Christmas is behind us, the holidays are over, and most of us have “undecked” our halls. Have you taken down your holiday décor yet? I just finished taking mine down. The hardest part of taking down the décor can be putting it all away. It used to be one of my most dreaded tasks of the holiday season. After many years of stress I learned that if you organize your holiday décor it is so much easier.

I’m not sure why I didn’t think to get a system earlier; taking time to organize your holiday décor seems like a no brainer. I used to have a bunch of random boxes and just tossed everything in wherever it would fit. Sometimes I’d end up with more décor than boxes and I’d have to start over again. Once I decided to get organized and get a system it was so much easier. Here are the tips I have to help you organize your holiday décor and make “undecking” your halls easier.

Get good containers
I decided to purchase some Rubbermaid totes for all of my Christmas décor and I am so glad I did. The totes stack easily because they are all the same size and shape. They are sturdy and keep the décor from getting crushed. The plastic also protects the décor from damage. Strong cardboard boxes would also work. Getting good containers is the first step to help you organize your holiday décor.

Wrap and protect
When putting your holiday décor away, be sure to wrap and protect your décor. It is so sad when you are unboxing your holiday décor and you come across a favorite decoration that was broken in storage. It only takes a few minutes to protect your décor. Use bubble wrap and paper towels or paper napkins to protect and separate décor items. This simple step helps organize your holiday décor and keep it safe.

Time savers
Spend a few extra minutes as you organize your holiday décor and do things to make decorating easier next winter.   Doing small things like winding lights on cardboard instead of just tossing them in the box will save so much time when you are ready to use them again. Saving time is another bonus when you organize your holiday décor.

Make needed repairs
If your kids are at all like mine, some of your décor gets broken, ridded or torn during the holiday season. It is so much easier to repair the décor before you put it away than it will be when you take it out next winter. This is another way to organize your holiday décor and save time later.

Put things used together in the same box
This is probably the most helpful thing I have found when it comes to trying to organize your holiday décor. All of the décor that goes on the Christmas tree goes in the same few boxes. All of the linens and fabric items go in another box. The décor that is used together should be stored together. This makes decorating and then packing the décor later so much easier.

Label boxes very specifically
Once you have the boxes packed, put a label on the box and list the contents. Labels can be simple, just make sure they are very detailed. I use duct tape and a sharpie to label my boxes. If you are very detailed, you can organize your holiday décor and make it simple to use. When boxes are labeled you know which box to grab when you need to decorate a certain area. When packing your décor away, you’ll know what goes in each box. If you organize your holiday décor like this, it becomes so easy to use.

Toss or donate unused décor
One last tip is to toss or donate unused décor. There is always that one item or two that you haven’t used in years. Maybe you don’t really like it or perhaps you just don’t want it. Stop storing it and get rid of it. Donate it if possible, but if not, throw it out. Don’t store clutter.

Hopefully these tips will help you organize your holiday décor. Have a tip we didn’t mention? Let us know. We love to hear from you!