We’re officially entering the decorating season. Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, fall, and then the big ones, Christmas and Hanukkah, this is the time of year most households pull out more decor than any other.
So before the boxes come down from the attic, I want you to think about January. Believe me, your future self will thank you.
The system is simple: sort, declutter, organize. As you bring out the decor, you decorate. As you put it away, you organize. Here’s how I do it.
1. Sort and declutter as you pack
Before anything goes back into a tote, go through it piece by piece. Only put back what you love. If something is broken, that’s an easy one. But if you didn’t use it this year and you’re “just saving it,” ask yourself honestly whether it’s time to let it go.
Decor gets outdated too. Owning something for many years doesn’t mean it has to come out every year.
I also know most of us buy a little more each season. So be mindful of your storage capacity and of what your home can actually hold. The goal is not to build a collection for the sake of having one.
2. Choose plastic, not cardboard
I’m not a fan of cardboard boxes, and I have my pest control guy to thank for it. He told me once that cardboard attracts bugs, and that was all it took. I removed every piece of cardboard from my storage and switched to plastic.
When you’re choosing totes, look at the handles. Picture yourself on a ladder hauling a tote out of an attic or garage. You want a sturdy handle, not a flimsy one, and a lid that actually latches and stays put.
3. Color code your totes
Yes, I’m a label girl, and I’ll get to labels in a second. But if your decor lives somewhere hard to reach, labels may not cut it. When you’re up on a ladder, you’re not squinting at lettering. You’re looking for a color.
Orange for Halloween. Red or green for Christmas. Pick a color for each holiday and stick with it, and you’ll know exactly what to pull down without second-guessing.
4. Use clear bins, and label them anyway
Clear bins let you see what’s inside, which saves you from opening every tote to find the one thing you need. Then add the label on top, because I’m still me.
5. Don’t toss the lights in a bundle
I know we all throw the lights into one big tangle in January (or February, no judgment here). Do yourself a favor and organize the lights along with the rest of the decor into their containers for next year, and label those boxes.
It takes a little extra time now, and next year you’ll open a tote and find everything ready to go.
The short version: sort, declutter, organize. Shop the whole system here.
Want help with the sorting part?
Some years the decluttering is the hardest piece, and a second set of eyes makes it so much easier. At H&S Interiors and Organization, we help busy families create spaces that are beautiful and work for the way they actually live, from storage systems that make sense to full-service design.
Happy decorating,
— Humeira