Today is LET’S LOOK!
If you don’t know what this is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!). It’s often a random little assortment of topics.
In January, we looked at our coffee bar areas.
In February, we looked at our love languages.
In March, we looked at a perfect night in.
In April, we looked at our fridge and pantry.
In May, we looked at our outdoor organization.
In June, we looked at our summer bucket list.
In July, we looked at our bathroom organization.
In August, we looked at our phone, apps & such.
In September, we looked at meal planning.
And today, we’re looking at our HOLIDAY DECOR STORAGE!
So, I just sat down to work on this post and am super annoyed with myself.
Why didn’t I take pictures of us taking down our Halloween/fall decorations out of the attic for this post?!
Hello?!
That would have been super helpful!
Agh!
So, I don’t have a lot of pictures, but I do have some info on how we store our holiday decorations. I am also VERY OPEN TO YOUR SUGGESTIONS TOO! If you have some, please, please, please comment and share!
Okay, we basically only decorate for fall/Halloween and Christmas. I will add a few little touches for some of the other holidays (Valentine’s, Easter, July 4th), but really and truly, we don’t consider that decorating. When it comes to Halloween and Christmas though? We LOVE decorating, do it big and do it early.
Now, some of the most common questions I get each year are:
1. WHERE DO YOU STORE ALL OF THIS? In plastic bins in my attic. Nothing fancy, just big bins. Andrew hauls them up and down the attic ladder each year. (More on that below!)
2. WHEN DO YOU DECORATE/TAKE DOWN? This year, I decorated on September 1st and then we will take it all down and put up Christmas on November 1st. Yes, I know that’s early, but it’s so much work and we love it so much, that we do it early.
3. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO PUT IT OUT? For our fall decorations, a few hours! I always do it one day while the kids are in school. For our Christmas decorations, it takes Andrew and me about a day and a half. It’s the only day during the year that I ask him to please take off work. He is always such a good sport about it.
4. WHERE DID YOU BUY____? I’ve had all of my holiday decor for years and years! Some of it, over 17 years! I would say that my go-to places for holiday decorations outside of specialty stores are Pottery Barn and Hobby Lobby. My friends Amanda and Amy make all of my holiday signs that you’ll see and then my friend Lori decorates all of the plates and platters with my kids’ hand prints on them.
So, this year, I pulled out all of my fall goodies on August 31st so that they were down and ready for me to use on September 1st. And by “I pulled out all of my fall goodies” what I really mean is Andrew pulled them down from the attic and I stood at the bottom of the attic stairs getting them from him. He does like 99% of the work 😉 .
Here’s how I store our fall things:
1: All of the custom plates with the kids’ handprints are stored in the house in a cabinet so they’re nice and secure.
2: All of the seasonal pillows are stored…
…in those cabinets there on either side of the fireplace. For many of the pillows, I just swap out the pillow cases (and not the bulky pillow), so they’re much easier to store. These cabinets also hold the Christmas pillows/pillow covers too. Random spot, but it works 🙂 .
3: For all of the smaller accessories, I wrap them up in tissue paper and place them in big plastic bins where I very clearly mark on the bin what room the box goes in and what’s inside.
4: For my larger signs that I display around the house, Andrew stacks them in the attic not in any sort of box, just stacked. Which leads me to…
5: We have an upstairs attic space where Andrew stacks and stores all of the fall/Halloween bins.
I feel like you really need to get into the spirit of things, so I always get up, get dressed and get a #psl to make my fall decorating day more fun. I also always light fall scented candles and turn on Steve Tyrell Radio on Pandora. Everything about that routine makes me excited about decorating.
You can see our house all decorated for fall this year HERE.
Now, what about Christmas?
Well, this year, we’re actually trying something new…
…a few years ago, we decided to start decorating our house for Christmas on November 1st…
Andrew and I decided that we love our Christmas decorations so much, and it’s so much work to put it up that we would just go ahead and enjoy them immediately after Halloween.
I know what you’re thinking…BUT…
…so it works well 🙂 .
So, up until this year, we were storing our Christmas decorations exactly as we were the fall/Halloween decorations…
…same routine, different holiday.
But last year…
…as I was standing at the bottom of the attic stairs awaiting Andrew to pass me down approximately 400 bins…
…and then I toss them on the garage floor as I hand him back fall bins, I had an idea. Or maybe he did? I don’t remember exactly who said it first, but it was during this time that our house was under construction (you remember those lovely 9 months, right?!), and we had a storage unit for our belongings while the house was being gutted, so we decided maybe after Christmas 2020, we would store our holiday decorations in the storage unit (not fall, just Christmas) so that we didn’t have to…
…completely dismantle our 14 foot Christmas tree.
