"Haste Makes Waste" has been the theme of my holiday packing in years past. In my haste to pack up all the Christmas decorations, I wasted a ton of usable space. I would end up with oddly packed boxes and bins that took up way too much storage space throughout the rest of the year. So I thought I'd share some tips to keep all that holiday decor organized. I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me!
Wreaths and Greens
Wreath boxes are a great way to store holiday wreaths. The boxes protect them from getting smashed or bent by other boxes and bins of decor items. They come in all different sizes and materials depending on your needs. Canvas or polyethylene bags protect wreaths from dust and critters but may not prevent squashing by other heavy items. Plastic bins, on the other hand, will provide protection from dust and will also allow other items to be stacked on top.
If a wreath box isn't in your budget, consider wrapping your wreath in a large plastic bag like a garbage bag and hanging it on a wall in your storage area. This will prevent it from getting dusty and dirty and will keep it out of the way of other heavy items.
Greens can be stored in the same way - stashed in a wreath box or hung up in plastic bags.
Ornaments
Storing ornaments will, of course, vary by the type and number of ornaments you have. Our tree consists of some traditional Christmas bulbs as well as ornaments that were gifted to me growing up so there are all sorts of shapes and sizes.
Snapware makes a "snap n stack" ornament storage container that is great to store ornaments. It has three layers with cardboard dividers already in it. This baby holds 27-48 ornaments depending on their size! It has a nice top handle to carry it by as well. You could also DIY a similar item by using strips of cardboard or plastic cups inside a plastic tote. When we got married, we kept the empty boxes that our dishes came in. This year, I used those to DIY a couple of my own ornament organizers. I just used strips of cardboard to separate the ornaments. Getting rid of the individual boxes that each ornament came in saved me a TON of storage space!For simple Christmas bulbs that aren't glass/breakable, a gallon size ziploc bag (or two) works great. These bags can be slid into the nooks and crannies of a plastic storage tote relatively easily.
Wrapping Paper & Ribbon
If your Christmas wrapping paper is especially Christmas-y, then there probably isn't a need to have it mixed in with your general wrapping papers all year round. A simple low profile wrapping paper bin is a great place to store these seasonal items. This one holds up to 8 rolls of wrapping paper, plus has compartments for ribbons and bows. It could be slid under a bed or into a narrow storage compartment and will keep your wrapping goodies safe until next year. I actually found these at our local Aldi store for $7.99, while supplies last! This one is round and holds up to 9 rolls of wrapping paper and has a separate compartment at the top for ribbons and bows. It would also slip into an open space in the storage area. If you're more into using gift bags and need to store those until next year, this hanging gift bag organizer fits easily into a closet until you need it again.
Lights & Garland & Beads (Oh my...)
Christmas lights are my nemesis. It baffles me every year how we can take a perfectly working strand of lights off the tree, store them, and when we take them back out the following year 3/4 of the strand refuses to work. But buying all new lights every year just isn't in our budget so I try to store them as safely as possible hoping they'll come out of hibernation burning bright next Christmas.
There are light reels that you can buy that allow you to wrap up the lights easily and store them in a protective case. And of course, you could use those same reels for garland or beads. For a little bit of a cheaper option, there are very simple wind-ups that allow you to do the same thing but don't come with a case. If free is your thing, use empty wrapping paper tubes or paper towel rolls to wind your lights or garland around. Cutting a slit into each end allows you to tuck the end of the strand into the tube - then just wrap the strand around the tube and tuck the other end into the other slot. These can be laid in a plastic storage tote or just stood up in a storage area.
Other Decor
For all other holiday decorations, I lean towards stack-able plastic storage totes. Fragile items get wrapped in newspaper or tissue paper. Heavier items go on the bottom and blankets, stockings, holiday towels, etc go in between items to prevent breakage.
It's easiest for me to store all my holiday items together in our under-stair storage area in the basement. But if you have a lot of holiday decor, it may be easier to pack and store your decor by room. Bedroom decorations can go in an under-bed container. Bathroom items could be stored on the top shelf of the linen closet. Kitchen items could be stashed high up in the pantry, and living room or dining room decor could be stored in pretty baskets, fabric storage drawers, or ottomans.
This year, using some of these tips and tricks, I was able to pack all of our Christmas decor into two large plastic totes and one box. These items are stacked neatly under the stairs and easily accessible for next year.
Whatever needs you have for holiday decor storage, there are a lot of innovative product solutions out there. And, if you're not in the market to purchase anything, take a detailed look around your home and you're sure to find some simple and free storage solutions to protect all of your special holiday items.
Do you have any creative ways to store holiday items?
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