Christmas decorations are beautiful but challenging. Like many people around this time of year, you dread digging out your tangled light strands from the garage. Aside from that, you also have to recover your flattened wreaths and wrinkled linens to make sure your house is festive for entertaining during the holidays.
I love decorating for Christmas, but I dislike all of the disorganization. However, after reading these tips shared by Zoe Gowen at SouthernLiving.com, storing your Christmas decorations might become a little more manageable for all of us.
Storage Tips for Christmas Decorations
Lights
Storing lights can be simple. All you need is some twist ties and heavy-duty ziplock bags. While removing the lights, check to ensure each bulb works, then wind the strand around your arm and tie it off. Place each coil in a bag to keep them organized. To make things even easier, consider storing the colored and white strands separately.
Ornaments
Throughout the year, hang onto any extra egg cartons and liquor and wine boxes. Here’s why. Place smaller ornaments in the egg cartons, and larger ones can be wrapped with tissue and placed in the compartmentalized wine boxes.
Wreaths + Garlands
If you keep these neatly in airtight storage bins, they will last for years. I like to stuff the bow loops with tissue balls and place a sheet of tissue between wreaths.
Stockings + Linens
Before packing them away for the year, make sure your linens are cleaned and pressed. Neatly wrap the linens and stockings in tissue paper and keep them inside airtight storage boxes.
Odds + Ends
For all of the different wires and hooks you might have, keeping them organized in a little tackle box will do the trick.
The recurring tips are to use tissue paper, airtight containers, and plastic bags. What I usually do is buy my storage supplies around mid-December. I like storing my decorations by room or vignette—this makes it easier to set up next year. For example, I store all my Christmas tree decorations in a box (baubles, garlands, picks, tree toppers, and tree skirts). Read Zoe’s article for a few more storage ideas.
You can enjoy your beautiful decorations knowing that you have a plan for takedown and storage. Don’t forget to be merry and bright!
Editorial Update: We strive to keep our content accurate and up-to-date. As part of our ongoing efforts, this article has been moved from Home + Garden to HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS on 09/14/2023.
