Last week I had a featured segment on Breakfast Television Vancouver to provide tips and tricks for easy packing up and storing holiday decorations. I showcased several different products that I listed below to will help make next year’s setup super easy.

Gift Wrap

A plastic under-the-bed bin is ideal. Rolls of paper fit nicely, and there is lots of room for gift bags, ribbons, and bows. Because it is transparent, you can see the contents. The bins hideaway under the bed or stack in a closet. The pop-up gift wrap organizer is also an excellent option for storing rolls of paper. It comes with a smaller container for organizing bows and rolls of ribbon.

Lights and Garland

I featured the Sterilite Christmas Light Storage Box. It contains four paddles that you wrap the lights around. The paddles fit into slots within the box to keep your lights from getting tangled. The bins have lockable lids and are easy to stack.

Another option is storage reels. Wind garland or light sets around the reels and the reels and place in the zippered storage bag. I also displayed my own inexpensive way to store light strings and garland – wrapped around a thick piece of cardboard.

Ornaments

The flat-top ornament box holds up to 20 ornaments and the interior compartments are adjustable. It is great for a collection of smaller decorations.

As I demonstrated on the segment, you can create your own multi-level ornament storage. Take a standard plastic bin and cut sheets of cardboard to fit inside the bin. Glue plastic or paper cups to the sheet of cardboard and place an ornament in each one. Stack the layers inside the container. You can also store a wreath on the top tier in the box.

Artificial Christmas Trees

You can purchase heavy-duty bags for storing your artificial tree. They are constructed from tough polyester and have handles and wheels for easy maneuverability. Because the bags close with a zipper, they keep out dust and pests. Alternatively, you can use tennis touring bags or hockey bags to store Christmas trees. A big shout-out to Wilson Sports for the tennis bag used in the demo.

General Storage Advice

When you pack your decorations away this year, create a “first open box” that contains items you would need earliest in the season such as holiday cards, advent calendars, theme napkins, towels, soap dispensers, candles, etc. If you are moving house before next holiday season, pack away your ornaments as if they were going on the moving truck tomorrow. No one wants to haul out and repack Christmas decorations in July.

Thank you

Out of Chaos would like to thank Breakfast Television Vancouver and host Riaz Meghji. We extend our sincere appreciation to Canadian Tire and Bed, Bath & Beyond for supplying the items we featured.

For more tips and tricks for easy packing up and storing holiday decorations, contact Out of Chaos today.