For many of us, decorating for the holiday season puts us into the festive spirit. Unfortunately, once the season is over, it’s time to figure out where to store those decorations until the next season. We all want to use our decorations for years to come and preserve any sentimental items, so storing them properly is very important. Packing up and organizing is always a chore, but if you have a plan, decorating will be easier next year.
Most of us tend to accumulate more decorations each year leaving us with the problem of where to store them. If you have run out of room in your garage, basement, or attic, a self-storage unit in St. Albert, AB, or Edmonton, AB, is a great alternative.
When you decide to store away the Christmas decorations, it’s tempting to toss your stuff into the boxes or bins it’s always been in, intending to sort, fix, and purge it next season.
When you set out your decorations, you often realize that some items remain in the boxes and are never used. By giving away, donating, or discarding the items you no longer use, you can free up space for new additions.
To make life easier, consider the following suggestions.
Your artificial tree, once stripped of ornaments can be stored a few different ways:
Wrap the tree in shrink wrap using a 5” roll with a handle for easy application. This will compact the branches while keeping them neatly in place, keeping the tree dust-free and protected wherever you store it. When setting up the tree, cut off the wrap and fluff the branches—no assembly is required.
Disassemble the tree and stand (most trees come in three sections) and store them in plastic totes or a Christmas Tree bag. Most tree bags have handles, making them easier to carry.
Label the sections of the artificial tree. This will make it easier to put together next year and save you time and frustration.
There are many creative ways to store your ornaments carefully. You can utilize all sorts of containers, from leftover plastic cups to egg cartons, take-out containers, and homemade cardboard dividers. Bubble wrap and tissue paper provide great cushioning for protecting your Christmas decorations.
Fir garland and your collection of wreaths can be draped or hung on clothes hangers and stored in small portable wardrobe packing boxes.
You may have noticed that your lovely holiday candles can transfer their color onto each other or other ornaments if they are not stored separately. Wrapping them in tissue paper or regular paper will help prevent color transfer. Remember the candles need to be kept in a cool location.
Also, your taper candles should be placed flat or vertically with no heavy items on top to prevent them from warping.
Ensure all your Christmas lights work before storing them to avoid frustration next year. Here are some tips on how to store your Christmas lights to prevent them from tangling:
Wrap the Christmas lights around empty cardboard rolls.
Wrap each strand individually and wrap it with an elastic or twist tie. Now, all your lights will be tangle-free and can be easily stored in a bin of your choosing.
There is always leftover wrapping paper after Christmas – especially when you score those great after-season sales! Here are some great ideas for storing wrapping paper and gift bags.
A great way to store wrapping paper is to place the rolls vertically in a clear plastic garment bag and hang the bag with your wreaths and garland. You can also cut an empty piece of wrapping paper tube and place it around each roll to hold it together so the paper doesn’t fray or damage.
Organize all of your gift tags in a container. We always seem to have a few leftovers from opened packages, so this way, they will all be in one place.
Gift Bags: We all love to regift beautiful gift bags we receive—they’re convenient and a great way to reduce waste and save money. To keep them in excellent condition, consider organizing them with simple storage solutions. Use totes with file folders to keep them sorted and neat, or hang them in a clear bag organizer for easy access.
If you have dishware that you only use for Christmas and New Year's, consider packing supplies for a Dish Set and Glass Set to free up cupboard space. These packages include a divider that fits a 1.5-cubic-foot packing box and individual foam sleeves to protect your dishes and glassware.
Make sure your table linens and seasonal towels are clean and dry before storing. Pack them in a separate storage bin for easy access.
Clearly label all the boxes containing your Christmas decorations. Proper labeling can make it easier to find decorations, especially if you store them in a storage unit.
With three convenient locations—South Edmonton, North Edmonton, and St. Albert—we make storage simple and accessible. Did you know that Elite Self Storage St. Albert was formerly Riel Park RV & Mini Storage?
We offer a variety of boxes for all your storage needs, including standard and specialty boxes like wardrobe, glass, and dishware boxes.
Visit Elite Self Storage for all your household storage or business storage needs! Choose from climate-controlled storage units to unheated storage units that fit your needs. We also sell a range of boxes for all your storage needs. We have various sizes of standard and specialty boxes, such as wardrobe, glass, and dishware boxes.
With month-to-month storage rentals and no long-term commitment, we make storage easy. Reserve a storage unit online or call 780-347-0433, one of our storage rental experts, for more information.
