Now that you’ve done some general preparation for the holidays, including decluttering to get your home ready for entertaining and enjoying time with family, let’s look at holiday décor.

If you’re into Halloween you’ve already been decorated up for a few weeks. Before those decorations get put away, it’s time to take stock of what you have, how much you’re keeping for next year, how to store it, and where it lives.

Take stock of what you have

What is your décor made up of? Think about it in more specific categories. The more you store your friend groups together, the easier it will be to decorate next year.

Examples of categories for Halloween (and other holidays as well)

• Indoor décor
• Outdoor décor
• Lighting, extension cords, timers
• Costumes
• Party supplies
• Small décor vs. bulky items

As you gather your category groups, do an edit to reassess what you have and what you haven’t used. Your decorations are up, what’s left in the tubs and why? Donate and rehome your unused, unloved décor items that could still be used by someone else this season.

Where to store your décor

The storage location might determine the size of your tubs. Consider where it’s going to live before you choose the size of the containers. For example, storing things in an attic where you may have to get things up a ladder or lift overhead vs. a garage that has accessible shelving changes the storage needs. Make sure to choose a space that allows all the décor for a particular holiday to live together.

Containers, containers, containers

Now that you know what exactly you’re storing and where it needs to live, you’re ready to choose appropriate containers. Think of the following needs when choosing:

• Weather proof
• Stackable
• Large enough to fit things comfortably but not so large they are unwieldy. Split groups into multiple containers if needed.
• Easy to label
• Consider using clear bins to make it easy to see what’s inside
• Specialty containers are great for things like fragile ornaments, wreaths, wrapping paper

As you’re putting things away for another year, it’s a great time to move the next holiday’s décor containers to the front to simplify the next round of decorating. Remember these tips for the next time!