Skip the January chaos. Do it now while everything is out and you can actually see what you’re working with. A little effort today saves a headache eleven months from now. But right now? You’re in a good spot to change that. Your decorations are out, you can see what you have, and you can actually do something about it. That makes this week the best time to get a system going.
Sort and Purge While Everything Is Out
You’ve probably got decorations sitting around that haven’t seen daylight in years. That ceramic Santa from 2009? The strand of lights where half the bulbs are dead? Time to let go.
Take a walk through what you have while it’s all visible. If something stayed in the box this year, ask yourself honestly. Will it ever come out? Broken ornaments, faded garland, stuff you forgot you even had. It all takes up room. And the more you hang onto, the more you have to sift through when next November rolls around. We’ve all kept things “just in case” and then never touched them again. That’s how a storage unit or closet turns into a black hole. The same goes for Halloween decorations if you haven’t tackled those yet.
Use the Right Containers for the Job
Here’s the thing about cardboard boxes. They fall apart. They soak up moisture, bugs love them, and they do nothing to protect anything fragile. Plastic bins cost a little more but they’re worth it. Get ones with lids that snap shut tight.
Ornament boxes with dividers are worth picking up too. They keep glass balls and fragile pieces from banging into each other all year. For lights, wrap them around a scrap of cardboard or grab a cheap light reel from the hardware store. That one move saves you a solid twenty minutes of cursing next December. Label your bins on two sides at least. You want to know what’s inside no matter which way they’re facing in the stack. Clear bins are even better since you can spot what you need without popping the lid off every box. If you want more ideas on packing items for long-term storage, check out our smart packing tips.
Think About Storage Unit Organization Now
If you rent a self storage unit, you know how tempting it is to toss things inside and figure it out later. That catches up with you fast.
Give some thought to where your holiday bins will live before hauling them over. Seasonal stuff should go near the front so you’re not crawling over a couch and three dressers every time November comes around. Shelving units make a huge difference. Bins stay off the floor, and you can actually walk through the space. Keep all your holiday decorations grouped together instead of spreading boxes all over the unit. A few people I know take a quick photo of their unit after they organize it. Feels like overkill until you’re standing there months later trying to remember where you stashed the wreath.
Protect Your Decorations Year-Round
Your decorations are going to sit in storage for close to eleven months. A lot can happen in that time if you’re not thinking ahead.
Big temperature swings warp candles, crack thin ornaments, and ruin anything made of wax. If you’ve got family heirlooms or pieces that don’t handle heat and cold well, a temperature-controlled unit keeps things steady. Even in a decent storage space, don’t leave bins sitting directly on a concrete floor. Moisture creeps up from below, and that’s bad news for cardboard or anything fabric. Watch your stacking too. Heavy bins on top of light ones is a quick way to find crushed decorations next year.
Make a List Before You Pack Everything Away
You’d be surprised how much you forget between December and the following November. That’s almost a full year, and by the time the holidays roll around again, you won’t remember what’s in each bin or what you meant to replace.
Before you seal everything up, grab a notepad or open the notes app on your phone. Write down what’s in each container and where you’re putting it. Did you notice a strand of lights flickering? Add it to the list. Want to grab more outdoor decorations next year? Write that down too. These thoughts disappear fast once the season ends. Keeping a list with your bins, or snapping a photo of it, means you’ll walk into next November with a clear picture of what you’re working with.
Final Thoughts
Getting your holiday decorations squared away doesn’t have to be a chore. The trick is doing it now, while everything is still fresh in your mind and easy to access. Future you will appreciate the effort. If you’re running low on space at home, Greylock Storage has self storage units in Pittsfield, Adams, Schenectady, and Glens Falls. Plenty of room to keep your holiday gear protected and out of the way until next season.
