5 Easy Tips for Storing Christmas Decorations
Many of us look forward to putting up Christmas decorations each year. In fact, some can barely wait for Halloween to be over so they can get started! Once the decorations are up, the Christmas Spirit settles in full force as we make our homes as festive as possible.
But then Christmas ends, and eventually the tree and tinsel has to come down and be put away. It’s not as much fun, but storing your Christmas decorations doesn’t have to be frustrating, too.
Here are 5 easy tips for storing Christmas decorations that will make the process stress-free (and make it easier to decorate next year).
- Store holiday table decorations in a basket
If you do a lot of entertaining over the holidays, you likely have a beautiful dinner table setup. Rather than separating everything, grab a basket and gently place it all in there. Everything, including cloth napkins, tablecloths, table runners, placemats, centrepieces and place cards can be kept in one secure place for easy retrieval and setup next holiday season.
- Recycle and reuse
If you can avoid it, there’s no need to go out and buy new storage containers. Look around the house first and see what you already have available:
- Empty egg cartons, coffee filters, paper towel rolls, and tennis ball containers can all be used to store fragile Christmas ornaments.
- Cut cardboard paper towel rolls in smaller sections to store small trinkets before placing them in a Christmas cookie tin.
- Cut an old cardboard box into long rectangles and wrap lights or garlands around each panel (because no one likes tangles).
- Coffee cans work great for wrapping lights and garlands as well.
- Need a place to keep your wreath? Check your closets for a garment bag. They’re perfect for wreaths and wall-hanging holiday décor.
- Turn plastic tubs into hanging storage
Plastic tubs are great for storing decorations because they’re generally waterproof, airtight, and long-lasting. Hanging things up allows you to free up more space. Why not combine these two storage ideas?
Grab a Rubbermaid tub and a wooden dowel. Drill holes in the tub large enough for the dowel rods to fit through. In the bottom of the tote, you can place your tree skirt, lights, and garland (make sure to wrap the latter two around some cardboard to keep them tangle-free). Then hang the ornaments on the wooden dowels at the top. Now you have all of your Christmas tree decorations stored in one place.
- Cinch up your tree with old belts
Head to your local thrift store and stock up on some cheap but sturdy belts. These are perfect for wrapping around an artificial Christmas tree so it’s smaller and easier to store. It also keeps the branches from getting bent out of shape, so all you have to do next year is assemble the tree and do a bit of fluffing.
- Label everything
Before you put all of your containers in storage, remember to label as you go. Label every box, crate, and tote with a description of the contents. That way, you don’t have to go digging through every box just to find the one thing you need (like your favourite ugly sweater for the office Christmas party).
You can also label the parts of your artificial tree with coloured tape so you know which part goes where during assembly.
Bonus Tip: Reduce the clutter altogether
Only store what you‘ll actually use. Toss or donate any decorations that you know you won’t use next year. If you don’t like it anymore or it isn’t in good condition, don’t keep it in the house.
If you don’t have the space at home for your newly organized Christmas decorations, check out the storage units at Maple Leaf. A 5’ by 5’ locker is perfect for holiday décor and other seasonal items. Plus, our climate-controlled units will protect it all (especially your tree) better than garages or attics that are prone to temperature changes throughout the year.
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