January Tips to Organize and Put Away Your Christmas Decorations
Once January rolls around I always feel a little reluctant to take down the Christmas tree and all of the decorations around the house. So much effort went to putting those things out, it feels too soon to put away again!
On the other hand, I know many people who are ready to put the decorations away the moment the calendar changes to January 1st.
Once I do get going and pack everything away, the house suddenly feels so open and refreshed! Do you agree?
Regardless of whether you prefer to take down the Christmas tree right away or if you leave it up until January 30, the task must be done at some point.
So the next question to consider is, how can we put these things all away so that they are easier to unpack again next year? Trust me, your future-self will thank you for thinking ahead!
I was thinking about this question while I was putting away my own decorations this week, so I jotted down some of the strategies that I use myself and snapped some photos for you all to see how I pack up my Christmas decor for the year.
Read on for my tips to help you organize your own Christmas decor storage!
This little red cardinal ornament is a recent addition, I bought him from the Christmas Store in Banff in 2017!
Photo by: Lighter Side Interiors
1. Use clear Plastic bins
Clear plastic bins are always my choice for long term storage. It’s so much easier to find what you need when you can see what’s inside every bin. No more mystery boxes!
Plastic bins will also help to protect your decor from water, damp air or little critters while they are stored away for the year.
If you don’t own any yet, it’s worth it to buy a set of bins with good lids that close securely and are all the same size so that they can stack on top of each other.
Mirror ball ornaments are a MUST on my Christmas tree! I like to put these on the side of the tree facing the window so that they sparkle in the sunlight during the day!
Photo by: Lighter Side Interiors
2. label your containers
Whether you are using clear bins or boxes or any storage container your have on hand, it’s important to label them before you put them away. Put a note on the side and on top that indicates what is inside.
To make things even easier next fall, consider labelling your containers with numbers that indicate what order you should open them. For example, the Christmas tree lights have to go on the tree first, so that box should be opened first before the delicate ornaments.
It’s even more helpful to store sub categories of items all together. For example:
Bin 1: Christmas Lights
Bin 2: Textiles - Tree Skirt, Stockings, Placemats, Table Cloths
Bin 3: Ornaments for the tree
Bin 4: Special and delicate ornaments, family heirlooms
These little birds from Pier1 Imports are one of my favourite ornament sets. I bought these several years ago, but I kept the original boxes!
Photo by: Lighter Side Interiors
3. keep original Ornament boxes
Keep the original boxes for your delicate ornaments (if you have the space to keep them!). It’s worth the time to put individual ornaments back in their boxes for safe storage and transport.
Ornaments ready to be packed away until next year!
Photo by: Lighter Side Interiors
If you can, remember to hang on to those original boxes for your delicate ornaments. Putting them back in the same box is the easiest way to store them long term. It helps to write a note on the box if you are not sure which ornament it belongs with.
Photo by: Lighter Side Interiors
4. use cookie tins for Ornament Storage
If the original boxes are long gone, consider re-purposing metal cookie tins for ornament storage! These are great for keeping delicate and breakable items in, and these tins are often so pretty that they can be displayed as decor on tables or under the tree during the holiday season!
The dollar store is a great place to find cookie tins for this purpose, or you can do as I’ve done and simply collect & re-purpose them over time from gifts or food packages. Think of chocolates, wine or any other food item that might be delivered in a specialty metal tin. I use a pair of Christmas themed Boy Scouts popcorn tins (that my parents had saved since the early 1990’s!) and a beautiful white & gold tin that originally contained a bottle of chardonnay!
A cookie tin and some newsprint paper is all you need to store those ornaments for next year!
Photo by: Lighter Side Interiors
5. Wrap Delicate Items in tissue paper
Tissue paper is often readily available after gifts have been opened on Christmas morning. Don’t toss it out! Take a few minutes to gather all the tissue together and fold it up for re-use next year. White tissue paper is perfect for wrapping your delicate ornaments in before you store them away.
Another cute little cookie tin that I use for ornaments - it doesn’t have to be Christmas themed! I love this little tin with strawberries & birds on it for ornament storage, plus it’s still red & green right? Perfect!
Photo by: Lighter Side Interiors
6. Declutter as you go
Do you have any ornaments or decorations that you are tired of, or didn’t even bother to put out on display this year? Gather them all together in a box labelled “Christmas - Donate in Fall”.
Many charities and thrift stores will accept Christmas decor donations starting in August through November. This gives you time to mull it over and decide for sure if you want to let these items go!
Take a look at this box again in September, and send them on their way to a local charity if you feel confident that it’s time for them to go.
Before you pack up your ornaments, consider if you might want to donate a few of them next season! Are there any still packed away that didn’t even make it on to the tree this year? Consider setting them aside so that you can easily donate them next fall if you choose to.
Photo by: Lighter Side Interiors
Thanks for reading!
I hope these tips help you out as your take down your decorations this January!
Good luck and thank you for reading!
- Amanda
