As the crisp autumn air settles in and the festive spirit of fall begins to take over, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how to store your seasonal holiday decorations. With expert tips and strategies, you can keep your fall decor in top shape, ensuring it’s ready to be enjoyed year after year.
From organizing your bins to preserving delicate items, these smart storage solutions will help you maintain the beauty and longevity of your decorations, all while minimizing clutter and making the transition to the next season a breeze. So whether you are organizing an apartment in New Haven, CT, or a home in New Bedford, MA, be sure to check out these tips on how to store your holiday decorations.
Put decorations away how you set them up
Putting holiday decorations away in an organized manner, similar to how you set them up, makes decorating easier and quicker next year.
“The best tip for storing holiday decorations is to put them away in a manner that they come out how you set them up,” shares Calm Order Professional Home Organizing. “For example, if you have more than one tree in your home, keep all those decorations for the specific tree together. It makes it more efficient to be able to decorate your home in stages when you are busy.”
“Store, and clearly label, your holiday decor in bins according to the room they’ll be set up in (i.e. all living room decor together in 1 or 2 bins). That way when it comes time to decorate next year, you’ll be able to easily locate which decorations belong in which rooms. It can also help you easily set up your decorations one room at a time when time is tight and you’re unable to decorate the whole house in just one go,” adds OrganizerAZ911.
Take photos of your decorated spaces
Taking photos of your decorated spaces helps you remember exactly how everything was arranged, making it easier to recreate the look next season. It also provides inspiration and allows you to build on previous ideas, ensuring your holiday setup stays fresh while saving time and effort.
Cathy Borg of In and Out Organizing notes, “Take photos of your decorated spaces before taking them down, and store these pictures with your decorations to create a visual guide for next year’s setup.”
Label all four sides of clear storage bins
Labeling all four sides of clear storage bins makes it easy to identify the contents from any angle, saving time when you’re searching for specific items.
“The best way to store holiday decorations is with the large clear storage bins and make sure you label all four sides. This will make it easier to stack and keep the different holidays in the storage area in the order they appear on the calendar,” recommends Cynthia Braun of Organize Your Life.
“I like using medium-sized, clear bins to store decorations so I can categorize them and avoid lots of the smaller decorations getting lost in a large bin. I label the top and side of the clear bins so that you can see what’s in each bin at different angles. I also use the bins I have as a visual reminder and boundary for myself that the only decorations I hold onto fit within one of the bins I have,” shares Katie McCann of Haven NY.
“Use clear, stackable bins with color-coded labels for each holiday to easily identify decorations at a glance and keep them organized,” adds VQ Spaces.
Cover wreaths in flexible plastic
Covering wreaths in flexible plastic protects them from dust, moisture, and potential damage while in storage, helping them stay fresh and vibrant year after year.
The Chicago Organizer states, “Wreaths are one of the trickiest items to store when not in use. They are usually very large and the shape doesn’t fit well in containers. Where possible, I suggest covering the wreath with a sheet of flexible plastic like the kind painters use, a plastic bag, or a piece of fabric, and hanging it on the wall in your storage room or garage.”
Use QR codes
Using QR codes on holiday storage bins offers a quick, tech-savvy way to keep track of decorations.
“I love using QR code stickers that link to a free app. You take a quick photo of the items inside the bin, and link it to the QR code. That way being in storage or not you can always access what is inside each bin,” shares Ryen Toft, a Pro Organizer at Simply Luxe.
Go through existing decorations before purchasing new ones
Reviewing your existing decorations before buying new ones can save both time and money by helping you avoid duplicate purchases and assess any gaps in your holiday setup.
“The key to pain-free storage is checking on your decor before the holidays even begin. Prior to buying any new decorations, I like to go through all my existing decor to remind myself of what I already own and make sure it’s still in good working condition. This way, I can mindfully shop for new decor and reduce the likelihood of needing more storage bins for an overwhelming amount of stuff after the holidays,” remarks Make Room by Monica.
Select a specific location to keep your holiday decorations
Having a dedicated storage space for holiday decorations makes setup and cleanup much more efficient, as you’ll always know where to find each item.
“Select a primary location where you can keep all your holiday decorations in one place,” states The Organized Style Chicago. “Organize by the respective holidays using transparent or color-coordinated storage containers of similar shapes and sizes to help maximize your storage space.”
“As it relates to holiday decorations, the first thing someone must do is determine the space where you will store the items,” adds Elizabeth Dodson, Co-Founder of HomeZada. “For instance, will you store the boxes or bins of holiday decorations in an attic, a garage, a basement, or a specific closet? This is the first question to ask because this will determine the size and weight of your bins.”
Attach photos of the bin contents
Attaching photos of bin contents provides a quick visual reference, saving time and effort when you’re looking for specific decorations.
“A creative way to label your storage bins is by attaching photos to the outside. Snap a picture of the decorations in place during the holiday season or simply take a photo of the bin’s contents. This visual aid will make finding specific decorations a breeze,” suggests A Meaningful Space.
“For a festive twist on storing holiday decor, grab some colorful, clear bins to store your sentimental treasures. Take a picture of what you’re putting in each bin and tape it to the top,” adds Ladycat Packing & Organizing.
Sort by holiday
Sorting decorations by holiday simplifies the storage and retrieval process, ensuring you can quickly find what you need when the season arrives. This organization method also prevents items from getting mixed up.
Living. Simplified. remarks, “Keep decorations for each holiday in a separate bin to save time. This way, you’ll only pull out the decor you need and know exactly where each piece belongs when putting things away.”
Use colored bins for different holidays
Using colored bins for different holidays makes it easy to identify and access your decorations at a glance.
“Categorize your holidays,” states Lettuce Organize. “Keep each holiday decoration bin separate. I love using colored bins for different times of year: red and green for Christmas, blue for Hanukkah, and orange for Halloween.”
Assign a number to bins
Assigning numbers to bins helps create an organized and efficient system for storing holiday decorations.
Aimee Hutzell of Inspired Living NW based in Portland, OR, remarks, “When organizing and storing holiday decorations, assign each bin or container a number. Then, in your notes app or on paper, jot down the numbers in each category and what they contain. That way if you are only looking for a specific item, you know exactly which number bin to pull.”
Donate things you didn’t use this year
Donating decorations you didn’t use this year helps reduce clutter and ensures that items still have a purpose, benefiting others who may appreciate them.
“Before you put everything away, let go of anything you didn’t use or won’t use again to make room for the new things you bought this year,” recommends Donna Barwald of Neatly Arranged.
When putting away holiday decor into storage, I recommend not storing decor that you didn’t put out this year. Donate it instead,” suggests Malka Rodal of The Organized Fairy.
Michelle of Boomer Eco Crusader adds, “Adopt a use-it-or-lose-it mentality for seasonal decorations. Whether you have one tote box of holiday decorations, or six like me, be vigilant about keeping only the things you’re going to use. After you’ve finished decorating, declutter everything left in the tote boxes.”
Hide bins using curtains
Hiding bins with curtains helps maintain a clean, organized appearance while keeping your storage area discreet.
“If you’re in an apartment, stack the bins on top of each other and hang a curtain in front for a clean finish – no one will ever know what’s behind the curtain,” shares Dallas Organizer.
If you don’t have much, store holiday decor together
“We love building on that holiday sparkle by storing all household holiday items together,” shares JoJo Heinke, co-founder of Spruced Co. “Rather than fishing them out from the back of an overstuffed cabinet, consider storing your hand-painted turkey platter or festive holiday hand towels alongside your ornaments and lights. That cherished holiday children’s book will become even more special if brought out at the start of the season rather than stored on the shelf all year round.”
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