10 Holiday Storage Tips

1. Decorating Tool Kit
Putting together a holiday tool kit is a great timesaver from year to year. Simply stock any toolbox (or shoe box) with the following: ornament hooks, wire cutters, nylon line, narrow ribbon or cording, scissors, florists' wire, twist ties, wire ties, and spare holiday light bulbs. Place your holiday tool kit in a prominent location with other holiday decorations and next year you'll be ready to decorate with ease!
2. Keep Items Together
For a display you want to re-create each year, be sure to wrap and store every item in one place. For example, a display with candles, garland, and ornaments can be boxed together, making it a snap to arrange the following year.
3. Clearly Plastic
Clear plastic storage tubs are indispensable in getting holiday items organized. Separate decorating elements by room, color, or style -- whatever makes sense for you, then slip a large paper sign down inside the tub, positioning it so you can read it easily through the side of the bin. For example, you may want to designate one tub for candles, another for holiday ribbons and bows, and another for the mantel garland.
4. Trip the Light Fantastic
Take a few minutes to organize strings of holiday lights before storing them away. Wind them around a sheet of sturdy cardboard or tubing, or simply gather the string into your hand in sections and secure with a twist tie. Or look for storage products at a discount or organizing store. Place all of your light strings in a large clear storage bin where they'll be easy to find. However, if some strings are used for special decorations, such as a mantel garland or over the door, then mark and keep them along with the other things needed for that particular display -- extension cords, timers, step-on switches, and so on.
5. Ornament Tips
The size and shape of holiday ornaments will determine how to store these decorations. Flat items such as icicles, flat snowflakes, and wooden cutouts can be stacked between layers of tissue and stored in clear shoe boxes or labeled gift boxes.
Medium-sized ball ornaments may fit nicely back into their original boxes or in a special divided-tray ornament container available at discount and home centers. Large or unusually shaped items may require separate boxes and additional protection using tissue, foam, or bubble wrap.
6. Label, Label, Label
Marking items is a great way to help distinguish similar accessories when you pull them out from year to year. Have you cut artificial garlands to fit a stair railing, mantel, and sideboard? Hang a labeled tag from each section for easy identification. Or store them separately in clearly marked bags.
7. Think Reusable
Reusable decorations can save lots of time and effort. Collect pinecones or glass ornaments attached to wires that can be placed into centerpieces, wreaths, and garlands. Look for pretty garlands and holiday picks (such as artificial evergreen sprays) at craft stores.
Purchase bolts of wired ribbon and make bows, crimping a florists' wire around each one so they can be attached to candlesticks, chandeliers, wreaths, or doorknobs, as needed. Wired ribbon will allow you to fluff and rearrange the ribbon to make it hang just the way you'd like.
8. Make Way
Need a place to store holiday decorations? Now may be the time to consider new storage options for your basement or storeroom. New shelving, cupboards, and organizing bins may be just the thing to tame storage challenges.
Plan ahead for future purchases by leaving some empty space on shelves or by buying a few extra clear storage totes.
9. Jog Your Memory
Right after the holidays is the perfect time to organize for next year. Write down menus, decorating ideas, measurements, guest lists, or any other tidbits of information that may be useful in the future. Did you run short on punch cups, hit on a great menu, or put together a terrific mantel decoration? Make a note or take a picture of your creations.
10. Finally, Save a Bundle
After-Christmas markdowns may be the best way to save on storage boxes, holiday decorations, ornaments, and lights. If you have time, check out the inventory of your favorite stores a few days before Christmas to see if it's worth attending a post-holiday sale. Make a list of things you'd like to purchase so you can zero in on these things even if the store is crowded.
When you get home with your purchase, be sure to label, pack, and store these items in logical places, ready for future holiday seasons!