Smart Outdoor Storage Solutions And Tips To Keep Holiday Decor Organized
Half the fun of celebrating any major holiday is decorating your home and yard for the occasion. As fun as these decorations are, they quickly become a headache to store, so what can you do?
Half the fun of celebrating any major holiday is decorating your home and yard for the occasion. Bright lights, decorative garlands, beautiful candles, yard flags, and door hangers are all fun, festive touches when decorating your home. As fun as these decorations are, they quickly become a headache to store, especially if your decor has multiplied over the years.
Consider moving your decorations to an outdoor storage area, such as a shed, garage, or self-storage space if your attic and closets are filled to the brim. Our guide also includes tips on preserving and organizing your holiday decorations each year.
Store Securely In A Shed
An outdoor shed is a go-to storage space for lawn care essentials and even furniture and decor. You can also store decorations here with some creative shelving and organizing.
Use shelving units to keep decorations organized without cluttering the floor. Multi-tier, free-standing shelves offer a large surface area for bins and bags. If you don’t mind getting a little handy, you can install floating shelves to store smaller decor items and boxes along the walls. We recommend storing decorations higher than everyday tools and equipment for easier access.
If you don’t have a shed, consider purchasing a small, inexpensive one dedicated to holiday storage. Many portable sheds are available for about $150–$200, and the price is probably worth the extra space in your closets and attic.
Make Room in Your Garage
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If your garage is already crammed, you may have ruled out storing decorations there. Fortunately, after reorganizing and cleaning up the space, most garages are large enough for additional storage.
One of the first steps to creating storage spots in your garage is decluttering. You may have tossed items in there that haven’t been touched in ages—it’s time to sort and throw them out if they haven’t been used in over a year. Consider selling or donating underused items that are still in good condition. Once you’ve cleared space in your garage, it’s time to create a plan.
Similar storage tips can be applied to a shed or garage. Installing wall—and ceiling-mounted or free-standing shelves helps keep your decorations organized and easy to reach. Store decor in plastic bins on the shelves to keep items together and in good condition. If you have additional floor space for bins, use stackable ones to take up less surface area.
Installing wall hooks and hangers is another way to clear up space in your garage for holiday decorations. Use this vertical space to store more significant equipment, such as rakes, shovels, and ladders, and clear up shelf or floor space for decorations.
Rent A Self-Storage Unit
Finding a space in your home or yard to store decorations may be overwhelming, especially if you’ve accumulated countless seasonal decorations over the years. Renting a self-storage unit keeps decorations out of sight and out of mind until the next holiday.
A storage unit is also a great solution if you live in an apartment, condo, or townhouse with limited space. Most companies allow you to rent a storage unit on a month-to-month basis. Since you’re responsible for storing your items in a self-storage unit, we recommend keeping a list of all items in your unit.
Many storage facilities offer 24/7 access and strong security measures, allowing you to pick up and pack items safely and whenever you need to.
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Use Weatherproof Bins and Vacuum-Seal Bags
Preserve your decorations by storing them in protective containers. Weatherproof plastic bins help keep out moisture and pests, protecting your decor from the elements throughout the year.
Vacuum-seal bags can be used to store fabric and material decorations, such as tablecloths and blankets. Once the air is vacuumed out, the bags compress and flatten, making them less bulky and easier to store.
Label Everything
Save yourself future headaches by clearly labeling each box, bag, and container. We recommend labeling each by the following:
- Holiday
- Indoor vs. outdoor decorations
- General contents of the box
- Fragile items
If you have multiple boxes for one holiday, keep them on the same shelf or near one other. This way, you won’t forget a set of decorations. You also won’t have to search various spots or move other boxes to find all the decorations for one holiday.
Be Careful With Delicate Items
Some holiday decorations are more delicate than others. You don’t want an antique glass ornament, special candles, or a handmade tablecloth to become damaged while in storage. Depending on where you live, you might open your holiday decor only to find your candles melted in the summer heat. It is better to store delicate items like this in your home or somewhere with climate control.
Wrap crystal and glass items in tissue paper or bubble wrap before placing them in storage containers. Make sure to label containers holding these special items as “Delicate” or “Fragile” so you and others always handle them carefully.
Take Inventory Each Year
No matter how well you organize and store your decorations, you may still run out of room. Sort through your decorations every year and decide if anything can be thrown out.
We hope these outdoor storage tips help keep clutter out of your home and make decorating for every holiday more enjoyable.