Once the holidays are over, it’s time to take down and store all those beautiful decorations until next year. Before you pack everything away, this is the perfect opportunity to take a thoughtful approach and declutter your holiday décor. As a professional home organizer, I always encourage clients to edit first and store second. Why keep decorations you no longer love or use?
Start by sorting everything into clear categories and asking yourself what truly deserves a spot in your home. Broken string lights are an easy place to begin. If a single bulb has taken down an entire strand and it’s been sitting in a bin for years, it’s time to let it go. Replacing lights is often far less stressful than dealing with the frustration year after year.
Old holiday cards are another common clutter culprit. While photo cards and annual letters can feel sentimental, keeping every single one adds up quickly. Choose a few favorites to save or scan, then recycle the rest. The goal of organizing is to keep what matters most – not everything.
Next, take an honest look at excess décor. Ornaments, linens, serving dishes and decorations that didn’t make it out this year are unlikely to suddenly become favorites next year. Keeping only what you love helps create a place for everything and makes decorating more enjoyable moving forward.
Once you’ve decided what to keep, smart storage is key to maintaining a tidy home. Because holiday décor is stored long-term, use sturdy, airtight containers that protect against moisture and dust. Check bins for cracks or broken lids. There’s no need to buy all new containers, but make sure what you use is in good shape.
Holiday Light Storage Organization
Lights should be stored in a way that prevents tangling. One tried-and-true method is wrapping each strand around your arm and placing it in a labeled bag. You can also wrap strands around a sturdy piece of cardboard with slits cut into each end to secure the plugs. Custom light storage containers are also widely available.
Ornament Storage Organization
Ornaments deserve special care. Dedicating a bin just for ornaments and wrapping each piece in tissue paper keeps them safe and makes unwrapping them next year a joy. Divided ornament containers are great for similarly sized pieces, but extra cushioning is always helpful.
Artificial trees can be bulky and awkward, but a rolling tree bag can be a game-changer. Keeping the tree intact reduces damage and frees up space by eliminating oversized bins.
And finally – label everything. Labels save time, reduce stress and make decorating next year simple and enjoyable. When your holiday décor is organized, you gain peace of mind and truly create calm in your home.
At Smart Organizing Solutions, helping families throughout Denver, Central Park, Park Hill, Cherry Creek, Aurora and surrounding communities create organized, functional homes is what I love most. Thoughtful organizing makes seasonal transitions easier and keeps clutter from creeping back in. If you’d like support decluttering and setting up smart storage systems, I’m always happy to help you bring order and calm into your home. Learn more or book a session through my Contact Denver Professional Organizer | SOS Organizing page today.