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!

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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