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Christmas UnDecorating Tips

December 26, 2021  Christmas | Uncategorized

Taking down Christmas decorations is just as much fun as putting them up … said no one ever! If you love decorating for Christmas but dread the thought of Christmas undecorating, you’re not alone. Warning: you won’t find perfectly packed and labeled bins or expensive storage solutions here. Instead, I’m sharing my tried and true, quick and easy ways to take down and store Christmas decorations.

Christmas UnDecorating Tips kellyelko.com #christmas #christmasdecor #christmastips #tipsandtricks #christmasundecorating #kellyelko #christmasornaments

This post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

If you saw my Christmas Home Tour, you know I have a lot of Christmas stuff and that is just the tip of the ice burg!

Leave the Tree for Last

Taking down all the decorations isn’t as overwhelming when it’s done in stages plus I love being able to enjoy the glow of the tree through the new year. Who said you have to keep the box your tree comes in?

I like these heavy duty Christmas tree storage bags. I always use divided ornament containers to store my precious Shiny Brite ornaments.

I also love these inexpensive clear bins because they are not too big and are clear so you can see what’s inside at a glance.

Wow - two Christmas trees covered in vintage ornaments in this stunning dining room kellyelko.com

Pile it On

I gathered all of my decorations on my kitchen table where I could see everything at a glance. This made it much easier to store similar items together.

I Hate Big Bins

I’ve been transitioning to these 56 quart clear bins and they are a game changer! The smaller size means I can find what I need without having to rummage through huge amounts of stuff and they are easier to carry up and down my basement stairs.

Repurpose egg cartons which make perfect storage containers for smaller ornaments and plastic cups lined with tissue paper do too!

Label Bins

You don’t need a label maker or special stickers to label your bins. Repurpose Christmas cards, or any other paper you have on hand, by writing down what’s inside each bin and sticking it on top (you’ll never search have to search through bins for that Christmas tree topper again)!

I do have some large bins for bigger, bulkier items if I If you’re an over achiever, you could even label your bins so you don’t even have to open them to know what’s inside.

I Love these Perfectly Sized Clear Bins with Lids

Great tips for storing Christmas decorations kellyelko.com #christmasstorage #christmasdecor #christmasbins #christmasdecorating #christmasorganization #organizing

Use Decorations to Store Breakables

Soft things make great “wrap” for breakables. I stored Santa mugs in our stockings and use Christmas dish towels to wrap around my cookie jar collection.

Smart Storage

Clear bins are the way to go! I love these smaller clear bins with locking lids.

I store anything that isn’t too precious or breakable in plastic gallon bags, keeping like things together. The clear bags make it easy to see what you have at a glance.

Christmas Storage Solutions - love the idea of using gallon zip loc bags for storing things kellyelko.com #christmasstorage #christmasornaments #christmasdecorations #christmasorganizing #vintagechristmas

Weed Out

Your future self will thank you if you take this time to gather up decorations that you no longer love or use and add them to the donation pile.

If you haven’t used it in two years, chances are you never will.

Lights

Lots of people tell you to wrap string lights around pieces of cardboard but I just wrap each strand into a circle (wrap around your thumb and elbow), then place each strand into a bin (I can fit four strands per layer), adding a paper bag between each layer.

Don’t Store Everything

Candles, faux evergreens, little trees, garlands, string lights, and mercury glass will help warm up your house during those dark winter months.

Pack away anything that screams Christmas and keep things around that are winter friendly.

String lights in glass jars make the perfect winter decoration kellyelko.com

My little ceramic house village will be sticking around for awhile.

See How I Made These Doodle Houses Here

DIY Doodle Houses - love these little ceramic Christmas houses kellyelko.com

The house seems very empty without the abundance of Christmas decorations but I’m happy to have a fresh slate.

Here’s to making Christmas undecorating less of a chore.

See more of my Christmas home and decorating ideas here

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Comments

  1. Audrey

    December 28, 2019 at 8:45 am

    Love the idea of using dishcloths to wrap my Santa mugs and using stockings too. Thanks for all the tips.

    Happy New Year

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      December 28, 2019 at 11:12 am

      Gotta protect those Santa mugs Audrey!

      Reply
  2. Lesley

    December 28, 2019 at 10:18 am

    Bins are a lifesaver and I need to invest in a couple more and the few cardboard boxes I use are about to fall apart. Don’t know why, they are only about 40 years old!

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      December 28, 2019 at 11:13 am

      I think you should throw those boxes a retirement party Lesley!

      Reply
  3. Lisa K.

    December 28, 2019 at 10:25 am

    This post came at the perfect time. I’m about to start taking down all my decorations and this was very helpful. Thank you for the helpful advice!

