Every single year, when I’m ready to decorate the mantel (or the tree or whatever), everything is never all in one box. Every single year, I have to pull down all of the boxes to find all of the stuff for the mantel (or tree or whatever).
Every single year, my whole house is torn up for a solid three weeks while I try to get it all decorated. And every single year, I’m tired of it all before Christmas even gets here because of how much the mess stresses me out.
Well…I hope I’ve come up with a way to help myself next year! It isn’t rocket science or anything earth shattering. It’s just a list. Let me explain.
I’ve tried several times to attach a list of what’s in each box to the exterior, but the lists fall off before the next Christmas gets here because of the temp changes in the garage where my Christmas boxes are stored. So…I wind up having to pull all of the boxes down at one time. Chaos reigns!!!
So, in case you’re looking for a way to organize your Christmas decor and in case you’re interested, I’ll explain my thought process.
I already have eight large storage bins, so I couldn’t justify buying all new, clear boxes that I could see through. I had to come up with a way to use what I already have and figure out how to identify what’s in each box without trying to attach a list to the outside (since they won’t stay).
This photo shows only a fraction of the decorations that I’ve managed to accumulate over the years (time to purge!). Believe it or not, the mess that you see in this picture is really an organized mess.
The coffee table holds all of the decorations out of the kitchen (not counting dishes that get stored in cabinets year round), one end of the couch holds all of the mantel decorations, the other end holds all of the tree ornaments, all of the glittery picks used on the tree and in the tree topper are on the floor, the deco mesh poufs used in the tree are in a pile on the floor, the glittery tree garland is in a pile beside the mesh on the floor, miscellaneous items used to create vignettes are in one of the chairs and a purge pile has been started in the other. The pile of paper beside the tree is just the packaging material that I use to re-wrap fragile items with when I put them away. Whew!
Tip #1: The first step is to arrange your decorations into piles of what you’d like to have packed together. Do you want all of your mantel decorations together? All of your tree decorations together? Or would you rather have your decorations sorted by color? It’s totally up to you. Write a list, as you go, of what will be in each box.
I basically wound up using one box for each pile of stuff, but in some cases, more than one pile would fit in a box. As I packed a box, I wrote out of list of what was in that box. My handwriting is so sloppy that I wound up typing and printing the list.
Tip #2: Number the outside of each box. Make sure to place the list that you just created on top of the items that are in box #1.
After all of the boxes were packed and the list was typed, I laid the list on top of the items in one of the boxes. The list will be the first thing that you see when the box is opened.
How am I going to know which box the list is in???? I used a magic marker to number each one of the boxes. The list is in box #1. Each year I will start with box #1 and know exactly which box I need next without having to pull every.single.box.down. At least that’s my plan! ;o)
Here are the boxes all packed and ready to be stored until next year. Pay no attention to the glitter all over the floor – this is pre-vaccumming. Oh and no comments about my dorky looking numbers!
Tip #3: As much as is possible, store all of the boxes of decorations in one spot instead of spreading them all over the place.
Once everything is packed, Pookie places all of the boxes on this handy dandy shelf that he added in our garage. Nothing fancy, but it totally works!
Tip #4: I store my garlands and wreaths on nails instead of packing them in boxes. This is great if you have a wall in your garage, attic or storage building as it keeps bows and other decorations from becoming mashed.
Just in case you’re wondering, the garland and various seasonal wreaths are all hanging on nails that we hammered into this wall.
No pretty pictures here, but hopefully my idea will help you out if you struggle with some of the same things that I do.
UPDATE: I’ve used this system for two Christmases now and I’m happy to report that it works great and saves so much time and mess! I’ve tweaked my list each year as I get better and better at figuring out the best way to sort my decorations.
Designs By Pinky says
December 29, 2011 at 3:35 PMGreat ideas. All those boxes you have marked with numbers: I have that many JUST for the tree!!!!!!! I probably have at least 60 boxes of Christmas decor. I know….I am crazy. But I always say I will keep doing it til they put mE in a box:):):) XO, Pinky
Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says
December 29, 2011 at 4:13 PMWow, you are way more organized than I am. What a great space to store stuff in the garage. Never thought about adding a shelf there. Of course we don’t have shelves anywhere and that is why we have such a mess.
Carol says
December 29, 2011 at 2:31 PMPutting away Christmas decor is always a chore for me. My organization is very similar to yours. I have 13 bins, all stored in the attic. I know, YIKES! My bins are numbered and I have a list that I store on my computer on Microsoft Office Word.
I haven’t started putting away Christmas yet, I need to get started soon. It always looks so bare when it’s gone.
Smiles,
Carol
Katie says
December 29, 2011 at 2:38 PMvery impressed with your organization skills!
