I love decorating for the holidays but with so many decorations, I find it impossible to keep them organized and I'm already dreading getting them out of the closet. How can I keep track of all my decorations and store them safely next year?
Jean R. emailed us at expert@sweetspot.ca, and our organization expert, Barbara Sidoruk, answered:
It’s that time of year that brings out the magpie in all of us. Unfortunately, for a lot people getting out all those shiny baubles we love means unraveling them. Pulling out that string of lights and having the rest of the decorations come with can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. Now there are shops dedicated to providing you with all your holiday storage needs: Solutions, Stacks and Stacks, The Container Store.
With the help of these shops and perhaps some creative tips you’ll never have to untangle decorations again.
- Wrapping paper and ribbon - a clear plastic drawer or shallow bin or a compartmentalized hanging bag.
- Decorative bulbs can be stored in a clear plastic wing lid box with layers of bubble wrap between them, I’ve done this for years and have never had a fatality.
- Wrap any garland around a piece of rolled newspaper, at home I would have used an empty paper towel roll and notched each end to keep it from unraveling but necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention.
- Store your lights by wrapping each strand around cardboard and then putting it in it’s own plastic bag, tangle-free guaranteed.
- Wreaths need a box and here you might want to buy one that is a nice snug fit so that there isn’t a lot of movement, if you prefer to hang them put them in an old pillowcase for protection.
- Candles can be stored in liquor store boxes that have dividers, wrap your candles in plastic or an old sock before you store them.
- If your tree is an artificial one, store it in a bag made especially for this purpose. If it’s real, wrap it in an old sheet take to the curb and most importantly, contact the city to find out how to recycle it properly.
So make a list, check it twice because being organized is really nice!
Barbara has been a successful wardrobe stylist in the film industry for the last 20 years. As an off shoot of that career Barbara has retained may personal clients who look to her not only to update and refresh their wardrobes but to organize the closets they hang in. Space came out of the closet and into the office, the basement and the entire home.
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