For years, we would have to take off all of the ornaments, many of the lights and break it into sections and then hoist it up into the attic. This year, when we took down the decor, instead of completely dismantling everything, we carefully placed it on Andrew’s trailer and took it to our storage unit (that still had furniture in it, but we made room). So, this year, we’ll see what we think. Maybe this is going to be much easier and our tree will be less damaged by the wear and tear…or maybe not. We’ll see.
So, that’s how we store our decor 🙂 .
I’ve shared this before too but it’s worth repeating…
…not only do I write out the room and decor on all of my bins (this pic is from 2019), but I also write notes to myself on there too. Each year as I pack up my decorations, I always pray over my friends and family and write notes on my bins because you just don’t know what life will look like the following year when you pull the decorations down. The first notes I have go all the way back to 2008, and since then, both Andrew and I do this as we pack up.
Because you never know how things might change from one holiday to the next.
That’s it for Let’s Look this month!
If you blogged today too, please link up at the bottom of this post. Also, if you have ideas for storing decorations, please comment!
Next month…
…can you believe that we’ll be looking at our Thanksgiving menu?! Where has this year gone?!
See you tomorrow, friends! xo
Elspeth says
What great and smart tips for undecorating I love the idea of writing notes! Thanks for sharing!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Melissa Terry says
After reading your suggestion I started writing notes and prayer requests in our Christmas bins too and always have a moment when I open them the next year. You are so right…you just never know what the next year will hold. But to see God’s faithfulness again and again, no matter what is such a gift. Thank you for sharing this idea!
Mix and Match Mama says
I’m so glad you do this too!!
Taylor says
We knew a family years ago who, when designing their house, added a closet specifically for the Christmas tree. So each year, all they had to do was roll it out and add anything new they’d acquired. It sounds like a great idea to me!
Mix and Match Mama says
My grandmother had that in her former house…it was brilliant.
Shannon says
14 foot tree! That’s amazing! Would love to see a pic of your family standing in front of it showing it’s full height against all of yours!
Also, I’ve seen people completely wrap their assembled tree with a huge roll of Saran Wrap before storing it how you do.
Mix and Match Mama says
Well, that sounds so intriguing!!!!!
Gina says
Instead of using tissue paper to wrap delicate objects, we went to The Home Depot and bought bubble wrap, we also wrap each Christmas ornaments individually with the bubble wrap. Keeps everything nice and safe.
Sheaffer Sims says
I’ve got to get a better system for storing our decorations! I so envy those that have Christmas tree closets….where they just roll the tree in and out! Such a great idea!
Elizabeth S says
Did you make your mantel swags or did you have them made? If so where were they made?
Mix and Match Mama says
I buy the base from Hobby Lobby and then add the extras (lights, leaves, pumpkins, ornaments…depending on the season).
Alyssa H says
I live in NYC where space is tight, and I started storing my ornaments in a shoe organizer that fits right under the bed. Super easy, and I don’t have to worry about dropping them and breaking anything.
Mix and Match Mama says
That is so brilliant!!
Shavon says
You should look into a dumb waiter type of lift for your attic. My husband installed one that goes from the floor of the garage, all the way up into the attic. There’s a flat space you set your items on, an electric button you push and up it goes! Our lawn mower lives up there in the winter, that’s how handy it is! Snow blower in the summer, patio furniture, you name it! If it needs to go away for a season, it probably has a designated spot in the attic. And most of the items wouldn’t work very well to use a ladder. I’m telling ya, it’s a game changer!
AliJ says
While I don’t have a 14 foot tree, more like a 10 foot tree, we have a room in our basement that is huge and is just for storage. I leave the 10 foot tree up and cover it up but don’t take it apart. That way my husband just hauls up to the family room for me, I fluff it out and my daughter and I decorate it. I also label all my storage boxes with Halloween-INSIDE, Halloween-OUTSIDE, Christmas-INSIDE, Christmas-OUTSIDE so I know where the boxes go when we take them out.
Annie says
My tip… never store a tree……just buy it fresh! I hated the idea of putting a tree in storage for 10 months.
Plus I love the look and smell of a real one. It is fun to go out each year as a family tradition and find that quirky tree!
Stacey says
YES! I do this at work with our 12′ tall Christmas tree. Just put a tree saver bag over it I bought years ago (it actually might be one you put your tree in before you take it out to the curb? lol) to keep the dust off everything and we wheel it out to our storage room. Then all I have to do is fluff a few of the bows and maybe replace 3-4 ornaments that decide to fall off in the process, but that’s it!!
