It takes years to build up a precious arsenal of holiday decorations, and some of those items may be irreplaceable if they are family heirlooms passed down through generations. Properly storing them goes a long way in preserving those special keepsakes, ensuring they will last for years to come. And even if they’re not heirlooms… a penny saved is a penny earned. Protecting them means you won’t have to replace them.
From Pinterest to mommy blogs, DIY-storage is sweeping the internet. We put together our 4 favorite tips for safeguarding your Christmas decorations from pests, dust and damage. And, in some cases, you may already have the needed items laying around your house for storing lights, wreaths, and ornaments.
Storage Bins to the Rescue
While this one isn’t a surprise, plastic storage bins are popular and durable for storing holiday and can housing many sizes of holiday decorations. They can accommodate larger items or hold many smaller items. When you can, use softer decorations – like garland or tree skirts to protect fragile items. Stacked wreaths will protect a delicate decorative item wrapped and nestled into the center of the wreaths.
Storage bins help with organization and make it easy to move or transport your decorations. If you plan ahead and label bins, you can find everything you need in a snap next year.
Ornament Boxes
[Put wrapping paper rolls in a garment bag and hang it in a closet.] For most of us, a few broken ornaments have been tossed each year. Fragile ornaments must be handled with care. Today, there are cardboard and plastic ornament storage boxes that hold ornaments safely. Many have multi-level storage and dividers to keep glass items from bumping into each other during packing, storage and moving.
Repurposing Household Items
There are many things around the house that can be used recycled. A quick inventory of unused items collecting dust in your closets might create unexpected ah-ha moments for storage options. A shoe hanger might hold ornaments. Dress hangers might hold a wreath safely ‘til next year or store all your wrapping paper.
Kitchen Gadgets Transformed
Old items from the kitchen can serve a new purpose when it’s time to pack away decorations. Coffee cans and large mason jars are great for wrapping up single strings of lights. Canisters or other food storage containers can hold delicate items that are carefully wrapped in paper or bubble-wrap. Egg cartons offer stable space for small tree ornaments. If using items that once held food, wash them well so food particles do not linger to attract pests.
Families look forward to pulling out the annual signs of Christmas every year. It’s not as much fun to put them away, but being a little creative keeps your holiday treasures safe and your work to a minimum. Before you un-deck the halls, do a quick inventory of what you have and what you’ll need to store decorations. Get your family in on the fun of creating new storage options. It will help you avoid the urge to just shove those decorations out of sight.
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