Tips for Packing Away Holiday Decorations

The holidays have come and gone, and you have high hopes to get organized for the New Year ahead. Packing away holiday decorations marks the beginning of the new season, and although some people procrastinate until Valentine's Day(!), you can get going on organizing with a simple plan. There are, however, a few important things to keep in mind as those baubles and lights disappear; you need to store the decorations in safe containers and prevent the giant ball of tangled lights from forming at all costs. Need some help? Here are a few tips for packing away holiday decorations with ease:

Packing Away Holiday Decorations with a Party: Schedule a 'Take-Down Party'
What better way to get the job done than enlisting friends and family members? Provide an incentive of free food and drinks to help you get everything done in a few short hours. All you need to do is delegate different projects to each person, and you'll have your home back to pre-holiday status in no time.

Packing Away Holiday Decorations with Totes: Become a Tote Master
Plastic tote boxes are available in a variety of colors and sizes, and can hold each room's worth of decorations with ease. It's the ultimate organizing tool for most small objects, and you can stack shoe boxes, egg cartons (see below), and other smaller totes right inside. Choose a different color for each room for easy retrieval next year.

Packing Away Holiday Decorations with Old Egg Cartons
Use old egg cartons to store ornaments. If you threw away the real boxes of your ornaments while decorating, egg cartons are the next best thing. They keep everything organized and separated, and are easy to stack.

Packing Away Holiday Decorations with Gift Wrap Bins
These handy plastic bins are designed specifically for rolls of gift wrap. They're extra-long and can be stacked easily---especially helpful if you've been stocking up after the holiday sales.

Packing Away Holiday Decorations with Paper Towel Rolls and Hangers
Paper towel rolls (without the paper towels, of course) are the perfect supplies for wrapping lights around. This prevents a tangled mess inside your totes, and ensures those little bulbs stay intact. Plastic hangers also work well for tying up lights; just weave the lights around the hanger to prevent knots and losing those bulbs.

Packing Away Holiday Decorations with Bubble Wrap
Pick up a roll of bubble wrap so you can stock and store serving dishes, plates, holiday glassware, and other fragile items with ease. Consider this 'Phase II' of your holiday wrapping.

After everything is organized in totes and boxes, you'll need to make some space in the garage, attic, or other storage unit. Just make sure any cardboard boxes are kept far away from potential spills, mold, and damp areas and you'll keep this year's holiday decorations intact!