Diane says
I have the same sense of reverence when I undecorate our Christmas tree—counting our blessings and praying for the upcoming year. Hugs from Waco ???!
Leiah says
This makes me want to get organized!!! Totally off topic, but what fragrance are you wearing this fall/winter? I’m having such a hard time finding Burberry Brit and you always have the best recommendations! Thanks!
Mix and Match Mama says
I’m having a hard time finding it too! I still have a bottle, but I use it sparingly. My other favorite fall/winter scent without a doubt is Replica’s By the Fireplace.
Leiah says
Thanks- I’m looking into that one now! One I have been using in the meantime is Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, if you haven’t tried that yet you really should!
Anne says
I might be afraid to store things in an attic in Texas. Doesn’t it get boiling hot up there?
Mix and Match Mama says
The attic isn’t under our A/C but it does stay a lot cooler than you might think because it’s under our roof that’s well insulated and gets residual heating/air just from being so close to the cool house.
Cathy says
Did you purchase your fall shirt on Etsy? If so, their shirts are unisex. Did you get small or xsmall? Thanks!!!
Mix and Match Mama says
I did buy it on Etsy! I don’t remember the specific details, but I’m pretty sure I bought an xs!
Kelly Kirkland says
Oh my goodness…I love the notes idea! I teared up just thinking about it.
PS…I’m already listening to Christmas music!
stacy grant says
When my coworker built her house, she built a closet specifically for her Christmas tree. She stores it in there fully decorated and pulls it out when she’s ready. Genius!
Karen J Ward says
All the praise hands for that idea!!
Kristin B says
How do you store your regular decor items while your holiday decor is out? I always struggle with this!
Mix and Match Mama says
In the most random spots!! Under beds, in cabinets, seriously…I write it down in the notes section of my phone so that I don’t forget!
Florence says
I have had to start doing this also! Once upon a time I would NEVER FORGET where I hid or stored something. Aging has changed that…lol
Chrissy says
In empty Christmas bins, marked “regular decor” with duck tape for temporary labeling!
Serena W. says
I love this post! We do the storage thing very similar along with the husband doing all the heavy lifting and throwing things on the garage floor! I totally get it! I started organizing everything by room. So, all of my living room decor, kitchen decor, etc., would all be packed together. That way decorating for the next season was much easier and faster since it was all categorized by room!
My tip for anyone who has an artificial flocked tree – DO NOT STORE IT IN THE ATTIC. The heat will turn it brown. I invested in one last year after our real flocked tree was a disaster. However, I did not know until I was purchasing an artificial flocked tree that you cannot store them in the attic. So, now, I have it split up in two closets upstairs.
I am going to start decorating for Christmas the week of Halloween. We are traveling for Thanksgiving this year so I would love to have it done already and enjoy it because you’re right – it’s A LOT of work!
You have such a beautiful home and love your decor!
Adriana says
I put my regular decor in the empty holiday decor bin. For example, take down regular mantle decor and put it into the halloween mantel decor box while decorating for halloween. Its out of the way, I know where it is and no need for extra space.
Erika Slaughter says
Your post was much more informational than mine. I had nothing. Cram it in the attic and hope the door still closes. ???
Mix and Match Mama says
I just lol!
Pamela says
I was wondering where to get those 2 adorable, furry, white “punkins” by your coffee table?? 😉
Kelly says
I love that you decorate November 1st! We host Thanksgiving for our family of 25 plus and I need the room so I can’t BUT I love that you can and do! The Christmas music starts earlier and earlier in our home though:).
April was in MA now WI says
My dream is to one day have a storage room right off the living room where I can roll the tree into and just cover it from year to year. Can you imagine just rolling it out all decorated and ready to go! One day this will be a reality for me. lol
Suman Ali says
You should have Kensington make you labels for all of the plastic bins this year with her Cricut! That’s what I did and I love it!!
Mix and Match Mama says
What a cute idea!!!
Kim Chambers says
Finally came back to read the comments and storage suggestions ? and I’ve been listening to Christmas music since the beginning of October while I mow the yard… anyways, this might be an Andrew question but what type of bulb are the red and white lights you do outside the house for Christmas? They look ginormous!
Mix and Match Mama says
Those are the bulbs for the actual house. I know they’re LED but I don’t know the size. I can ask him!! And listen, enjoy that Christmas music!!!!!!
Kim Chambers says
So are there actual light sockets along the roof?! I’m intrigued… ?
Mix and Match Mama says
In the eaves, yes!!
Kim Chambers says
Absolutely brilliant!! It looks beautiful!