The holiday season is over and now you’re just left with the sad task of taking down your tree and packing up all your Christmas decorations until next year. It’s not necessarily a fun or cheery chore, but it can be made easier with some smart storage tips. Read on to find out more!
Take a Picture of How All Your Decorations Fit in the Box
One of the hardest parts about storing holiday decorations is that they never manage to fit back in the box with ease. To solve that problem for years to come, take pictures as you unload the box so it’s easy to know how everything goes back in when the season is over!
Wrap Lights Around an Empty Paper Towel Roll
Why is it that lights always seem to come out of the box tangled? We don’t know the answer to that, but we do know that wrapping them around an empty paper towel roll will keep them organized and detangled. Don’t forget to cut a small slit in both ends so you can attach the beginning and end of each strand to the roll.
Use Binder Clips to Hang Wrapping Paper
Wrapping paper is notoriously a tough item to store considering its odd shape. Instead of stuffing it in the back of your closet only to find it all crumpled next year, attach a binder clip to the end of each roll. Then, connect the binder clip to a shower curtain hook and place it on a clothes hanger. Hang the wrapping paper in your linen closet for safekeeping until the next holiday season!
Put Ribbon Spools on a Dowel
The odd shape of a ribbon spool makes it a very strange item to package up. Keep your ribbons all together by placing them on a wooden dowel so you can pull the ribbon right off the roll next year.
Put Ornaments in Egg Cartons
Ornaments are a hard holiday decoration to store because they are fragile and usually hold a lot of sentimental meaning. Instead of risking them breaking by putting them in tissue paper, package them up in egg cartons. Put one ornament in each egg carton space and then secure it closed with a well-fitting rubber band. Make sure to store the ornaments on their own shelf or on top of other boxes for safekeeping.
Wrap Your Fake Tree With Plastic Wrap
Sometimes fake trees come with a bag or box for storage, but if you don’t have one or don’t want to purchase one, fold in all the branches and then wrap the tree with a roll of plastic wrap. While it’s not necessarily the most eco-friendly storage solution, it will definitely keep all the branches and lights in their places until next year.
Hang a Wreath on a Clothes Hanger
After you remove your faux wreath from your door or window, hang it onto an old, sturdy clothes hanger. Attach it with florist wire or twist ties, and then cover it with a trash bag or an old dry-cleaning bag. Your wreath will stay protected and dust-free until you’re ready to take it out again next year!
Whether you do so on the day after Christmas or you wait until well into the new year, sooner or later you’re going to have to put away your holiday decorations. Even though it’s not a task we usually look forward to, by using some smart storage techniques you can make sure that your decorations are stored safely and securely for years to come!
Erika focuses on email marketing, copywriting and merchandising at Zazzle, but she has a secret obsession with all things wedding! During the week you can find her writing punny subject lines while also pinning the latest wedding trends, and outside of the 9-5, she is usually cheering on the San Jose Sharks, reading a good murder mystery, or hunting for the best Philly Cheesesteak in the Bay Area.
