When December ends and Christmas comes to a close, it’s time to deal with putting away Christmas decorations for yet another year.

It can be extremely tempting to simply shove everything in a box or a bag and be done with it, thinking to yourself that you’ll worry about it next year. But you’ll be setting yourself up for a bad time when you fast forward to just shy of 12 months’ time…

We know, we know… The last thing you want to be thinking about is *shudders* next Christmas… This Christmas has only just ended! But trust us, you’ll be grateful come next December when you get your decorations out and they’re all beautifully stored away.

Here’s 10 tips to help make next year’s Christmas decorations sort-out so much easier. You’ll thank your future self.

1. Take photos (before you pack anything by)

When it comes to Christmas decorations, a big part of the festive struggle is figuring out where things go and how they’ll look once they’re up. Take a few photos of decorations in-situ – as well as your Christmas tree – to refer to when you’re decorating. This way, you can retain perspective – whilst also making sure you haven’t lost anything.

2. Use clear and resealable bags

One of the most difficult aspects of getting the decorations out in time for Christmas is knowing what is in which bag. Using resealable bags is an environmentally-aware approach but be sure to label them with what is enclosed. If you’re using cardboard boxes for the sturdier items, be sure to clearly mark what is inside. This will stop you having to peer inside each bag and box in the pitch black.

3. Christmas gift containers can come in handy

All those gifts at Christmas mean that you may have unused containers that are ideal to store decorations. From small jewellery items to large toy boxes, there are plenty of uses for gift containers that are no longer needed. This is another great environmentally-friendly approach!

4. Don’t throw all the cardboard tubes in the recycling

A great way of keeping lights safe and secure is to wrap them carefully around used cardboard tubes. This helps the lights stay untangled and is an environmentally-friendly use of old kitchen roll tubes or even Pringles (especially after Christmas)!

5. Gift bags are your friend

With all the gifts you and your family will have likely received, you’ll be swamped with Christmas gift bags, which can only really be used during the festive period. Instead of recycling them, repurpose them. Use them to store decorations and to separate different items for different parts of the home. Use this tactic to store festive bags, too – even if you don’t put decorations in them. You can keep these back and use them to put your own gifts to friends and family in. Getting them out with the decorations will be a nice reminder that you have all the bags, so don’t need to go out and buy any more.

6. Used wrapping paper can also be repurposed

Instead of putting wrapping paper in the recycling (and definitely not in the waste bin!), consider using wrapping paper as protective packing. Whether you’re looking to keep your holiday destination baubles or your porcelain Rudolph in-tact, using wrapping paper to keep accidents at-bay is a thrifty move, as well as environmentally friendly.

7. Stickers can be re-stuck

Gift stickers can be reused time and time again. Simply write over them and reattach the bags and containers that your decorations are in, to identify what they are without having to get them out. This will save time and reduce the likelihood of accidents occuring. If the sticky element is no longer working, simply attach it with cellotape.

8. Use cling film to wrap your fake tree

If you’re careful, using cling film for your tree may be the best way to save time and effort and ensure you don’t misplace any part of your lounge centrepiece ahead of next Christmas. It will save you heaps of time when getting it back out at the end of the year, too. Please ensure that you only do this if you have a fake tree, not a real one!

9. Pack in order

This one may take some finessing. When packing up your decorations, put away what you’d get out last. Start with the angel/star/elf atop your Christmas tree and work backwards from there. You can be precise and not get confused when trying to find your lights which are buried until mounds of baubles.

10. Write down where everything is on your phone

Use your phone to note down where everything is kept and which bags/boxes they will be in. You can use a note-making application on your phone and even include photos. Make sure to save this in cloud storage such as Dropbox or Google Drive and share it with family and loved ones.

Need somewhere to store your Christmas decorations or other possessions? Then why not consider Easystore? Our self storage units in Cardiff are conveniently located and secure, with access 24/7 on each and every day of the year! Contact us today to find out more, or use our online quote form.