As this holiday season winds down, do you find yourself overwhelmed with the thought of putting away all the holiday decorations and clutter? Take control with these helpful tips and leave yourself in great shape for next year’s holiday fun!
1. Ziploc Lights
Everybody loves lights for the holidays, but nobody loves untangling them. Toss the boxes they come in and place each string of lights in a gallon size Ziploc bag. This way they are untangled, visible, and protected. I actually prefer supermarket brand resealable bags because without the fancy zippers, they have greater capacity.
2. Memento Moratorium
O.K., that macaroni Santa ornament your son made in first grade was adorable– when he was in first grade. Now that he’s thirty and has children of his own, it really is OK to let the macaroni Santa go. No one intended for you to hold on to macaroni Santa forever, certainly not your son. The only reason he’s not saying anything is because he doesn’t want to hurt YOUR feelings. Set a limit from the beginning. Maybe the ornament is honored on the tree for five years (or until the last piece of macaroni falls off ) before it is photographed and tossed. Don’t hang on to mementos for the wrong reason.
3. Isolate the Awkward
Sure Holiday decorations are important, but you only need them for about 30-45 days. The rest of the year you don’t want them taking over your basement. Efficient storage starts by isolating the awkward. Reusable wreaths and boughs can be suspended from the ceiling to protect them and to take advantage of the vertical space. Consider a supportive spot for tall items, like those electric reindeer. Maybe you need to reserve a corner for them. The nicely stackable boxes should be stored last. They can also create a supportive wall for some of the structure-less awkward items.
4. Sensible Storage
Because so many holiday decorations are awkward, it makes sense to square off as much of the storage as you can. Generously sized clear bins with sturdy lids are the way to go. Delicate ornaments are protected and easy to find. The sturdy lids allow you to stack, which is the best way to take advantage of vertical space. Simple utility shelves improve accessibility and protection further. These shelves and bins are an investment that will protect your decorations for many years to come and there are some great sales this time of year, like this one at Target.
5. Holiday Cards Roundup
I know. It feels like you just updated your holiday card list, but now is the perfect time to update it for next year. As you take down your holiday cards this year, check off all the people on your list to see who reciprocated and make note of people sent you cards you weren’t expecting. This is not to say you will withhold cards from those who didn’t send to you or add new names necessarily, but this practice will ensure that you at least capture this information while it is still fresh in your mind. Also, take stock of the returned cards and make sure you have everybody’s current addresses. Next year this will be a major time and stress saver.
TODAY’S KEY TO UNLOCKING CLUTTER: Enjoy the holidays more next year, by bringing the holiday clutter under control now.
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