{Organizing} Holiday Decor

Hello, hello -- and happy New Year's Eve, my friends! What big plans do you have tonight? We'll be ordering take-out, followed by a smorgasbord of chocolate fondue...it's amazing how many things you can dip in melted chocolate. But before the ball drops, I hope to have the last of our Christmas decorations packed-away.

I was talking to my mom while removing ornaments from the tree, and she said, "Well I hope you're taking pictures of how you organize it, I'd love to see it on the blog!" So for you mom, and anyone else interested in how I organize my holiday decor....

For years, I stored everything in random cardboard boxes, that moved with us from house to house, so you know what kind of shape those were in! I finally sucked it up, and started buying a few plastic storage tubs every year....life changing, I tell you! This year I splurged the extra few dollars, and bought the tubs that come with dividers....perfect for loose ornaments, candle toppers, ribbon and other small decor.

I put the discarded toy boxes to good use, and wrapped garlands and beads around pieces of cardboard.

The cardboard dividers are easily customized to fit all your different sized items.

God's gift to organizing...the Ziploc bag...is perfect for grouping collections of similar decor.

They tuck easily in little nooks of the tubs.

I accidentally hit up Target's after-Christmas sale....looks like next year will be jewel tones again!

Whenever possible, I place everything back in it's original package, for the most compact storage.

I use the stockings as padding to protect the nativity scenes, and more fragile items like my DIY Sequin Trees.

All the greenery is stored together, and the snap lid keeps it from getting dust and critters. That makes it much nicer to unpack the next year!

And finally, I found these spools for $2 at Target....keeping the lights wrapped neatly should prevent the tangled mess next year! I'd show you more, but Mr. Sugarplum is in charge of taking down the lights and disassembling the tree...so it's liable to still be up for Valentine's Day.

All that remains is labeling these gorgeous plastic tubs! The other plus side is how much easier it is to haul these up the attic pull-down stairs (or so Mr. Sugarplum tells me, you think I'm climbing that death-trap?!)....not to mention, they take up less room than a collection of mis-matched boxes.

Um, this isn't quite all of it.

Our tree, if it ever comes down, (and remember it's propped up on paint cans!), is kept in an over-sized plastic tub also. So what storage tips do you have? Have you taken down all your holiday decor? Are you dragging it out like my husband?! He thinks I'm cuckoo, but I prefer to start the New Year clean. Have a wonderful and safe night, lovebugs!