How to organize your holiday decor (before + after the holidays)

Introduction

In my opinion as a professional home organizer, one of the hardest parts of creating an organizational system is maintaining it. It’s especially hard when you create a routine, you’re sticking with it, your house and mind feel amazing, and then BOOM  - life hits.

And right now, that “life” is the holiday season.

For years, one of my biggest stressors during the holidays was opening my boxes of decorations only to find a jumbled mess of decor, tissue paper, random trinkets, and any other tchotchke I threw in the box during my post-holiday, manic rage clean that happens every January. (Yes, even as an organizer I still have moments of “just shove the stuff in the drawer / box / closet and move on.”)

In this blog, we’ll talk about how to declutter your holiday decorations as you start decorating—and how to organize them once the festivities wind down—so next year’s setup feels effortless instead of totally insane.

Declutter (before decking the halls)

I’m not going to lie, this part is going to take some work. 

You’re going to organize by holiday and then by box. That way it’s not overwhelming and you mitigate the risk of MPRS (Mid Project Regret Syndrome). 

As an example, let’s walk through how you’ll declutter your Christmas decorations. You’ll start by bringing down all your holiday boxes, bins, and bags, and emptying them out so you can see e-ver-y-thing that’s inside. 

Then, take inventory and sort through each item. Keep only what you truly love, what’s still in good condition, and what you actually use to decorate. Ask yourself questions: Do I actually use this? Is it broken? Does it bring joy when I pull it out each year? If the answer is no, set it aside to donate or toss. 

From here, you’ll decorate. Make your home exactly the way you want it. You don’t have to worry about the next steps until January.

Organize (instead of rage-packing)

I know in January it’s so tempting to shove everything in boxes just to be over and done with all the holiday overstimulation. Stay strong. Remember all the work you put in before the holidays. You were made for this moment.

Plan to store all your decorations by type. See below for my favorite storage options. Instead of cramming tangled lights and fragile ornaments together, pack them separately using clear bins or sturdy containers and wrap breakables in dividers or bubble wrap so they’ll survive the journey up and down from the attic. Label each box clearly (“Tree Ornaments – Living Room” or “Outdoor Lights – Porch”), and consider grouping décor by room to make next year’s setup even smoother. 

Again, we’re working for future you here.

General Tips

Think of storage as part of the decorating process. What you do now sets you up for success next holiday season.

• Color-code your bins – Use red/green bins for Christmas, orange/black for Halloween, or stick to clear ones with color-coded labels so you can spot what’s what instantly.

• Keep a holiday “toolbox” – Store hooks, ornament hangers, extra bulbs, extension cords, and command strips in one small container that’s stored with your holiday decor (not on the top shelf of a random cabinet where you won’t remember where it is or that you even have it).

• Take photos before you pack up – Snap pictures of your decorated tree, mantel, or porch so you can recreate your favorite setups with ease. That way, you can easily see what you’ve already got while you’re scrolling Pinterest.

• Invest in protective storage – Ornament dividers, wreath bags, and reel organizers for lights save frustration and keep things in good condition.

• Store by space, not just by item – This is different from what we went through in the blog, but if you decorate the same room or area each year, pack those decorations together so you can grab one bin and be ready to go.

Favorite Organizing Products for Holiday Decor

These are my go-to holiday storage bins and tools as a pro organizer. If you were starting from scratch, these are what you should buy:

P.S. I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases (thanks, Amazon).

Large Storage Bin - Clear, has handles, stackable. These check all the boxes for organized storing.

Large Storage Bags - Again, clear and they have handles. Great for holiday clothing that you only use once a year, Christmas lights (easy to transport around the yard when setting up), and garland.

Ornament / Small Item Storage - Handles! Stackable, lightweight, holds a ton of ornaments.

Gift Wrapping Storage - Store everything - wrapping paper, gift labels, tape, bows, etc. - in one spot. Then when the kids go to bed and you pour your present wrapping beverage of choice, you are ready to go in one fell swoop.

Light Storage - So you don’t pull your hair out untangling lights next year.

Wreath Storage - You can hang these on hooks for easier access / better organization where you store the rest of your decorations.

Conclusion

If we’re being real, the holidays are the most joyful time of year, but without a system to manage the chaos, they can be anything but. Set yourself up to actually enjoy the season by decluttering as you decorate and putting an organization plan in place now, so in January when you’re exhausted from the festivities and seasonal depression, you are set up for success.

Love the idea of organizing your holiday décor but don’t have the time? I can help. If you’re in the Richmond, VA area and need professional home organizing services, reach out today!