Every year it is the same. The turkey is barely digested when “BOOM”… it is time to shift into Christmas season. For many, this means putting up holiday decorations. While we love the results, the process can be exhausting. Here are my tips to keep the process smooth.
Make each year work for you.
Just because you have a huge collection of Charles Dickens houses doesn’t mean you have to put all of them out every year. Don’t have time to put up the full display of lights? That’s ok! Each year brings its own activities and challenges. Traditions are wonderful, but feel free to leave a few items in storage if that frees up much-needed time.
Remove year-round décor to make space for holiday items.
Simply adding to what is already on display will make your space feel cluttered. If you have room in nearby drawers or cabinets, stash the daily décor inside. If not, you can always empty your decorations bins and put the everyday items of these. When it comes time to pack holidays pieces away, it will be easy to reset with your typical pieces.
Label supplies by location.
Label anything you use in multiple locations (extension cords, strings of lights, etc.) These often get packed into one big box, and if they aren’t labeled, you have to reinvent the wheel each year. Simply use a Sharpie to write on the bottom or side where each piece is used in your display.
Store tree decorations in their own boxes.
We often decorate the tree on a different day than the rest of the house. To keep the clutter at bay, these boxes can be left in a corner or garage until it is time to trim the tree.
Leverage the camera.
If you tend to forget how you set up decorations up from one year to the next, do yourself a favor and take a photograph of each vignette as it is completed. You can either store digital photos in a folder marked “Holidays” on your computer, and/or print the photos and store them in the box with the room’s décor.
Designate holiday storage zones.
The holidays mean we have new items in our space, such as stuffed reindeer, holiday videos and books, cards, “festive wear,” candy, etc. Set out containers to hold specific items and let the family know what goes where. For example, a canvas bag on a hook for the antlers and light-up necklaces, and a basket on the floor for holiday stuffed animals. Also, decide how you will hold/display holiday cards (for more ideas on cards, click here.)
Re-pack decorations by room.
To make life easier next year, pack decorations back into boxes that are labeled by room. Label each box to indicate what is inside and where it is displayed, such as “Santas for Family Room.” To make labeling boxes easier, consider these adhesive pouches. They stick to anything and you can change the label over and over:
In addition, make a list of anything you need to buy for next year, such as “new candles for the advent wreath” or “batteries for the talking snowman.” Stores often have sales on holiday supplies in January, so stock up and pack these in with the decorations.
Consider investing in quality storage.
Decorations can be stored in cardboard boxes, but there are some wonderful storage products available today that really do make life easier. Here are a few ideas to whet your appetite and perhaps give you some Christmas gift ideas.
IRIS Holiday Wing Lid Organizer
Classic Accessories Lights Storage Duffel
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Remember, decorating is meant to enrich your holiday, not drain you or leave you feeling inadequate. It is your house, so do what brings you joy.
What ideas do you have for simplifying holiday decorating?
We use a Christmas tree bag to store our tree and also have store the ornaments in special made boxes that are made to store ornaments. But I love the camera idea and am going to have to try to take more pics soon know each year how I did decorate from the year before now.
Janine Huldie recently posted…5 Years Later…Happy Birthday to My Baby
We got a bag for the tree last year and it makes me happy every time I look at it! I found the photos helpful especially after we move into our new house.. I found myself wandering trying to remember what went where:)
Seana,
You have so many great and useful tips here! I will be using many of them this year! Thank you for sharing these. I would love it if you would stop by and link up with us on Tuesday and share these or any of your posts and tips with us at the Brag About It Link Party!
Laurie recently posted…Snickerdoodle Sunday #108
Thanks for the invitation, Laurie. I will make a note to join the party on Tuesday! Love sharing great information:)
I totally leverage the camera!
I never knew that organization was such a part of holiday decorating, or un-decorating, but I have learned that through you and Cassidy. He has such a system. I think you’d totally approve!
Tamara recently posted…Holiday Traditions With Thymes.
I’m sure I would totally approve. Sounds like Cassidy and I think alike. How lucky is your family to have your camera at the ready, documenting everything. And YOUR photos are beautiful, not dark and shady phone photos like mine:)
Just a quick note on the Identa-Labels … I have them, I use them, I LOVE them! Great post, Seana!
I love them too… so glad to hear a fellow professional give an endorsement. Maybe I should order a bulk pack for stocking stuffers?
