Let’s face it – putting UP holiday decorations is fun and exciting; but taking them down?? Ugh – no-one likes doing this depressing and tedious chore.

For years, I dreaded it. I would leave it until I couldn’t possibly stand it any longer. When the time finally came to pack things up, I’d haphazardly throw stuff into bins. I just wanted to get the job over with ASAP.

As expected, when it came time to once again deck the halls, my random packing was NOT helpful!

Now I was wasting time unpacking boxes and looking for things (and sometimes forgetting that I even HAD them).

After a few of these aggravating cycles – I finally developed a system that helped me shortcut my “taking-down-the-Christmas-decoration” chores.

This system makes it super easy to stay organized and saves time!

If you like to change up your decorations and where you put things from year to year (like I do), this system works. If instead you’re the type who likes to keep it the same – don’t worry, there are definitely some tips for you too (especially in Tip #4).

Ready to take it down?

Tip #1 – Pick a central landing place

This will be the spot where you put ALL the decorations you gather from around the house. I use the dining room table, but you can use any place you feel would work well (and has enough room for your storage bins and bags etc.)

Tip #2 – Divide into sections

It doesn’t have to be physical separation but visually think about the different categories for your decor and how you’ll store them. Then divvy your landing place accordingly .

The categories I use:

• Garland & picks
• Wreaths
• Lighting
• Ornaments
• Statues, figures, signage
• Tableware, linens, pillows
• Cards, wrapping, ribbon, paper products (usually i snag some after Christmas sales that I store for next year)
• Christmas Tree(s)

Tip #3 – Work From Room to Room

Start with one room and take ALL the decorations from that room and bring to your central landing place. Then move onto the next room until it’s all rounded up and in the landing place. Be sure you put it in the corresponding piles and then get started with the storage. Idea: Family can get involved in helping you round up the decor – it speeds up the process and you can make it fun.

Tip #4 – Storage Bins & Labels

If you can use clear storage bins I TOTALLY and WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommend doing so. This way, you can easily see what’s inside.

However, since I DON’T HAVE CLEAR BINS (and I don’t want to spend the extra money when my current totes work perfectly fine) I use post-it notes on the outside to label what’s inside.

If you’re like me and like to change it up every year, my bins are marked according to categories from Tip #2. (i.e one bin for all my garland and picks, one for my wreaths etc.)

Since some of my categories are a bit broad, I take the time to itemize a few more details (so I know what’s in each bin) ie. I don’t just write “figures and signs” I’ll add descriptions like “Candy Cane sign” “gold reindeer” etc.

If you’re one of those people who keep your decorations the same each year for a specific location (i.e. your Christmas mantle) – then use ONE tote to put everything you need to decorate that ONE spot. That way, all you have to do is pull out one bin marked “Mantle” and you have everything you need at your fingertips.

Idea: Another way kids can be involved in the decorating clean-up is to have them make the labels and stick them on the bins. I wish I saved the labels my kids made when they were learning to print and spell…just adorable to see things like sana huts (santa hats) and wit deere (white deer) 🙂

Tip #5 – Christmas Tree

We’re lucky that we have a rather large, unfinished basement so my smaller Christmas trees make the trek to the basement, with all their ornaments and ribbons. They get covered and wrapped in old sheets until it’s time to haul them out of storage.

For my large 9 ft tall, pre-lit Christmas tree – we take off all the ornaments, ribbon etc. before bringing it downstairs A) this way I can start fresh next year and change up the decor and B) I don’t trust navigating that ginormous tree down the stairs without breaking something…an ornament or a hip.

However, since I refuse to re-fluff that entire huge tree every year – it also gets protected by old sheets and stands in a corner of the basement like a mummy until show time next year.

If you don’t have the space to leave it up, another terrific option are the Christmas Tree storage bags. Amazon has a lot of fantastic options to choose from (like the one pictured here). Just be sure you pick the right size for your tree.

Tip # 6 – Ornament Storage

My tried and true method for years involved wrapping ornaments individually in newspaper and then putting them in egg cartons, which then went inside plastic bins.

Now my ornament storage involves re-purposed clear Rubbermaid drawers. (A throwback from my scrapbooking days.)

Using these drawers means I don’t have wrap each individual ornament – I just take them off the tree and pop them in the drawer being careful NOT to overfill. (Overfilling will cause breakage…..trust me.)

Tip # 7 – Purge & edit now

Take down is a great time to rid yourself of any decor that is frustrating, broken, out-dated or just something you no longer want or need.

I used to have this glittery garland that was pretty, HOWEVER the glitter would shower down at the slightest breeze. And once that glitter landed…ugh, – it was stuck to the floor, your slippers, your socks, the couch, your hair for DAYS! I was so happy to donate it and save myself from storing it for another year.

In the words of Marie Kondo – if it doesn’t spark joy, time to say buh-bye. (ok well she didn’t say it exactly like that, but you know what I mean- if you don’t like it; toss/donate it!)