Now that Christmas is once again in the past, it’s time to think about holiday decoration storage and putting away all the decorations for one more year.  If you are like most people, you get a few new decorations each year and every year are not quite sure how to store them all.  Here are a few ideas to get you headed in the right direction:

(source: RealSimple)

Old apple containers can be used to store breakable ornaments.  The ball shaped ones fit especially nicely and then you can stack the containers inside your plastic tote.  Group like ornaments together easily.  A similar idea for smaller ornaments is to use egg cartons.

(source: MarthaStewart)

Here is a great way to store tree ornaments without worrying they will get broken.  Glue plastic cups to a piece of cardboard and layer in a plastic bin.  You can then wrap ornaments in tissue paper and place inside the cups.  I really like this idea as we have many breakable ornaments that I worry about each year even if they are wrapped up.

(source: MarthaStewart)

Long candles can easily get broken if just thrown into a box or drawer.  Protect long candles by wrapping in paper towel or tissue paper and sliding into an empty paper towel tube.  You can label the outside with color to find them easily when needed.

(source: MarthaStewart)

There is not much I hate worse than trying to untangle our Christmas lights each year.  Which is why I love this idea to wrap the lights around pieces or cardboard cut to fit inside a plastic bin.  You can put a slit at each end to secure the ends of each strand to the cardboard.  Love this!  A similar option is to use empty wrapping paper tubes.

(source: MarthaStewart)

If you are a lover of ribbon then you will love this idea.  Find a nice covered cardboard box or I have also seen this done with the plastic baskets with the holes on the sides.  Put a chopstick or pencil through each end to hold the spools of ribbon in place and then pull the end of the ribbon through for each.  Could you ever dream to be this organized?  :)

Another tip for storing your gift wrapping supplies is to use an old pair of pantyhose to store a roll of gift wrap so it doesn’t get ripped.  I’m not sure how many rolls of wrapping paper have been destroyed rolling around under my bed!

If you take the time to put your holiday decorations around the right way, it won’t seem like such a chore when you take them back out next year!

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