We don’t decorate the whole house. so we have all our decorations in a large hinged lid Rubbermaid. I love the idea of the pouches and putting the everyday items in the bins the decorations come out of.
Yes, it’s good to clear some space so the decorations can really be enjoyed. Most of us have too much out on surfaces even before the holidays:) Love the hinged lids!
I think putting it all away is so much harder than taking it all out. Though, keeping an excited 6 yr old to wait to open EVERYTHING is the tough part. Though each year I get excited to see it al through his eyes too!
We have two big totes and put the small tree in a black bag. Though will getting more ornaments each year we will need a bigger box for them.
karen recently posted…Book Review Blog Hop #27
I agree it is so hard to keep the children waiting. I love that about kids — they do keep you young and excited. I think we are up to 3 boxes of ornaments now!
I love the room by room decorating tip. It’s much easier to focus and get one room complete at a time.
This year I am really trimming down! For years I have felt that less is more and this year I am empowered to do much less.
I think we are moving into a similar place of “less is more.” When I finally started storing items by room I felt like I had a lightbulb moment — why it took me so long, who knows?
Great ideas … especially the fact that we should be enjoying the decorations in our home and not letting the whole process cause us stress. Also, removing the year round decorations is important to put those Holiday ones out. Otherwise you have a cluttered mess.
I know we can both relate the cluttered mess… seems obvious, but sometimes you just forget to take stuff away before adding something new, right Regina?
Tip #1 is so helpful for me! I love to and continue to buy stuff each year, but don’t want to get rid of stuff, because I like to change Christmas up each year. It is a great reminder that not everything has to go out. When I hit the wall, put it away and just enjoy. This will be my mantra for this next week!
carolyn recently posted…November Visiting Teaching… What Lack I Yet?
I’m going to share out your wonderful quote… “put it away and just enjoy!” That’s terrific! Everything looks so appealing in the stores, but I need to stop myself sometimes. It’s so hard, though, at this wonderful time of the year!
I like that tip about using the camera to remember decorations! Though in my case, our only decoration is the tree, and it’s pretty easy to remember that lol. We put all the decoration in their own boxes like you said–such a huge help!
Nina recently posted…The Difference between Rules and Responsibilities
Nothing wrong a simple display, Nina. That usually makes for a very fun and celebratory decorating experience! Wishing much joy in the process:)
Seana, I just wanted to pop over and say Thank you for linking up your helpful post with us at Brag About It! Hope you will share with us often because your tips are so helpful! Pinning & tweeting!
~Laurie
Laurie recently posted…Brag About It Link Party!!
Thanks for inviting me, Laurie! I will try and stop by often. Enjoyed looking around and commenting on some of the great posts by your contributors:) Have a great Thanksgiving!
So true how it goes from Thanksgiving to Christmas and then New Years! Great tips!
Jessica @ Independent Travel Cats recently posted…Planning a California Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles
It goes so fast, Jessica! I feel like I blink and it is suddenly Valentine’s Day! Sometimes I try and pause and breathe and enjoy the moment before it slips away.
Quality storage! So important to store everything properly. In my younger days my husband and I just wrapped our ornaments in plastic bags and kept them in Rubbermaid containers. Luckily we lost or broke a few over the years!
April R. recently posted…A very personal gift
Yes, the right tool always makes the task easier. Always. Sometimes we have a tough time justifying the expense of a quality tool, but I believe they are well worth the investment in the long run… which I why think they might make a nice gift idea!
Wonderful tips! Re-packing decorations by room is such a great idea!
The first time I thought to re-pack by room I couldn’t believe how much time it saved me… sort of a, “Duh!” moment for me. Sometimes, I learn that way….
Those giant Plastic containers have saved my life when it comes to storing Christmas decor. I have 23 of them up in my attic. Even though they are labeled, my husband STILL hates dealing with all the fuss.
Marcia @ Menopausal Mother recently posted…Fly On The Wall In A Nutso House
You have 23? You are my hero…. I LOVE it, Marcia. Many a husband would rather be golfing, but hey, that’s their job:)
Timely advice. We have two trees worth of ornaments and I alternate from year to year. Last year was the silver, white and pale blue tree, so this year it will be the candy cane tree. I do love my Christmas decorations so I try to store them very carefully so they don’t get damaged or dusty.
adrian recently posted…Fun and Funky Holiday Nail Designs
I love the idea of rotating you trees… we have too many ornaments for one tree as well (my girls keep getting ornaments each year, but neither has a tree yet, so I get to hold onto all the ornaments.) You’ve got me thinking!
