I absolutely love Christmas, and the highlight each and every year is choosing the tree, bringing it home and decorating it while enjoying a glass of mulled wine.
But, if there's one part I thoroughly dislike, it's de-tangling my Christmas tree lights when the tree goes up, and storing them again afterwards. String lights always seem to get completely tangled and feel impossible to unravel, which leads to damage and breakage.
To avert this problem once and for all, I spoke to professional organizers for the Christmas tree light storage solutions they swear by, to add to my home organizing ideas arsenal.
Christmas tree light storage solutions that pro organizers swear by
As Di Ter Avest, professional organizer and founder of Diisorganized, says, Organizing Christmas lights doesn’t just make storage easier; it makes decorating next year way smoother, too.
'Imagine finally avoiding the dreaded tangle tornado when it’s time to decorate the tree!' Here's how to.
1. Use clear plastic bins
When it comes to Christmas decor storage essentials, clear plastic bins are a must, and they're ideal for storing and protecting Christmas lights, too.
Ben Soreff, professional organizer at House to Home Organizing, says, 'Christmas lights certainly present an organizing challenge. While wheel based systems are popular, I feel that clear bins, such as the Sterilite Clear/Red Light Storage Bag available at Ace Hardware, make for a better option.'
This is a popular home organizer tip for organizing Christmas decorations, as it allows you to see which box your lights are in when it comes to decorating the tree, making it easy to grab them and go.
These storage boxes are durable, secure and stackable, with a transparent design. They feature a handy handle on the bottom of each box to easily pull them down off shelves, and are BPA and acid-free.
2. Use storage bags
Another great way to store both outdoor Christmas light ideas and those you use indoors is with storage bags – which are also smaller, more flexible solutions for squeezing onto garage shelves and into cabinets. Therefore, they're also great seasonal storage ideas for tiny homes.
Professional organizer Ter Avest says, 'This Premium Christmas Light Storage Bag available at Amazon makes packing up holiday lights very easy! It comes with three spinning reels, that hold up to 150 feet each, and keeps your lights organized, tangle-free and free of dust.'
It's also made from tough, dust and moisture-resistant fabric, meaning it's suitable for use on your garage shelving ideas, to protect your lights ready for use next year.
Ter Avest adds, 'Plus, it's easy to carry, has a wide zipper for quick access, and collapses flat when not in use.'
This Christmas tree light storage bag is ideal for keeping lights, cords and garlands organized and tangle-free. The durable polyester bag has three heavy-duty plastic spool inserts, to make taking your lights out next year a breeze.
3. Use light wrap storage
Whether you prefer to store your christmas lights in boxes or bags, professional organizer Ter Avest recommends using light-wraps as part of your festive storage solutions, such as the Holiday Light Wrap Storage Set of 4 available at The Container Store, 'which can be stored in any bin.'
These are a smart way to keep your lights tangle-free, and protect cords from damage, which will ensure your lights last for years to come.
4. Di's DIY hack
Finally, professional organizer Ter Avest recommends a clever, DIY hack, which is a great way to save money this Christmas and make use of eco-friendly organizing tips.
She says, 'One of the easiest ways to keep lights neat is by wrapping them around a piece of sturdy cardboard or an old plastic hanger. Cut small cracks on the sides to hold the light ends in place.
'Not only is this free, but it also keeps lights from slipping around, and you can stack these in a bin or on a shelf. It’s simple, budget-friendly, and makes next year’s setup a breeze!'
There are also other ways to reuse Christmas waste in the backyard, as any remaining cardboard can be added to your compost, or used to start a no-dig patch, if you're into no dig gardening.
FAQs
How do I keep my Christmas tree lights from getting tangled?
When putting your Christmas tree lights on banisters, zip ties, which are one of the essential household items to keep in your junk drawer, come in handy.
These can be used to discreetly secure lights and stop them from slipping, which, in turn, stops them getting tangled up throughout the holiday season. We recommend the Zip Ties 8 inch (100 Pack) available at Amazon.
To avoid any Christmas decoration storage mistakes in general, professional organizer Ben Soreff says, 'Decorate the house as you like, and as you go ask yourself why you didn't put out certain decor – maybe they are keepsakes, maybe they are damaged or broken, or maybe they are no longer your style and should be donated.
'Now, the real organizing comes when the time comes to take everything down. Once you know the quantity. you can get the correct storage solutions. While clear bins are always the first choice with holiday decor, since we are taking everything out and not looking for one item in particular, then a solid bin works fine. Store holiday decor more remotely since, hopefully, you only use them once a year.'
