Easy Tips For How to Un-decorate & Organize After Christmas

How is Christmas over already?  Now that it is, I want a nap.  Then, it’s time to tackle cleaning up! As much joy as the holiday season brings, the post-Christmas clean-up can feel like a daunting task.

After weeks of twinkle lights, bottle brush trees, and Christmas home tours that inspire our feeds, December 26th arrives like an uninvited guest, whispering, “Time to undecorate.” But don’t worry—I’ve got great tips and tweaks to help you tackle your holiday decorations with simplicity and purpose.

Taking a little extra time and organizing after Christmas will help set us up for success for next year.  Take some time now and thank yourself later!  Trust me! Whether you’re working with a real tree, an artificial tree, or a spare room packed with holiday treasures, these easy ways will make your post-holiday clean-up a breeze.

Easy Tips For How to Un-decorate & Organize After Christmas

1. Embrace the Blank Slate

The best part of undecorating? A blank slate. As much as I adore Christmas decorations, something is refreshing about clearing off the dining table, coffee table, and front door to start fresh. The house feels a little brighter and bigger without all the holiday decor.

But don’t rush to pack everything away just yet. I like to keep a few winter greens and twinkle lights to create a cozy winter glow for January. Last year, I moved my kids’ 3-foot room trees to the family room. I put them on the bookcases that flank the fireplace, keeping that magical sparkle alive for a few weeks longer.

2. Sort and Store with Intention

Good order is the name of the game when it comes to holiday decorations.

• Wreath Storage Hack: I use my back unfinished room to hang my wreaths on nails I’ve nailed into the studs. It’s a perfect way to keep them from being smooshed and save storage bin space.
• Favorite Pieces First: Start by carefully wrapping your favorite pieces, like hand-painted ornaments, mercury glass ornaments, and those Christmas wreaths that make your heart sing. Tissue paper and bubble wrap are your best friends here to keep everything in good condition for next year’s decorating.
• Use Clear Plastic Containers: These are a great way to store items because you can see what’s inside at a glance. Label maker enthusiasts, this is your time to shine! Not all my bins are clear, but I label each storage bin with its contents for easy access next season. I even make an asterisk on the box that holds our elf so there aren’t any premature sightings!
• Fix It Before You Put It Away: If you want to finish up a craft, laminate an activity or fix a broken ornament — do it now.  I always think I will remember or have time next year and that’s never the case.
• Place Like Items Together: Group decorations by category, such as a box for all tree decor (ribbons, lights, skirt, and star) and another for garlands. Using clear or plastic totes ensures your items stay safe from moisture or damage in storage.
• Garland Storage Hack: I like to mark which garland goes where and which direction it should go. For example, for my stair garland, I wrap a piece of paper around it that says “bottom of stairs” and staple it like a bracelet around the garland on that end, and then on the other, I write “top of stairs by Vera’s room”. We think we’ll remember, but these little helps mean it simplifies the decorating process next year.
• Original Boxes for Fragile Items: If you saved the original boxes for your string lights, bottle brush trees, or other delicate items, now’s the perfect time to use them. If not, invest in storage containers specifically designed for holiday decor.
• Fix It Before You Store It: If you have a broken ornament or a craft project you meant to finish, do it now. Trust me, next year, you’ll be glad you did.
• Take Out the Batteries: Remove batteries from candles and other seasonal items to prevent corrosion. Place the batteries in a plastic bag with the item so they’re ready to go next year.
• Label Your Totes: When packing up, clearly label what’s inside each tote and update labels as needed. This is especially helpful for locating specific items, like the box where your elf lives, without digging through everything.

3. Tackle the Tree

Whether real or artificial, the Christmas tree often feels like the last thing you want to deal with.

• Family Teamwork: Little kids can help take off ornaments down low while Scott and the big kids handle the top of the tree. Meanwhile, I wrap and store the ornaments as they go. This teamwork makes the process of undecorating much faster and keeps everyone involved.
• Artificial Tree Storage: I like to use large storage bags designed for Christmas trees. They keep the trees in good condition, and we store them at the bottom of our store room shelves. 
• Real Tree Disposal: Check your local community for recycling programs if you’ve opted for a real tree. It’s an excellent way to ensure it isn’t in a landfill.
• Tree Supply Organization: I like to put all the supplies for the tree in one bin and wrap the ribbon I use to decorate back around the original ribbon holder. Fold the tree skirt neatly in the bin, including extension cords and tree toppers. Then, label the box clearly so it’s easy to find next year. This makes decorating so much smoother and keeps everything in good order.
• Twinkle Light Tip: Wrap Christmas lights around a piece of cardboard or use a dedicated storage box to prevent that dreaded tangled mess next year. 

4. Repurpose and Refresh

Don’t feel like you have to pack everything away. Winter greenery and old favorites can transition beautifully into winter decor. Pine cones, fresh flowers, and twinkle lights are a great way to keep your home cozy for the rest of the season.

A house can look sparse when all the Christmas decor disappears.  It’s the perfect opportunity to do a quick deep clean.  Then, redecorate it with your some wintry decor!

5. Take Advantage of Sales

The week after Christmas is a great time to stock up on storage supplies and holiday decorations at a fraction of the cost. Usually, storage boxes, bubble wrap, and clear containers, such as wrapping paper and Christmas lights, are on sale. If this year taught me anything, you’ll want a few extra strands of lights for when they go out. This is also the perfect time to snag those extra Christmas ornaments you’ve been eyeing for next year’s decorating.

6. Keep the Memories

Christmas cards, especially ones with heartfelt messages or family photos, can be stored in a small box for easy reflection next season. I like to punch a hole in our family Christmas card and others we receive, stringing them onto a metal ring to display throughout the season.

We store them away with the holiday decor.  My kids love to flip through the cards every year.  We laminate our Christmas card and place it on top. It’s fun to look back on memories and enjoy everyone’s creativity. You can also take a photo of each card and create a digital album—a simple change to save space while keeping the memories alive.

Psst…if you haven’t already done so, take a moment to update the addresses in your address book or in an Excel spreadsheet on your computer.  It seems like a tedious task but one you will thank yourself for later.  When a letter or package must be sent throughout the year, you won’t have to find the recipient’s address.

7. Make It a Family Affair

Undecorating doesn’t have to be all work and no play. Put on some music, brew a pot of coffee, and involve the whole family. Assign tasks like wrapping ornaments, packing storage containers, or carrying big bins to the basement. Many hands make light work, and we can teach our kids valuable life skills they’ll need as adults while saving time. You can even have them write a little letter to their future self to read next Christmas and put it in the bin.

8. Set Yourself Up for Success for Next Christmas

As you pack away your holiday decor, take notes on what worked and what didn’t.

• Did you run out of storage space?
• Were there items you didn’t use? Could you get rid of them?
• Are there decorations that need repair or replacement? Can you fix them now? Can you order replacement parts so you can hit the ground running next season? I like to stock up on Command hook strips so I don’t have to go to the store while decorating. 

This reflection will make next Christmas much more fun and less stressful. Plus, a couple of years later, you’ll thank yourself for the thoughtful preparation.

Just Remember…

Undecorating doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. You can turn a daunting task into a simple, purposeful process using storage bags, clear plastic containers, and a little planning. Take your time, involve your family, and enjoy the blank slate that the New Year brings.

Next Christmas will arrive before you know it, and with these hacks, you’ll be ready to embrace it with open arms and an organized storage area. Don’t forget to find every gift a home.  You can read more about how I organize toys in this post.

Here’s to a stress-free start to the New Year, a clutter-free home, and plenty of space for new memories and traditions.