This time of year, you’ll be hard pressed to find a home that doesn’t have tons of holiday decorations on display. And rightly so! Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays, and it’s a fabulous excuse to totally deck your house out. But what happens when the holidays are over, and it’s time to take down the decorations? What do we do with them? They take up SO MUCH space, and we only use them once a year!
Not everyone has that kind of space, and even if you do, do you really want to use it storing boxes and bins of things you’ll hardly use? That’s why it’s so important to minimize your holiday storage! I know this might sound really hard to do when there are so many cute holiday decor items that we really REALLY want to buy and display. But by putting a little creativity and thought into it, it’s really quite simple!
How to Maximize Your Holiday Decor and Minimize Your Holiday Storage
Be selective about your holiday decor purchases.
This will not only save you holiday storage space, but also a good amount of money! When you are out shopping for decorations, always keep this question in the back of your mind: What will I do with this item when the holidays are over? If it’s something smaller, then you might have no problem finding space for it.
But if it’s something large and bulky, decide where you will store it (and where you will display it in your home) BEFORE you buy it! Items in a store can be deceiving, because they look smaller when you’re in a large store. And then you get them home, and all of a sudden that miniature reindeer is taking up half your entryway! So think really carefully before you buy, and buy selectively!
Use neutral colors for your larger, bulkier decorations.
By choosing neutral colors, you’ll be able to use these items year round and might not need to store them at all. When I made my DIY apothecary jars, I painted them silver so that I could use them for any holiday or season. I fill them with different accessories depending on the holiday. This ensures I only have to store the filler, and not the large jars!
RELATED: DIY Apothecary Jars Tutorial
Plan to use your decor for multiple holidays.
Using your decorations for several holidays will not only cut down on your holiday storage, but it will also save you money and ensure that you get to use your holiday decor more than once a year. For example, a red vase could be used for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and even the Fourth of July. So instead of buying the red vase that’s covered in Christmas trees patterns, choose a plain red vase that you can use over and over again. You can always fill the vase and decorate it with holiday accessories to make it appropriate for whatever holiday you want, such as ribbon, Poinsettias, and pine boughs for Christmas.
RELATED: How to Shop Holiday Clearance for Year-Round Home Decor
Use smaller accent pieces for your holiday specific items.
Your holiday specific decorations will only be appropriate for one holiday, and you might not be able to use them for anything else, but that’s ok because they’re smaller and easier to store! Just remember to keep these items within a reasonable amount, because they can add up quickly!
Think interchangeable!
What items can you maybe make a few tweaks to and use again for the next holiday? My interchangeable burlap wreath is a fabulous example of this! I use one wreath form and simply change out the accessories every season, so I don’t need to store a bunch of wreaths! Check out the difference between all the different versions. You can’t even tell they’re the same wreath!
RELATED: How to Make an Interchangeable Wreath
Winter / Valentine’s Day / St. Patrick’s Day / Spring
Summer / 4th of July / Fall / Christmas
Do this with as many of your larger items as possible. Instead of buying Halloween pillows, buy regular pillow forms and cover them with Halloween slipcovers. Instead of painting the letters “fall” on your mason jars, use removable vinyl stickers or wrap the jars with stamped fabric, so that a few weeks later those same jars can spell out “joy” or whatever words you want to use. Think outside the box, and then you won’t need to store as many things inside a box!
Include detailed labels on your storage boxes.
Instead of simply marking a box “Christmas,” include details as to what is in the box that you might want to use for other holidays, such as “white tablecloth” or “red candlesticks.” So often we simply mark our boxes by holiday and put them away and never think of them again until that holiday comes around a year later. This way, the next time you go to decorate for another holiday, you’ll be able to easily see what items you could use again without digging through every box.
Clean out your old holiday decorations.
Are you storing holiday decorations that you don’t use anymore? Perhaps these items are better off being repurposed into something else or donated to a local thrift store. There’s no use in storing things you never use! I know it can be hard to get rid of things, but they really aren’t doing you any good stored away for years in a box in the basement, garage, or attic. You can breathe a sigh of relief when you’re finished, as you’ll have more space and less clutter in your life!
RELATED: How to Declutter Your Entire Home in One Weekend (or Less!)
When in doubt, paint it out!
If you have an item that you just love, but it’s not the right color for whatever holiday you want, paint it! A few coats of paint can completely transform an item for another holiday. I scored a fantastic deal on some cute picture frames at the craft store simply because they were fall themed and fall was over. I bought them and painted them white, so now I can keep them up year round and simply change out the holiday prints (because you know I am all about free printables)!
So are you ready to take the plunge and minimize your holiday storage? I recommend doing it one holiday at a time as each holiday comes around. So by this time next year, your holiday storage should be under control, and to top it all off, you’ll have some fabulous holiday decorations to display for every holiday! If you enjoyed this post, you’ll love my newsletter. Sign up below for weekly craft, DIY, and home projects and tips!
These are all really great tips Celeste. I also l ike to use neutral items that can have more than one purpose. The only trouble I’m having is labeling all of my boxes and stash! I’ll be on board with you come January. Merry Christmas dear friend! And may you have a bright 2016!!
Thanks so much, Mary! So glad you’ll be following along next month! I’ll have some labeling tips that might help you with your holiday storage as well. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!
These are some tips and I love those apothecary jars! My boyfriend hates that I love decorating for the holidays b/c it then has to all be taken down and stored. With this tips I just may be able to decorate a little bit more!!
Happy Holidays,
Roxy
Thanks, Roxy! Hope this helps you decorate away without worrying about moving and storing everything! Happy holidays!
