The Holidays are over and it’s time to pack up all the decorations. Raise your hand if you have a holiday storage system that lasts year to year. Each year I promise to get all matching bins and label each box neatly, but it never happens until I got smart about it. Here are my tips for a cohesive, easy system for all your holiday decorations that will last.
- Don’t try and organize the holiday décor for every holiday all at once. Take each holiday as it comes. Not only will this help your pocketbook but it will also save you from getting overwhelmed.
- Pick the storage bin you like and only buy that bin. I chose the Hefty Clear Stackable Bin. I like this because it is large, but not too tall for most shelves and has a raised lid so if you overpack the box, the lid still closes and snaps shut with the handles. No more cracked bins that are bulging in the middle and the lids that don’t snap closed. Like I said above, to save your pocketbook only buy the bins you need for the current holiday. I just finished packing up/buying my Christmas bins and I’ll buy a bin for Valentine’s Day next. Hefty also makes a red and green version of their bin, so I bought red bins with green lids (not sure if I was supposed to mix the colors but Target never said anything.)
- Don’t just label all willy-nilly (unless you are one of those horrible people with gorgeous handwriting… Clea). Regardless DO NOT WRITE ON THE BOX (If you did write on the box get a cotton ball with some nail polish remover and it will remove ‘most’ of the writing.) Pick a font and size and stick with it. I personally label my boxes with (removable) vinyl with my Cricut. Before that, I kept a file on my computer that was already formatted with the correct font and size so all I had to do was type and print. Don’t limit yourself to what Word has, there are TONS of free downloadable fonts that can make your labeling system really unique to your style and personality. In honor of the Home Edit on Netflix, I downloaded Quentin.
- If you aren’t using vinyl, do not glue or use random tape to attach your labels. Use clear packing tape and attach by covering the whole label. This will keep the label from ripping of partially and will also allow them to look cohesive and nice and neat. You can wipe down the boxes if you store them in a dusty location.
Don’t just limit this system to holiday décor use it for all those keepsakes and misc. items you need to store.
Pro-Tip: One of the best pieces of advice I read when expecting my daughter was to keep a storage bin that you can put keepsakes for each child. I keep Amelia’s keepsake box under the bed and easily accessible so whenever we get art from school or something memorable I can easily put it in her bin to save. Once it gets full I’ll clean it out to ensure I want to keep everything and move it to a Hefty bin.
Tag us @coastalbendmomcollective and show us your storage system renovations. And check out some of our other tips and tricks for packing your decorations away here.
