Part of the holiday fun and madness is sprucing the house with seasonal and festive decor. As much as that is fun, come the new year, it’s time to undress the Christmas tree and stow the decorations to be used again. Here’s where decluttering and undecorating can get challenging—the lights, wreaths, and baubles can fall apart and collect mold if not stored properly. However, one can make this task easy with a few handy tips.
1. Take pictures
Before one begins packing, make sure to take pictures of the decorated rooms. These photos will serve as a reference when it is time to decorate again in a few months. They will help one remember what decorations one has and where to place each item.
2. Get rid of what’s no longer usable
Some holiday decor items may be damaged beyond repair. This is why it is important to dispose of these damaged items before storing the other seasonal decorations. By doing this, one will not only declutter their storage space but also make it easier to organize the holiday decor. One will also know what decor they may have to buy during the holiday season.
3. Take inventory
After disposing of things that are no longer usable or required, take inventory of all the remaining decor. Grouping items into categories makes them easier to store and find. Moreover, the inventory can help determine how many storage bins one needs to pack up the seasonal decorations.
4. Group the items by season
It is common to use different decor items for each season. So, it is a good practice to group everything by season or holiday, followed by the type of decor. Mark and place common seasonal ornaments in a specific container and store season-specific ornaments in other containers. One can even use different colored bins to correspond to different seasons.
5. Clean the items before stowing
After taking down the decorations, be sure to wipe off any dirt. Cleaning them ensures that the items are clean before being stored for a year. While most decorations will remain free from dust once packed, giving them a final wipe before redecorating the home for the next holiday season is always a good practice.
6. Buy storage containers
One of the top ideas for seasonal decor storage is to purchase the right storage containers. This is especially important for decorations with sentimental value or passed down through the family. One can look into a range of storage options, including airtight containers. When purchasing, it is crucial to consider other factors, such as temperature of the room and available space, to store the items until the next festive season.
7. Buy same-sized containers
Another useful storage idea for seasonal decor is to buy the same-sized containers. Doing this will make them easier to stack and save space. One must also make sure the containers fit their storage space. Some items may be larger than others and might require different container sizes.
8. Store fragile items properly
Not all decorations are sturdy; some items may require additional care during packing. Before tucking away the item, one must cover the ornaments with bubble wrap to cushion them. Alternatively, one can even use newspaper or tissue paper. Properly packing the items ensures they are well protected until the next season.
9. Be careful with lights
When wrapping and packing lights for storage, one must be a little more careful. Lights usually have a thin wire that can get damaged if it is pulled too hard or bends in an awkward position. If this happens, one might need to either purchase a new set or get the wire soldered by a trained expert, both of which will cost money. Using a piece of cardboard to carefully wrap the string around is one way to wrap lights safely.
10. Plan ahead
Before wrapping seasonal decorations for storage, consider the placement of each item in the home for the upcoming year. After this, reverse-organize the process so that each item needed first goes into storage last, and vice versa. Packing ornaments and other decor systematically will make it easier to find and put up next season.
11. Use labels
Labels are one of the best ways to store seasonal decorations properly. After wrapping each item, label it to indicate what it is. So, even if they get mixed up in storage, labels help identify them. By doing this, one can save valuable time when unpacking and arranging the decorations.
12. Keep faux florals upright
When storing faux floral decor, it is important to maintain a specific position to prevent damage. Pack the florals upright in vases or buckets; purchasing these items is unnecessary if one has suitable containers at home. Keeping the flowers upright helps prevent them from being crushed. Additionally, placing them on higher shelves alongside larger items is a good idea.
13. Consider bed storage
If one is short on space at home, storing the decorations in the bed is one way to tuck them away neatly. While some beds come with in-built storage, others might offer ample space to push the containers underneath. If the boxes are visible, install a bed skirt to conceal them.
