Christmas is over and now comes the not fun part - undecorating.
You could just throw everything in an unlabeled box, but you will be very unhappy come next year when it is time to decorate for Christmas again.
Here are a few tips and tricks for packing and organizing Christmas decorations.
photo courtesy of MoToMo. flickr.com/photos/90155419@N00/335475278/Original Box
Try to pack oversized or fragile decorations back in their original box.
Many boxes come with styrofoam or other packing materials that protect your Christmas items while they are in storage.
Best of all, the item is clearly marked on the outside of the box so you know exactly what is inside.
Plastic Storage Boxes
Instead of using cardboard boxes that could break, invest in plastic storage boxes of all the same size and color.
Don't get boxes too large to carry or too small that you can't fit larger items.
You might want to go with all red or all green storage boxes since those are Christmas colors (Halloween decorations could go in orange boxes, Easter decorations in yellow boxes, Valentine's Day in pink boxes, Thanksgiving in brown boxes, July 4th in blue boxes, etc).
There are some specialty boxes made for wreaths #ad, wrapping paper #ad, etc that you might want to consider using.
Instead of colored boxes, you can also use clear plastic boxes #ad so you can see what is inside the box without opening it.
Label Everything
Most importantly; label each box with exactly what is inside.
Label every top so you can read the contents when you are in the process of decorating.
Label at least one visible side so you can read what is inside when the boxes are stacked in storage.
Like Items Together
Put similar items together that go in the same location.
If you decorate more than one Christmas tree, put each tree's decorations in different boxes.
Christmas Lights
Christmas lights have the potential to be the most frustrating item to deal with when decorating for Christmas.
In order to keep the decorating frustration to a minimum, make sure to pack your lights in an organized manner to keep them from being broken and tangled.
You can purchase a Christmas light holder and follow the directions for organizing your Christmas lights.
A cheaper option is to hold one end of the lights in your hand while holding your arm at a 90 degree angle.
Loosely wrap the lights around your arm and back up to your hand.
When you have wrapped the entire string of lights, take the end in your hand and wrap it several times around the middle of the lights and plug it into the other end of the light string to keep it secure.
Put your interior lights in one box and your exterior lights in another box.
Fragile Ornaments
If you have expensive fragile ornaments, package them individually then put that package in a plastic storage bin.
If you have lesser expensive fragile ornaments, consider putting one layer of ornaments in a storage box, then laying a piece of tissue on top, then adding another layer of ornaments.
If you have egg cartons, you can store your ornaments inside.
Purge
Take this time to purge items that you no longer use.
Donate cheap filler items that you bought many years ago.
Pack and Stack by Time Needed
If you send out Christmas cards and set out stockings the day after Thanksgiving but don't decorate the outside of your house until 2 weeks afterward, pack your Christmas cards and stockings together in one box.
Make sure to stack that box on top so you can access it more easily next year.
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