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      December 28, 2019 at 11:13 am

      The undecorating struggle is so real!

      Reply
  4. Marlene Stephenson

    December 28, 2019 at 11:54 am

    I have five stockings that would be perfect to store things in, i hang them up every year and put them away but, this year i will use them to store stuff in, you are so smart, just the little ideas you give us really help. Thanks and have a Happy New Year!!!

    Reply
    • Kathy A.

      December 28, 2019 at 12:27 pm

      I always leave all my decorations up until a few days after New Years Day. I love the lights and festive feel over the New Year. I store everything by each room and all my ornaments by color.

      Reply
      • Kelly Elko

        December 28, 2019 at 6:49 pm

        I wish I could store by room but I am always moving my decorations to new spots every year!

        Reply
  5. Judie

    December 28, 2019 at 2:55 pm

    I use color coded bins. One color for outside, one color for kitchen, one for downstairs, and one color for upstairs. It started because my husband wanted “his” outside lights first and was frustrated looking for them. If you don’t want to color the whole bin just put a colored piece of tape on them, it is much faster than labels.

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      December 28, 2019 at 6:48 pm

      Great idea! I move my stuff around every year so they never stay in the same room!

      Reply
  6. Patty Morris

    December 28, 2019 at 5:11 pm

    The tree storage bag have you ever put it in an attic or somewhere that gets hot and how did it do?

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      December 28, 2019 at 6:48 pm

      I put my trees in my unfinished basement and it gets cold down there. I have never stored in the attic so don’t know how they would hold up Patty.

      Reply
    • Shelda Payne

      December 30, 2019 at 2:48 am

      I use the tree storage bags and they are stored in our unfinished section of our attic. They do just fine. We have had these bags for at the least ten years and all is well. FYI, we live in Kentucky so it is both hot and cold in our attic.

      Reply
      • Kelly Elko

        December 30, 2019 at 10:54 am

        Great to know!

        Reply
  7. Mary Threet

    January 5, 2020 at 8:26 am

    Great info. What is the source for the cute ceramic houses?

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      January 5, 2020 at 10:30 am

      Thanks Mary! I wrote a post all about little Christmas houses and link to my favorites: https://www.kellyelko.com/little-christmas-houses-decorating-ideas/

      Reply
  8. Marlene Stephenson

    December 26, 2020 at 3:39 pm

    Thanks Kelly I like the idea of smaller containers especially for tree ornaments and small stuff. I loaded my dishwasher unloaded, sat down to eat, and can’t get up,lol!! Maybe tomorrow I will be more productive, you have a wonderful weekend with your family.

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      December 27, 2020 at 9:15 am

      I am on a mission to get rid of all the huge bins Marlene! Some day!!

      Reply
  9. Lisa K.

    December 26, 2020 at 7:21 pm

    Thank you for all the great ideas! I think I need an ornament box like you have. This year I made a list of what came out of my bins so putting everything back went super smooth this year. 😊

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      December 27, 2020 at 9:16 am

      Great idea Lisa! I bought two more ornament boxes this year because my collection must keeps on growing!

      Reply
  10. Vicki

    December 26, 2021 at 2:51 pm

    Great tips! Thanks, Kelly! I use clear bins and use card stock to make my label and just slip it in the bin on the side of the bin that will face out. Then I can read what is in there before taking it down. I do keep things that are not Christmas-specific out until spring and put them in a bin that is labeled winter decorations. It is the first bin I get out in the fall.

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      December 26, 2021 at 4:26 pm

      It’s so nice to have everything organized so we’re not hunting for things Vicki!

      Reply
  11. Lisa K.

    January 1, 2022 at 6:17 am

    These are great tips Kelly and I’m happy to say I do them too! I was proud of myself because this year I donated some items to make room for items I got as gifts. Happy New Year to you and your family and Sushi too!

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      January 1, 2022 at 2:59 pm

      Glad you’re letting go Lisa!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Kelly's Stamp of Approval 11 - Kelly Elko says:
    January 5, 2020 at 5:56 am

    […] Free at last! I finally finished un-decorating my Christmas trees! Goodbye til next year Shiny Brites. If your decorations are still up, make sure to read my Christmas Un-Decorating Tips here. […]

    Reply

KELLY

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Join me as I decorate my 100 year old home, scour thrift stores, create pretty things, putter in my peony and hydrangea filled garden, and mix up a mean cocktail all with a touch of sarcasm and a side of bacon - Cheers!



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Love where you live by mixing high and low, new and old to create a home that shows off your personality. My mantra ... simple projects equals more time for cocktails!
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