The holidays are now officially several weeks behind us, and if you haven’t done it already, chances are the decorations are nagging at you to be put away. But what’s the best way to remove and store your precious ornaments and decorative seasonal objects? We have a three-step solution:
1. Inspect and Sort.
Before putting anything away, it’s important to make sure it’s not damaged or dirty. Dust can accumulate quickly over the winter months, and in the space of a few weeks, our cherished family ornaments can acquire a layer of dust on them. Before putting them away, give them a quick wipe – you’ll be glad you did when you take them out again. If it’s damaged, such as lights or glass ornaments, recycle or throw it away. Next, you’ll want to sort everything by category, so that boxes and bins can be labeled appropriately.
2. Wrap and Protect.
If it’s fragile, it needs to be wrapped. Tissue paper or bubble wrap work well, depending on the level of delicacy. Alternatively, plastic shopping bags make great insulators as well. If you’re not recycling them, don’t throw them away – use them to wrap and store your decorations. A small bag can easily hold two holiday pillows, or wrap around an ornament or two. Or use a bag for each strand of lights, making it easier next year.
3. Store.
Finally, storage matters. Depending on where you keep your seasonal decorations, the type of storage you use matters. For areas that might get wet, such as basements, we recommend plastic bins on modular shelving. Additionally, if you have them all in the same size, they are easily stacked and labeled according to category. This will make next year’s decorating endeavors much easier, as well.
When it comes to decorating with and storing seasonal items, we believe that a little bit of planning can go a long way in making life easier.
All my best,
Claudia