DIY Holiday Storage Solutions: {Projects & Tips}

It’s a lot of fun decorating for the holidays but considering we only use the decorations, wrapping paper, Christmas lights, etc., once a year…that’s a lot of gear to pack and store away. Here are a few tips and ideas to help you get the most from the space that you have and keep everything tidy and tangle-free.

That Was Fun...Now What!

• You can use a large box to store wreaths but if you don’t have the shelving space for it, another option is to wrap the wreath in plastic (or cover with a large garbage bag) and hang by a hook in an out of the way place (behind a door, storage room wall, etc.).
• Keep strings of beads and garlands tangle-free by wrapping around empty paper towel tubes before packing away.
• Now’s the time to head to the liquor store! They have all kinds of empty boxes with cardboard dividers (perfect for packing ornaments) and will likely let you have as many as you want for free.
• Avoid using newspaper to wrap items since the ink will transfer.
• Recycle egg cartons, biscuit tins and shoe boxes to hold fragile ornaments.
• Empty coffee cans can be used to hold boxes of extra bulbs from string lights (and loose ones too). Keep the lid on and pack with tissue paper, they should survive smash-free for next year.
• Label the boxes clearly so you’ll know at a glance what the container holds without having to pull it out to see what’s inside.

Ready for some clever projects and ideas? Here ya go…

homemadesimple.com

Gift Wrap Hamper: Step-by-step tutorial for creating a storage hamper to hold wrapping paper, bows, tags, ribbon & more.

Greeting Cards Booklet: If you like to save the cards you receive each year, here’s a quick & easy idea to keep them together.

allendesigns.typepad.com

realsimple.com

Clever Shoe Box Idea: The lid is trimmed then lights are wrapped around it, tuck inside box for tangle-free storage.

Tidy Ornaments: A piece of cardboard is cut to fit inside a plastic bin then plastic cups are hot-glued to it (to hold tissue-wrapped ornaments).

marthastewart.com

curbly.com

Tangle-Free Lights: Cardboard is sliced in two places then a string of lights is wrapped around it (cord ends go through slits).

Pegboard Station: A pegboard is installed then S hooks, bins and brackets are added to hold bags, wrapping paper, ribbon & more.

bhg.com

centsationalgirl.com

Wrapping Paper & Ribbon Organizer: Made of wood and holds rolls of wrapping paper and ribbons, hangs on the back of a door.

Gift-Wrapping Station: Removable dowels (supported by curtain-rod brackets) are hung along with screw-in coat hooks and a dry-erase calendar.

marthastewart.com

realsimple.com

Coffee Can Wrap: A slit is cut in the plastic lid to put the receptacle end through, then lights wrapped around the outside.

Sliding Bins (Ceiling): Utilize dead space in the garage by constructing an overhead storage system (instructions provided).

familyhandyman.com

practicallymartha.blogspot.ca

Garment Bag: Stash rolls of wrapping paper in a hanging, zipped garment bag.