The Holidays are in full swing and it is time to put up the Christmas tree (if you haven’t already!) and although it may seem that planning your decoration storage is a little premature, it really is a good time to think about storing for next year. In no time, that day will come when all your wonderful decorations will need to be stored and now is the best time to take a quick inventory of your Christmas fare before you even begin decorating.

While you are decorating your home is the best time to de-clutter your collection of decorations. Go through them and throw out the ones that are broken or scratched up and pack up and give away the ones you don’t love; the ones you know will never see the light of day. This will leave you more space and make it much easier to pack your decorations in a few weeks.

Packing Your Decorations

When packing your decorations for storage consider the following tips:

Christmas Bulbs

Liquor and wine boxes with dividers make great storage. When visiting the liquor store over the holidays, pick up a few extra boxes. Wrap each decoration in tissue or plain newsprint paper and store like-size decorations in the dividers. These boxes work great for larger statues also.

Christmas Lights

Keep your Christmas lights untangled with this very simple solution. Cut a cardboard box in a rectangle or square that will fit in another box. Make certain you cut each size about 3” smaller than the box it will fit in. Wrap your lights around the cardboard and attach the lights at each end. Do this for each string of lights and store them in the box. This will keep your lights untangled and easier to check for old bulbs that need to be replaced next year.

Wreaths

If you have space in your closets, wreaths can be tied with ribbon onto a hanger, covered in a pillow case or plastic bag and placed in your closet. If you don’t have the space, cover the wreath with old towels or old sheets and place in a hat box or plastic storage container.

Other Decorations

For all other decorations, wrap well and organize them in boxes or plastic containers. Categorizing your decorations and labelling your boxes will make it so much easier next year.

Storing Your Decorations

When storing your decorations make sure your boxes are well taped to keep possible bugs or vermin out. Store in a cool place and avoid anywhere where humidity or dampness may be a problem. Do not store your decorations in damp basements or garages.

If you find yourself looking for any extra space possible to store your decorations, you may want to consider a self- storage unit. A self-storage unit can be an economical and excellent option for people who live in small spaces or where storage is minimal. Considering Christmas decorations only see the light of day for one month a year, they generally take up prime real estate in your home during the other 11 months. Storing your decorations in a self- storage unit can free up space in your home.