Hibiscus House says
December 29, 2011 at 3:53 PMI am impressed! A few years back I did this and took pictures of key items taped to the ends of the boxes. It works great you go to the box and see what is inside…Now lol here is my problem, I store them in my shed…sounds good, but not! I then have a solid year to store things in front of my meticulously stored Christmas Decor….I have to solve that problem. You did that great in your garage you can get to yours….Great job.
Sue says
December 29, 2011 at 4:29 PMI love seeing how you organize your stuff Suzy. I, too, vow every year to try to keep everything together. I have the most problem with the cheap pack of ornament hooks – I must have a million because I have to buy new packs each year because I don’t know where my old ones are. LOL So, tomorrow I start the process. Fun times.
Happy New Year
Honey at 2805 says
December 30, 2011 at 1:59 AMWow! What organizational skills!
Terrific projects all!
What a pleasure it has been getting to know you this year!
Thank you for being a friend to me and 2805 and for sharing at Potpourri Friday. I wish you a healthy, prosperous and sparkling New Year!
CAS says
December 30, 2011 at 4:36 PMThis is a super plan, Suzy! I’ve done some similar things before, but this year I’m going about the storage totally differently. I’ve been filling my storage boxes randomly, because what I discovered this year, is that I like using items in lots of different ways in different rooms and probably won’t do it the same way next year. My plan is to open up all the boxes next year in the garage & just start moving things around here and there. I may be totally frustrated with this decision when I start that process next year, but it certainly makes packing the decor away much easier & requires fewer boxes.
CAS
Miss Kitty says
January 2, 2012 at 12:09 PMThanks for sharing your organizational tips with us! I am taking down decorations today and I’m going to try your technique…I have had the same problem of outside labels falling off of the storage boxes. I saw your post over at “Meet Me Monday”. I am following you now to learn even more from you!
Paxton says
January 2, 2012 at 11:42 PMHoly Christmas! I love it! I love that you have so many tubs full of decorations! All of our decorations still fit into just one giant tub with masking tape labeled “Christmas”
I love the storage over the garage door too! Brilliant!
Good job finally getting the decorations organized the way you want! I love that feeling!
Natasha says
January 2, 2012 at 11:06 PMgreat organizing!!! i so need to do this!
Natasha xx
Check out my link party!
http://www.serenityyou.blogspot.com/search/label/Serenity%20Saturday
Barb J. says
January 9, 2012 at 2:59 AMSo organized and efficient… I love it!
kayjax51 says
November 11, 2012 at 4:23 PMGreat ideas for organizing your Christmas bins and I love the storage in the garage. Just pinned both ideas!!
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Doni says
December 30, 2014 at 6:38 AMI am so excited because this is the year to organize. Now I have a plan. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Susanne says
January 1, 2015 at 9:56 AMThanks Suzy for the organizing tips on putting Christmas decorations away. I have determined to get better at it this year. I bought all the bins already. The inventory list and numbering system is a great way to pack up everything. I intend to get busy this weekend after my last wave of guests go home.
Suzy @ Worthing Court says
January 2, 2015 at 7:52 AMI Susanne. I’m glad that you found my numbering system helpful. Packing Christmas decorations away is one of my least favorite things to do, but at least I don’t dread pulling them all out again every year. :/ Happy New Year!
Kathleen says
March 30, 2017 at 8:50 AMI’m here from a link you provided, and so GLAD I saw this!!! That shelf location is GENIUS! I never thought about that spot as a usable area … duh! So, snapping a pic and showing it to hubs for next Christmas. (Just one problem ~ we have to clear enough floor space to be able to work under the planned shelf area to install!)
Oh, well, all in due time, all in due time! Thx for linking back to this great post!
Connie Gould says
January 7, 2019 at 1:09 AMHi Suzy! I love your blog. And your home looked so gorgeous for Christmas!! I have a question about storing Christmas decorations. I purchased some see through bins and was wondering…do you use tissue paper or something heavier to wrap some of your breakable items? Would really appreciate your advice since my husband and I have moved alot and I’m in the habit of using thick layers of newspaper for breakable things. Could I get by with a light wrap of paper or tissue since I usually store boxes in my basement but switching to clear bins. Wishing you a Happy New Year!
Connie Gould
Suzy says
January 10, 2019 at 3:51 PMHi Connie. I’m sorry for taking so long to reply! I don’t use newspaper at all because I’ve had a problem with ink rubbing off onto whatever I’ve wrapped with it. To store my breakables, I use tissue paper, paper towels, plastic grocery bags and bubble wrap. I love grabbing all of that stuff when we unwrap presents every year and adding it to my stash!
Connie Gould says
January 10, 2019 at 11:05 PMThanks Suzy! That helps alot. I know what you mean by an interior designer wannabee. I spent two years in an interior designer program but ended up not liking the drawing of floor plans and rendering Ugh. But found I had a talent for decorating and an eye for textiles and especially love doing vignettes and tablescapes. I never did finish school and have since retired but have such a passion for decorating my home. You have so many neat things on your blog and I look forward to your weekly posts.
Connie Gould