This is great, Seana! I love that you mentioned to remove year around items. I take my year around items and place them in the holiday decoration bins so I remember where I place them. I also take pictures of the home so I remember what I did the previous year. I usually like to change things a bit but this helps remind me what I did.
Sabrina Q. recently posted…Thanksgiving Time Saving Tips
Yes Sabrina, you never want to be “locked into” any decorating scheme. Sometimes mixing it up is fun! I tend to put the majority of items in the same places, and then rotate a few.
We have simple decorations at home. We’ve already put up our Christmas Tree. Thankfully, my mother in law does the storage and she does it well so whew, good for me! 🙂
Rea recently posted…Stylish Backpacks From OMGNB
Lucky you, Rea! We have most of our indoor decorations up, but still need to do the tree, the wreath, and the outside lights. Fun to look forward to!
What great suggestions you’ve shared for organizing holiday decor and processes. While our family doesn’t celebrate Christmas, I work with many clients that do. I’ve had the privilege and fun of helping them to organize and decorate. There’s no question that it helps to have a system AND good storage. The packing and unpacking become part of the annual tradition.
Linda Samuels recently posted…The Surprising Power of Gratitude On Your Stress
That’s so true, Linda. The unpacking is definitely part of the tradition… especially with the tree, where many people relive the memory of what was happening in life when each ornament was acquired. Other faiths also have meaningful traditions wrapped up in candle lighting, prayers, and special foods.. all of which are better with good storage, right? Such a wonderful time of year!
Great holiday suggestions! I especially like the one about taking pictures of how you set up your decorations. Thanks for the tips!
That tip is particularly helpful the first couple of years in a new space. Also comes in handy if you are lucky enough to have someone else helping you decorate!
Great tips! I am pretty well versed in this subject, but you have uncovered some that I’ve never thought of before! Thank you!
Erica Duran recently posted…Comment on “Top 10 Critical Mistakes of the Modern Entrepreneur” by Erica Duran by Liana George
Thanks, Erica. I always appreciate affirmation from those “in the know!”
Great tips, Seana! Especially like the ones about removing every day decorations, and about taking photos. One thing I would add: Not only do you not have to use all your decorations every year, you also don’t have to keep them forever. The time to donate no-longer-wanted decorations is at the beginning of the season, as you unpack them, or if you notice a box or bag you never open anymore. Don’t re-pack and keep storing those things. Give someone else the chance to use them!
Hazel Thornton recently posted…Have you seen Hazel Thornton’s Photo Clutter Flow Chart?
Oh Amen to that extra tip, Hazel! It’s so important to “cull” the decoration collection. If we no longer love it and enjoy seeing it as part of the display, let it go for sure:)
Seana,
I absolutely love your concluding statement, the advise to do what brings joy! I do take photos of my holiday vignettes each year, and create a reference file on my computer ( a holiday decorating cheat sheet if you will). It really helps when you’ve designated time to decorate, but the creative juices are not flowing.
Natalie Gallagher recently posted…Your Holiday Season…Simplified. Part 1
Seana,
I absolutely love your concluding statement, the advise to do what brings joy! I do take photos of my holiday vignettes each year, and create a reference file on my computer ( a holiday decorating cheat sheet if you will). It really helps when you’ve designated time to decorate, but the creative juices are not flowing.
Natalie Gallagher recently posted…Your Holiday Season…Simplified. Part 1
Totally agree, Natalie. The holidays can be stressful, and anything we can do to make the time require less thinking is helpful. Plus, you never know… you might end up with the flu one year and having this handy file will enable someone else to come in and do the task for you!
Definitely agree that it helps to label all those boxes so you know which one has which decorations and where they go. It makes it so much easier, especially if you choose to not go all out one year.
Some years you just don’t have the bandwidth to do it all… and we shouldn’t feel that pressure. Labeling by room was sort of a lightbulb for me a few years back – should have done that long ago!
We should have had these tips before. I am currently staying with my husband’s parents and the decorations seem to have vanished. Problem with storing them in an unknown area of the attic!! Hopefully we find them later this week:)
Jessica @ Independent Travel Cats recently posted…10 Places to Experience the World of Salvador Dalà in Costa Brava Spain
Oh, I hope you find them, Jessica! I know decorations can have a lot of sentimental value… in addition to just making the holiday feel festive! I hope you have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!