh a breath of relief when I'm finished packing up the boxes and everything is once again stored away. 

Then I walk into my bedroom and dang it, I left a bowl of ornaments out.  Then I walk into the bathroom and ugh, there are those poinsettias or amaryllis.  In the back entry, a strand of lights meant to go up outside (and never made it) is sitting on the bench.  Ok, I think you get the point.  This year, I walked around two times making sure I gathered everything together.  I STILL forgot to take down the advent calendar but eventually it was put away.

7.  Just in case you miss something, leave an extra storage bin easily accessible but out of site!  I left two storage bins in our front closet.  One for outdoor lights and one for "winter" items I was not ready to put away just yet. 

Do you have any tips to share?  I'd love to hear them!

Sharing at: Chic on a Shoestring / My Romantic Home / Craftberry Bush / It's Overflowing