Tree and Ornament Organization
Most of us look forward to putting up our Christmas Tree(s), but we do not have as much enthusiasm about taking it down. If you’re like me, it’s bittersweet.
I have a mixture of sadness Christmas is over, but I’m also ready to declutter. As much as I love to decorate for Christmas, I always feel like I have more space once the decorations are all put away.
Organization in taking the ornaments down and properly storing them, go hand in hand with the joy of putting up the tree the following year.
Doing more organization this year, lets you easily find the ornaments you need next year, and helps that vision for your tree come to life. Especially if you change your tree every year, or decorate themed trees. Organization is essential.
Here are some tips I use:
1) I like to use clear containers whenever possible. It helps me to easily find what I’m looking for after they are stored in the basement or storage unit. I also label the top ie. “Christmas Tree Ornaments”, or “Mantle Decorations” for example. I do have some red containers I use for my red, or multi-color ornaments. I use these for my boys tree. The color of the container helps me to know what color ornaments are inside. I use the clear for my gold, silver and neutral.
2) I store similar ornaments grouped according to color, style and, shape. For example, there are years I go with all gold, silver, white and neutral ornaments on the tree. I also like to buy duplicates of the same ornaments so there is more uniformity on the tree. These ornaments I group together in smaller containers. This is especially helpful for years I do themed trees, or use particular color ornaments to achieve a specific look.
3) I often save the original packaging to store ornaments back in the package. They have clear covers so its easy to see what’s in them, and are often flat and easy to store. I especially save packaging for glass ornaments.
4 ) I do have a clear tote for miscellaneous ornaments in the same color family. As I mentioned in #1 red or multi-ornaments are in a red tote (not pictured as I did a neutral color theme tree this year, and use them primarily for my boys room tree). Neutral ornaments are in a clear tote, or in smaller totes grouped together with like items, within a larger clear tote.
5) I had extra room in the larger tote for the tree topper, so I added it since this topper went with these ornaments.
As you can see from the last two pictures, I have done a neutral color theme tree in the den the last two years in our family room. The ornaments were easy to find, and get started since they were already organized by color and like ornaments grouped together. This year I kept it primarily white, gold, silver and some brown tones. I had deer heads, acorns, and an ice skate theme this year.
The previous year was the same concept, but with some green balls mixed in for a touch of color. I do believe I went to Hobby Lobby and added more green ornaments, but it was after bottom photo was taken. Both trees are pre-lit so no need to worry about storing lights.
I know many of you will be taking down your trees this week before New Years if you haven’t already. I hope you were inspired or gained something you can use in storing your decorations from this post.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Tamara
Simply Salvaged Living
