After the holidays are over, it seems like a daunting task to pack every little thing away for yet another year. But make it easy this year, and follow these five tips to giving your decorations a protective home.
It depends on the size of your artificial tree, whether it will be easy to store in one or two containers. If your tree is somewhat small, you can purchase a storage bin of the large plastic variety with a top. Often these bins are sold with their bottom storage part separated from the top. Make sure to try on the tops to make sure you have a snug fit. This will keep out bugs if you intend on storing your artificial tree in the garage or cellar.
If your tree is very large, it can be stored in two or three bins if it is fully collapsible. Be sure to keep them together in their storage area for easy hunting and gathering next year.
Wreaths are best stored in zip bags that you can purchase at crafting or wholesale stores. They are rounded bags that come in various sizes to fit your wreath needs, and the stiff sides will keep the wreath intact no matter where you store it. If there are glass ornaments on your wreath, than carefully wrap them in bubble wrap or tissue paper before storing them. This will give them more of a chance if they were to meet an untimely fate due to carelessness. Try not to stack them under other wreaths that may be heavier.
2. Labeling
This is a pain in the tush, but you need to take the time to label now, so you don't have to take the time to locate later. The best way to do this is to use a piece of computer paper and make a detailed list of the items contained in any box. You don't need to label every side, but be sure to place the label on the side that will be showing. Most people waste hours and even days trying to locate their favorite decorations that were just thrown into an unmarked box last year. Save yourself the time and aggravation, by giving your boxes very detailed labels of EVERY item in the box. Even if you just throw in some random ornament that won't fit anywhere else, add its name to the list.
3. Taping
When using standard brown boxes to pack things, be sure to tape them shut the easy way. Use some packing tape and fold over the end, so it is doubled over on the sticky part. This will give you a 'handle' to pull the tape off when you need to, but it will still stay fast in the meantime. Avoid taping the whole thing shut. Your boxes will last longer and be in better condition if you don't always laminate the box and then slice it open.
4. Packing Ornaments
For heaven's sake, just buy a storage organizer! These organizers are especially designed to compartmentalize each ornamental keepsake and make storing ornaments a breeze. If you have boxes of glass ball ornaments, it may or may not be the best storage idea to just keep them in their original boxes. These boxes are made with cheap plastic 'windows' so that you can see the ornaments you are purchasing. Because this plastic is thin and held on by a slight amount of glue, it doesn't make a very protective covering for these fragile ornaments. Take the time to wrap them in tissue paper and place them into ornament storage bins. Keep the ones that are similar in one place. If you like to decorate thematically, keep all of your ball ornaments that are similar colors on one level of the storage box, and all of the 'figure' ornaments in another level. This makes it incredibly simple to find them and decorate, without searching.
5. Now is the time!
You always think that you will organize your holiday decorations better next year when you are agonizing over finding them this year. But then the 'next' year comes in around in about a week and you are too tired to want to expend anymore effort on organization. Although this is understandable, you have to start sometime. So make this year differe5-tips-storing-holiday-decorationsnt, and actually organize and store your holiday decorations for easy access when the time comes around again. You'll be glad you did.
1. Wreaths and artificial trees
It depends on the size of your artificial tree, whether it will be easy to store in one or two containers. If your tree is somewhat small, you can purchase a storage bin of the large plastic variety with a top. Often these bins are sold with their bottom storage part separated from the top. Make sure to try on the tops to make sure you have a snug fit. This will keep out bugs if you intend on storing your artificial tree in the garage or cellar.
If your tree is very large, it can be stored in two or three bins if it is fully collapsible. Be sure to keep them together in their storage area for easy hunting and gathering next year.
Wreaths are best stored in zip bags that you can purchase at crafting or wholesale stores. They are rounded bags that come in various sizes to fit your wreath needs, and the stiff sides will keep the wreath intact no matter where you store it. If there are glass ornaments on your wreath, than carefully wrap them in bubble wrap or tissue paper before storing them. This will give them more of a chance if they were to meet an untimely fate due to carelessness. Try not to stack them under other wreaths that may be heavier.
2. Labeling
This is a pain in the tush, but you need to take the time to label now, so you don't have to take the time to locate later. The best way to do this is to use a piece of computer paper and make a detailed list of the items contained in any box. You don't need to label every side, but be sure to place the label on the side that will be showing. Most people waste hours and even days trying to locate their favorite decorations that were just thrown into an unmarked box last year. Save yourself the time and aggravation, by giving your boxes very detailed labels of EVERY item in the box. Even if you just throw in some random ornament that won't fit anywhere else, add its name to the list.
3. Taping
When using standard brown boxes to pack things, be sure to tape them shut the easy way. Use some packing tape and fold over the end, so it is doubled over on the sticky part. This will give you a 'handle' to pull the tape off when you need to, but it will still stay fast in the meantime. Avoid taping the whole thing shut. Your boxes will last longer and be in better condition if you don't always laminate the box and then slice it open.
4. Packing Ornaments
For heaven's sake, just buy a storage organizer! These organizers are especially designed to compartmentalize each ornamental keepsake and make storing ornaments a breeze. If you have boxes of glass ball ornaments, it may or may not be the best storage idea to just keep them in their original boxes. These boxes are made with cheap plastic 'windows' so that you can see the ornaments you are purchasing. Because this plastic is thin and held on by a slight amount of glue, it doesn't make a very protective covering for these fragile ornaments. Take the time to wrap them in tissue paper and place them into ornament storage bins. Keep the ones that are similar in one place. If you like to decorate thematically, keep all of your ball ornaments that are similar colors on one level of the storage box, and all of the 'figure' ornaments in another level. This makes it incredibly simple to find them and decorate, without searching.
5. Now is the time!
You always think that you will organize your holiday decorations better next year when you are agonizing over finding them this year. But then the 'next' year comes in around in about a week and you are too tired to want to expend anymore effort on organization. Although this is understandable, you have to start sometime. So make this year differe5-tips-storing-holiday-decorationsnt, and actually organize and store your holiday decorations for easy access when the time comes around again. You'll be glad you did.
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