Opening your seasonal boxes and taking each ornament out is like rediscovering a Christmas treasure - it’s exciting and fun. But putting them away can be a headache. What took five mins to take out and put on display now seems to take forever to put away. Why doesn't anything go back in the box the same way it came out?
Never fear, we're here to help! To make your Christmas takedown easier, here are seven handy tips for storing your Christmas decorations.
To make sure ornaments are kept safe and organized, it's a good idea to put them in separate containers. You can buy specialty containers that have a cubby for each ornament, or if you want to save money, you can make your own. Empty egg cartons are perfect to be reused as ornament storage. Not only will the ornaments stay safe, the cartons can be stacked for easy storage too.
For some that opt for a real Christmas tree, your most difficult task will be to figure out what day the garbage man is coming to pick it up so you can drag it out to the curb.
For others, it's not so simple as you’ll need to store it somewhere. There are a few ways you can store a tree. You can purchase special bags that are designed for storing your tree. Alternatively, you can use an old hockey bag or large duffle bag.
If you don't want to put your tree in a bag, you can use old belts. The belts tie the tree together and make it more compact.
If none of these options seem appealing, you can leave your tree decorated and shrink-wrap your whole tree! Not only will this keep your tree looking good, but it will make set up next year that much easier.
Christmas lights always look beautiful...until they're tangled in a big ball. Instead of spending hours sorting lights every year, store them differently to make the job easier next time. To do this, wrap your lights around a piece of cardboard. This will make a spool that will keep your light strings from knotting. You can then place a number of cardboard spools side by side and store your lights together without getting them intertwined.
Wreaths provide a festive welcome when people come to our homes. Even though we love them, they are the hardest thing to store due to their awkward shape and size. But thankfully there are few ways to store these delicate seasonal pieces. The first is to purchase a wreath storage container or box. But, if you don't want to buy yet another container, there are other ways to store a wreathstore a wreath. Grab a garbage bag and wrap it around the wreath, then hang it on a hanger. The hanger can then be placed in your closet or storage room.
Christmas means gift wrap. Due to its awkward shape, it's the hardest thing to store. Instead of letting it sit on the floor, use existing closet space and make a wrapping paper caddy. Get a small section of wire closet shelving and screw it in vertically to the side of your closet wall. Once installed, you can easily slide the rolls in or out without them falling down or unraveling.
The secret to good storage is having the right containers. Containers come in all shapes and sizes, so it's important to purchase ones that suit your existing storage space. Plastic containers and totes are generally best because they are easy to store and will keep your decorations dry and dust free. To make it even easier when taking out the decorations next year, consider purchasing clear containers so you can find exactly what you're looking for.
All that wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, tags, and tape need to go somewhere when you're done! Consider converting an old suitcase to store all these things in one spot. You could even include non-Christmas wrapping paper and have one go-to place for all your gift wrapping needs throughout the year!
What's your favourite Christmas storage tip? Share it in the comments below!