Christmas Decor: Taking It All Down

Probably most of you have already done this, but if not, or if you want to streamline it for next year...

I do it in stages.  The previous year as I am taking things down, I weed through and donate, give away or throw away things that we no longer use or want.  Last year I tossed about 3 large boxes worth of items.  This year I emptied one entire storage bin and donated a small bag of ornaments and decor.  The simpler the better... less real is more.

Step 1:   Have men in the household gather all the storage bins and put them in one room.  I have them do this the night before I start taking everything down. [15 minutes.  We did this at 9:00 p.m.]

Step 2:  Empty a large flat surface.  I cleared off our dining room table.  Then run, don't walk, around the house and just gather up everything setting out that is Christmas related and lay it on the table where you can see it.  [30 minutes.  I did this at 7:00 a.m.]

Step 3:   Open up all the bins and pull out boxes for ornaments, tissue paper for wrapping/packing, so that each bin is completely empty.   Be sure to have a trash can nearby and a basket for putting things in that you want to donate or give to someone else but not use next year. [20 minutes.  1:00 p.m.]

Step 4:  Empty Christmas dishes from kitchen cabinets and move to china cabinet.  Replace with everyday dishes.

Step 5:  Wash Christmas linens so they can go into the bin also.  We had used Christmas dishes and linens the night before so there were still some to be washed.

Step. 6:  Take all the ornaments off of the tree(s) and put in boxes.  [45 minutes.  1:30 p.m.]

Step 7:  Go to the dining room table and start grouping items together that go in the same box. Begin wrapping/packing to protect from breakage.  Linens together, snow globes together, breakables in the same box, stockings, nativity scenes, etc.  Wrap carefully and put in the boxes/bins.   Put the lid on each bin when it is full.  It gives you a sense of accomplishment to walk through and see closed bins.  :)   [1 hour]

Step 8:  We have 3 small trees and one large tree.  We leave the lights on the small ones as we store them and take them off the big tree.  Pack the lights, wrap the small trees and box them.  Wind the lights or layer them in sections so they do not get tangled.   My younger son has this job.  [30 minutes]

Step 9:   We have an artificial 8 foot tree.  My son also disassembles it (I helped) and boxes it up.   [30 minutes]

Step 10:  Stack all the boxes in one place to be moved into the garage when husband comes home.  [5 minutes]

Step 11:   Redecorate back to normal life.  [1 hour]

We started early but took long breaks and had this all done basically in one afternoon.  Bins were back on the shelves (my goal is to have nothing in our attic) and house redecorated for dinner.  It was so much easier having streamlined and weeded through everything last year.  There was less to put out but it still looked very Christmas-y and cozy.

So another year, closing the door on Christmas, but always anticipating the next one.