While creating our winter wonderland at home was an exciting and magical process, taking down, storing, and organizing our Christmas decorations can be anything but. Today’s blog post will share my final tips and tricks for organizing and storing your Christmas decorations.

Get Organized

Nothing I am sharing today is earth-shattering brain science, but sometimes it’s the simple fixes that make all the difference. Taking the time to get organized and having a solid plan is vital. Before, I used all my leftover cardboard boxes to store my decorations; without fail, they would be crumbling by the next year.

I decided to make a small investment and purchase a few totes. I selected red and green containers so they would be easily identifiable (especially since we like to move often). Finding the perfect storage tote is super easy this time of year, check in the Christmas sections! Labeling each tote is the next step to get organized.

I have found over the years that the labels I did years ago still apply today. You can organize by color, item, breakable vs. unbreakable, accessories, ornaments, etc. Take the time to label and organize as you put things away this year, and you will save yourself tons of time when you’re unloading next year.

Garland, Wreaths, & Bows

Utilize Wall Space

Remember back in the Christmas Tree Edit and the Garland Edit I said the most crucial step was the dreading fluffing and you spent all time fluffing and getting it nice and lush, the last thing you want to do is shove them in a tote.  There is a simple solution!  Instead of squeezing it into a tote, hang it. This will reduce fluffing time next year and is a great space saver.

Most of my greenery is stored in our closet under the stairs. If you store it in your attic, simply put a nail up and hang your garland. Using long sheetrock nails, I hang the garland and a few wreaths across the walls of our closet. I also hung more garland in our attic since I ran out of room under the stairs. I never have to fluff any of our garland, which is SO nice!

Wreaths

If your garland or wreath does not have a hanging loop, simply slip it onto a coat hanger. You can even store the wreath hanging in a trash bag to keep the mess at bay. Place the trash bag under the wreath, pull it up over the top with the opening facing up, then tighten it around the hanger. There are wreath containers you can buy, but I have found it difficult to find the right sizes that I need. Don’t forget to label your garland (mantel, doorway, etc.) to make sorting next year easier.

Bows

For bows that I reuse each year, I try to keep them hanging so that the ribbon doesn’t get wrinkled. The simplest way I have found is to use the wire already attached to your bow and twist this around a coat hanger. Depending on the size of your bows, you can probably fit at least 2 or 3 big bows on one hanger.

Keep it Untangled

String Light Storage

This year, I incorporated a ton of battery-powered lights in my small spaces (see how to style small spaces for the holidays). Knowing there is no way to stuff them back into the tiny plastic box that they came in, I needed a solution! The easiest and cheapest way to store your lights and ribbons is CARDBOARD!!! Yes, there are great storage containers made for string lights, but I promise that using a piece of cardboard will work just as well and make it easy to store them in your containers.

Start by cutting a piece of a box (make sure the cut portion fits inside your tote). Next, tape one end to the cardboard piece, and start wrapping, and secure the opposite end with another piece of tape! For ribbon/beaded garland, I keep the spools they came on for easy rewrapping. If you didn’t keep them, you can use this same cardboard solution for them!

Storing Picks and Stems

After all my packing, I always seem to end up staring at my long picks and stems with no bins left!  Such a simple solution.  Place them in a Christmas vase and store them on a shelf in your closet or attic.  This makes them easily accessible during other holidays for creating unique tablescapes and spaces. I also have a long tote that is designed to slide under a bed that I keep picks and ribbon in.

Keep Moisture Out

When storing holiday or seasonal decorations in your garage, it is vital to keep moisture out. Those little silica packets you will see in boxes when opening your presents, KEEP THEM! Place a few inside each tote to keep the contents free of moisture and mold!

Taking the time to organize can be difficult when you are just trying to get the job done as quickly as possible. If you follow these simple tips, I promise you will be thanking yourself in 10-11 short months when you pull all those Christmas decorations from storage. They will be organized and fluffed, making the start of your holiday season decorating process effortless.

SHOP

Christmas Storage

Christmas Tree / Garland / Wreaths / Ribbon

Christmas Accessories

Living Room / Kitchen Furniture

Living Room Accessories – NON-Christmas

Kitchen Accessories – NON-Christmas