Great tips. I love the idea of neutral decorations you can use for multiple holidays. Those glass jars and red vase are great ideas.
Thanks! It’s always helpful to keep colors in mind when you’re selecting holiday decorations!
This is wonderful. I’m going to plan out a morning after Christmas to go through and organize my decor.
Great idea, Lisa! There’s no better time to organize your holiday decorations than at the change of the season!
i love the idea of making the jars a neutral color and only needing to store the filler. so smart
Yes, I find that saves so much space! Jars and vases are just so bulky when you have to store them!
Great tips there. I like the idea of wreath a lot !.
Thanks much for sharing.
Thanks, Monika! I think the interchangeable wreath is my biggest space saver!
Oooh good points! I’m always drooling over all the Christmas decor the stores start putting out around Halloween time and admit that I don’t ever think about where I’m gonna put those things AFTER Christmas is over! Ha!
Lol, I know! It is so easy to get carried away when stores put out all their holiday decorations! I have to put blinders on when I’m shopping!
These are really great tips! I’ve definitely been working on interchangeable and thinking about what I can paint.
That’s great, Kelsie! That should really help get you cut down on that holiday storage!
Great ideas! Especially since I live in apartment and have little to no additional storage.
xoxo, Jenny
I know how that feels, Jenny! Hopefully this will help you have some fabulous holiday decorations even though you don’t have much storage space!
I had a post similar to this but not as extensive that I did not get up before Christmas. Oh well, your have some fabulous ideas. I had no idea decorations in larger stores look smaller. Who knew? Anyway, I repainted many items for this season including furniture. Also, I am a huge believer in neutrals. Great post. Thanks!
Thanks, Zan! Yes, things tend to look smaller when they’re in a larger space such as a big store, and we usually don’t realize it until we get them to our much smaller homes. That is, if we CAN get them home. I once watched a guy try to fit a wreath bigger than him into his car… 😉
Great tips Celeste! The neutral decorations like the glass jars that you can use for multiple occasions is something I can definitely see myself doing.
Thanks! So glad you’ll be able to use some of these tips, Bree!
Definitely great ideas here!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J! Merry Christmas!
Thanks, Jess! Merry Christmas!
Great tips! I only have a few Christmas decorations because we don’t have a lot of storage space and I hate cluttering up the house. I try to use natural greenery and just toss it when it gets old. Linking up with you at #momssmallvictories 🙂
That’s a good idea, Rebekah! Using natural decorations lets you recycle and compost them at the end of the season without worrying about any storage at all!
I’ve been getting more into minimalism and recently reduced my holiday decor to my most favorite and versatile pieces. I really like the idea of using interchangeable ones. Thanks for sharing on the Small Victories Sunday Linkup!
That’s great, Heather! Reducing your holiday decor is an easy way to free up some space. I love that interchangeable decor allows you to decorate for any holiday without needing to store a bunch of holiday decorations!
Thanks for the great tips! I have several things that I can use for multiple holidays, including some glass apothecary jars that I just change the fillers in. My weakness is just putting everything in bins labeled “Christmas” or whatever, and then just like you said I have to dig through multiple bins to find anything. I definitely need to take the time to make up some better labels when I pack everything back up this weekend.
Jenny, so glad you found this helpful! I love saving space by using glass jars and just changing out the fillers. It makes decorating for the next holiday too easy! And good labeling is key when putting away those holiday decorations. It only takes a minute to add some extra details to the label!
I’m always looking for new storage ideas, and these are cute and clever! Thanks for sharing at Mix it up Monday 🙂
Thanks, Lisa! I hope you’re able to use some of these ideas for your own holiday storage!
I would be interested in your storage ideas, my crafts supplies are a little out of control.
Thanks for sharing on http://ohmyheartsiegirl.com/heartsie-girls-wordless-wednesday-48/
Wishing you a Happy New year!!
Karren
Karren, my series will show you how to get control of those craft supplies and keep them organized. Stay tuned!
Celeste, these are great tips! I love Christmas and it’s the only holiday I decorate for. I do choose decor items that are in our theme, so that they fit in, each year we may get one or two, but this year nothing new was needed. But I do change up the wreath decor, or the stair railings, since everything is in the same color scheme it all matches. Our home is all black, white, silver and grey with glass and mirrors so our holiday decor is the same, no changing with trends here! LOL But I do need to label the boxes when I put them away this year, several boxes of old stuff made it out of the attic, and I’m sure my husband would appreciate it if he only had to get down what we actually use! LOL I got rid of some, but am holding on to others for when my kids move out, they will have a starter Christmas decor set!
Thanks, Nikki! Christmas is my biggest holiday decor-wise as well, though I was able to pare down a lot of our Christmas stuff this year, so that helps with storage. For most of the other holidays I just have a few small things, and of course my interchangeable wreath. It sounds like your home is styled perfectly for any holiday or season, which is great! It can take a bit of time to label everything, but it’s so helpful because once you do you won’t have to dig through boxes to find what you’re looking for. And I’m sure your kids will be glad to have a few Christmas memories from home once they’re out on their own!
Thanks so much for linking up at the Bloggers Spotlight party! I pinned this to our group board. Don’t forget to come link up again on Thursday and see the featured posts!
I’ll be sure to stop by again next week, Hil! Have a great weekend!
Great tips!!
Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday!
Thanks so much, Chris! I always enjoy Funtastic Friday!
Hello,Christmas decor the stores start putting out around Halloween time and admit that I don’t ever think about where I’m gonna put those things AFTER Christmas is over
Thanks