How to Declutter and Streamline Your Holiday Decorations

You may love decorating for the holidays, but I’m guessing you don’t love the task of putting all those decorations away when it’s over. Most of us don’t. 

But it’s the perfect time to declutter and organize your holiday decorations. This is a great way to make sure you’ll have a more stress-free and fun-filled time putting them away next year!

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Dealing with Damaged or Unwanted Ornaments

The first step is to look at the condition of your ornaments. Do some of them need repairs? Or maybe they’re beyond repair? If an item is broken beyond repair or no longer means anything to you, it’s time to let it go.

If it’s in good repair, you can donate it. If not, recycle or throw it away.

Categorize Your Decorations

Once you’ve gotten rid of any ornaments that aren’t worth keeping, it’s time to organize what you have. To streamline the organization process, start by categorizing your holiday decorations.

Create categories such as:

• Ornaments.
• Lights
• Tree toppers
• Wreaths
• Tinsel
• Figurines.

And so on. This will make it easier to sort and store your items later on.

Organize Your Decorations

Now you’re going to need some storage solutions.

Use Storage Containers

Get in sturdy storage containers. You can buy ones that are specifically designed for holiday decorations. They often come with dividers and compartments, making it easier to keep different items separate and organized.

If that’s not in the budget, other options include sturdy packing, shoe or product boxes. If you’re doing this right after a gifting holiday, you probably have quite a few of those to choose from!

Label each container according to its contents, so you can easily locate specific decorations next year.

Use Ziploc Bags

For smaller items such as ornaments or strings of lights, consider putting them into resealable plastic bags before putting the bags into a box. Place each item in an individual bag and label it accordingly.

Ziploc bags are great for preventing tangling and keeping delicate ornaments protected.

Wrap Fragile Items

To protect fragile ornaments or delicate figurines, wrap them individually in tissue paper or bubble wrap before placing them in storage containers.

This will prevent any damage during transport or while in storage. (And if means the next time you move, you won’t need to even open these up to repack them!)

Store Lights Properly

Avoid tangled messes next year by storing your holiday lights properly. One effective method is to wrap them around a piece of cardboard tubing – like from gift wrap or paper towels – or use a dedicated light storage reel. This will keep them neat and prevent any damage.

Consider Vertical Storage Solutions

If you’re limited on storage space, remember to make use of walls. Install hooks or pegboards on the walls of your storage area to hang wreaths or other decorative items. This will free up valuable floor or shelf space.

Create an Inventory System

To make future organizing even easier, create an inventory system. This can be as simple as a spreadsheet or a detailed catalog with descriptions and photos of each item.

If you’re in a hurry, just snap pictures with your phone and use those to jot down your inventory later. This way, you will know exactly what you have and what you may need to replace in the future.

Store Decorations in a Climate-Controlled Area

To keep your holiday decorations in the best possible shape, store them in a climate-controlled area. Extreme temperatures or humidity can damage delicate items.

Well-insulated basements, attics, and closets are ideal because they’ll keep a consistent temperature throughout the year. If you have a self-storage unit, make sure it’s climate controlled before using it to store ornaments.

Donate or Recycle Unwanted Decorations

Remember, if you have any decorations that are still in good condition but no longer working for you, you can donate them. Local charities, schools, shelters and community centers can benefit from them.

And it’s a way to spread the joy of the holiday season by giving these items a new home.