Get Organized for Next Christmas

NBC had a special news segment on organizing for next Christmas. Some of the stuff wasn’t very exciting, like shredding your left over Christmas gift wrap to cushion ornaments. I think that would be terribly time consuming and wasteful. I’d rather save the paper to use to wrap stocking gifts next year. However, if you have very delicate ornaments and nothing to pack them in, it may be the right option for you. Other ideas, like wrapping lights for easy use next year, were really great.

Anyway, it made me think about taking the final steps to organize my Christmas stuff. Before the holidays, I had cleaned off a bookcase in my “sunroom” and looked for containers that would fit it. Now, I’m beginning to pack items into the containers by type. I’m throwing out those things that looked a bit ratty, clearly labeling each container with a list of the contents using the label maker (Can I have that back, Hon? Oh, wow! You printed a really interesting label there. Yes, I think it is the longest word ever. I hope I have another cartridge…) and making sure I pack everything as neatly as possible. It is taking some time, but it will make next year’s Christmas decorating so much easier.

So, I know most of you don’t store holiday stuff in the main part of the house. You stuff it in the attic, the basement or the garage. That doesn’t mean you can’t be organized, though.

• Set up a specific area for your holiday items, preferably a shelving unit. This is especially important with basement storage, since shelves will help you keep items safely off the floor if there is minor flooding.
• Throw out anything that has gotten worn or shabby, especially anything electrical. You don’t want to mess with frayed wiring.
• Pack like items together. It seems like simple advice, but I could have used it several years ago. I used to just toss random holiday stuff in containers before I got organized and ended up buying things twice because I couldn’t figure out which container they were in. Very unthrifty!
• Consider investing in specialized organizing tools, like a wrapping paper container, to help keep your items safe and neat.

Do you have a great tip for organizing Christmas decorations?

photo by Fleur Suijten/Stock Exchange