Ho Ho … How to Organize and Store Your Holiday Decorations!

These simple tips from the National Association of Professional Organizers in Michigan will help you organize and store your holiday decorations.

Items you will need to help you organize:

Large Containers

Preferably the strong, stackable, plastic type with a lid. They come in an assortment of sizes and colors. Cardboard boxes won’t stand the test of time.

It is recommended that you separate your indoor decorations from your outdoor decorations in different bins.  This will make decorating each area much easier.

If you select the clear (see-through style) bins, you will be able to see what’s inside. Otherwise, if you prefer to use colored bins to differentiate the holiday decorations (indoor/outdoor, etc.), simply label the outside of the container

Have a container for each room of your home that you decorate. This system will make it much easier to       locate those special items dedicated to a certain area, such as train sets or holiday villages. 

Ornament Keeper / Ornament Storage Box

These items can be purchased from many local hardware and home décor stores where organizing products are sold.  They come in a variety of sizes and shapes and will help you safely store up to 72 ornaments in bin.

Just be sure to mark them FRAGILE and put these bins on top of the stack so the ornaments don’t get crushed. 

Cardboard Tubes 

Save your empty wrapping paper tubes or paper towel tubes for storing your tree lights. Simply put a slit in one end of the tube to secure the end of the string of lights and then begin to gently wrap them around the tube to keep them from getting tangled. This is also a good time to inspect the lights and determine if they need to be replaced with a new set. Some light sets suggest replacement after 90 days use (or equal to approximately 3 holidays).

Plastic Bags

Once the tree lights have been wound on the cardboard tubes, place them in a plastic bag to protect them.

Commercial wreath storage bags can be purchased to store wreaths. The bags will help keep the shape of the wreath if stored properly. 

Other helpful hints:

Wrapping paper should be stored in a box (with scissors, tape, gift tags and ribbon) in a closet or under a bed. This way you will have everything together and it will be protected from being tattered, dusty or even moldy – depending where you may have stored it.  

This is also the best time to inspect your decorations. If they are discolored, chipped or broken, it is time to repair or toss them. Watch for post-holiday sales when items are deeply discounted to purchase the replacements to your holiday decorations.

Organizing your holiday decorations is easier than you think! 

 

For more organizing tips, visit NAPOMichigan.com. 

Article submitted by Chapter member Marilyn Sclafani. Founder of Organize-Pro.com

 

Start the New Year More Organized

“Getting organized” is a common New Year Resolution. The National Association of Professional Organizers in Michigan offers these simple suggestions to help you get more organized this year.

1. Organize Your Wallet. First, empty the contents of your wallet, such as: credit cards, gift cards, reward cards, expired coupons, etc. Then, reevaluate what you want to keep in your wallet. For example, many stores can access your reward program account with your phone number, thus eliminating the need to carry the reward card in your wallet. Lastly, only place those items you need and use regularly back into your wallet.

Organizing Tip of the Day #23

"Gather all of your membership/reward cards, ie. grocery and drug store, and punch a hole in the upper left corner of each. Then, attach them with a ring (like a key ring).  Keep them in your purse or vehicle so they are available for quick use every time you need them.  No more hunting in the bottom of your purse!"

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member and Director of Membership, Kathy Tucker.

Organizing Tip of the Day #22

"Give yourself a break and don't worry about what happened in the past. Right now you can give yourself credit for getting organized, handling the clean up and having the courage to ask for help. So give yourself a break and let's move on. We can handle this."

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member Michael Ann Rose.

Organizing Tip of the Day #21

"Always keep a bag or box in the bottom of your closet for donations."

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member Carolyn Anderson-Fermann.

Organizing Tip of the Day #20

"Think 'vertical,' always looking for ways to use the space along the wall for an appropriate type of storage unit, such as a shelf."

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member Rita Wilhelm.

Organizing Tip of the Day #19

When you are surrounded by too much stuff, you just can't see all the good stuff you really have.



Look around your work area. I bet there are at least five things you could pick up and put them away where they belong or just toss them. Look for dusty stuff if you're struggling...
 

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter President Angie Weid.

Organizing Tip of the Day #18

"When you consistently put items away each time you're finished using them, you will spend less time searching for those same items later!"

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member and Director of Marketing, Ann Marie Moore.

Organizing Tip of the Day #17

Line something up today.  Whether papers, forks, or shoes, the act of creating a straight line with the objects around you will make your space feel more organized.

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Vice-President, Trish Krebs.

Organizing Tip of the Day #16

"Keep a tote bag by the door.   Articles to read, phone calls to make, notes to write, etc. all goes into that bag.  Whenever you have to wait  -- at your children's soccer game, a doctor appointment, or commuting to work -- you'll be able to make the best use of your time!"

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member and Director of Professional Development, Marti Murdock.

Organizing Tip of the Day #15

"Keep unwanted catalogs out of your mailbox and recycle bin by using www.catalogchoice.org. This is a free site which tells each company to stop sending catalogs to you. Works great!"



Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member Ann Anderson.

Organizing Tip of the Day #14

"If you are finding it hard to stay focused on a project, write out the specific task you want to be working on and post it."

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member Susan Hunsberger.

Organizing Tip of the Day #13

"The evening before garbage pick-up is a great motivator to clear-out clutter around your home.  Focus on old papers, broken items or food that is no longer fresh.  This is a simple routine to prevent clutter from piling up."

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Secretary Susan Carmody.

Organizing Tip of the Day #12

"Keep a donation box for every family member in their closet. When they come across an item that no longer fits, it goes right into the box. Everything is ready when you get the call that the donation truck will be in the neighborhood."

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter member Karen DeClark.

Organizing Tip of the Day #11

"Winter is a great time to do an annual purge of your files. As you watch TV, pull out a handful of files from your drawer and weed through the contents of each folder. Remove all of last year’s bills (archive if necessary) and whatever else is no longer current. Place a binder clip on the file you end with each night so you can quickly pick up where you left off. Stick with it and you might find some things you’ve been looking for – like potential tax deductions!"


Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member and Director of Administration, Cynthia Gentit.

Organizing Tip of the Day #10

"Zip lock type bags are one of the greatest organizing tools ever invented. From the smallest to the largest sizes for containment, visibility, mobility and cost effectiveness. And they can be re-used too!"

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member Michael Ann Rose.

Organizing Tip of the Day #9

"Prioritize your organizing goal and break it down, one organizing project per month.  For example you may want to organize your closet in May when you are switching your winter/fall wardrobe to spring/summer."

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member and Immediate Past President, Betty Huotari.

Organizing Tip of the Day #8

"Keep items in the room you will use them.  For example, keep:

• clean sheets for the bed in the bedroom where they will needed. 
• spare garbage bags in the garbage container.

This saves time and they’re always handy exactly where and when you need them."

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member Cindy Greenleaf.

Organizing Tip of the Day #7

"Every Sunday, take 10 to 15 minutes to review your calendar and prepare for the week ahead."

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member Carolyn Anderson-Fermann.

Organizing Tip of the Day #6

"Have family members do a 10 minute pick-up before they go to bed each night. This keeps the clutter from piling up and makes for a less stress-full morning."

Organizing Tip Submitted by Chapter Member Karen DeClark.