January Reset-Time to Get Organized

January is a time full of resolutions. Many people are ready to hit the ground running with self-improvement, and getting organized frequently tops the list! While holiday festivities are fun and cozy for many, it can also be a relief to get your house back in order by putting all your holiday décor away.

Today, I took down my second set of holiday decorations for a client (third, if I include my own), and if you are like the many people still waiting for the “right time” to tackle that project, I am going to walk you step by step through the best practices for storing your holiday décor.

First, I remove all the storage bins from storage (even if they still have unused décor in them). This allows you to see the available storage space and determine the best container for your items. Before you start taking things down, I recommend looking critically at anything you did not display this year. Styles and life situations change over time, and if you didn’t use an item this year, you should ask if there is a chance you will never use it again. There is no reason to clutter your storage with items that will never reasonably see the light of day. If an item you no longer use is being kept for sentimental reasons, but it just not your style, see if you have a child, niece or nephew, grandchild, or other relative who would like to become the new keeper of the tradition.

Now it is time to start taking everything down. I usually like to tackle the tree first because it has several pieces, and since I use a live tree, it also makes a mess. Choose categories for your ornaments if you have an extensive collection and designate a box or level of a box for each category so that things are easy to find. I personally store our ornaments by who they belong to, but for others it may make more sense to store them by color, pattern, theme, or type of figure (snowmen, snowflakes, balls, etc.). It doesn’t really matter which categories you choose, but having some order to your storage will make decorating more methodical in the future.

Once you are sure you have removed all the ornaments, it is time to take off any garlands or additional decorations and store them in a way that will not tangle or crush them, if that is a concern. Do not overfill your boxes—giving your items a little wiggle room will allow them to stay in better condition for many years to come. When you take off the lights (if you don’t have a pre-lit tree), pay attention to any strands that are partially or fully burnt out. It is better to get rid of them and replace them now than to deal with that when decorating the tree next holiday season. If you do need to discard any, look for a local place that collects lights for recycling. My local community center has a bin at the entrance throughout the month of January for spent lights. I like to avoid landfills whenever possible. I like to store all of my tree accessories (stand, mat, star, skirt, garlands, and lights) together so they are all in one place when I decorate.

Once the tree is all put away, I take down everything else. Find a large, open space (I use my dining room) to collect all the items so they can be sorted and placed into appropriately sized containers. Pay close attention to anything that may need to be repaired and make a note to do that as soon as possible. Putting away dirty, ripped, or broken decorations is not at all friendly to your future self. This year, I needed to sew a bobble back onto a stocking and wash a pillow and some hand towels. Not a big deal, but I will be so glad not to have to do those tasks when I am overloaded with holiday activities next season.

A few items that I store with my holiday decorations that are not standard include holiday-specific clothing (including socks), dishes, platters, mugs, books, and cookie cutters. In most cases, these items are only used between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, so I do not feel it is a good use of my (limited) everyday space to have them out year-round. Another benefit I have found from doing this is that you don’t forget you have them because they come out with the decorations, and they actually get more use than if they stay out all year and are pushed to the back of the drawer, cabinet or closet.

Now that you have everything sorted, start filling your boxes. If you decorate your home the same way every year, storing items by room or display can make decorating easier and more efficient. If you like to mix things up year over year, store like items together so you have a clear idea of how much you have available. If you enjoy purchasing new décor each year, it is also a good idea to create an inventory of what you own so you don’t buy duplicates. Once everything is packed and back in storage, enjoy your newly reset space.

If you have any questions, or if you would like my help getting your holiday décor taken down and organized, feel free to contact me!