Another Christmas has come and gone, and it’s time to start looking ahead to the new year. Even if you plan to leave your Christmas decorations up until the Feast of Epiphany on Jan. 6, it is never too early to start planning how to pack ornaments and store them safely away until you’re ready to use them again. Taking down your holiday decorations is an excellent opportunity to start a resolution of having a more organized household in 2022. Here are our expert tips for packing and storing your treasured holiday décor.
1. Use Clear Storage Boxes
Clear storage bins are the next best thing to having X-ray vision because they let you see what’s inside each box without opening it. If you aren’t already keeping your holiday decorations in these sturdy plastic boxes, the good news is that they are usually easy to find on sale at this time of year. Since ornaments come in all shapes and sizes, look for bins that come with pre-made, customizable dividers – you can adjust these to fit anything from tiny and subtle to elaborate and ornate.
2. Cushion Fragile Items
Many people have treasured Christmas ornaments and other decorative items that get passed on through generations. These tend to get more fragile as the years go by, which might leave you wondering how to protect those precious memories. The best way to pack ornaments is to wrap them separately before placing them in storage.
You can use bubble wrap or soft cloth to shield delicate baubles from damage until you are ready to use them again. If you prefer tissue paper, be sure to only use white or natural-colored paper. Colored tissue may be festive, but it contains dyes that may transfer to ornaments and stain them.
3. Create an Organizational System
After taking time to individually wrap each ornament, keep your organizational momentum going by ensuring you don’t misplace anything. One of the easiest methods to follow is to group similar items by color, shape or purpose. Taking the extra time to create and stick to a system will pay dividends when the holidays come around again next year, and you don’t have to deal with the frustration of being unable to find a specific item.
4. Make It Fun
Putting up the tree, lights and other holiday decorations is an annual custom that can immediately take you back to your childhood. You may have a tradition of drinking hot cocoa and listening to holiday music while stringing lights, draping garland and rediscovering ornaments that have slept all year in storage. But when you’re trying to ease back in to reality after your holiday festivities are over, taking everything down again may seem like a chore.
The secret is to make un-decorating as much fun as decking the halls. Put on some upbeat tunes and set out snacks to keep your spirits up. If you have kids, recruit them to help by gamifying each task associated with packing and organizing holiday décor.
Knoxville’s Storage Solution
If you find yourself short of space in your basement, attic or garage after packing and organizing ornaments and other holiday decorations, contact us at Fox Moving and Storage. We have a secure, 20,000-square-foot warehouse to meet all your short- and long-term storage needs. Our relocation experts are also here to help you plan and execute a seamless move, whether you are staying in the Knoxville area or moving to another state. We are here 24/7 and can be at your doorstep within one hour’s notice.