10 Holiday Organizing Dilemmas and How to Solve Them
Looking for ways to hide gifts, store coats and stay on top of your to-dos? We can help
The shopping bags and rolls of gift wrap are beginning to pile up, you’re not exactly sure what happened to the tree topper, and there’s a whole box of Christmas lights but only one working strand. Sound familiar? It’s the holidays, and for many, organizing issues abound. Read on for solutions to 10 common dilemmas, and then share your own quandaries in the Comments.
2. How to organize gift wrap: Check what you have before shopping to avoid doubling up unnecessarily — although it’s hard to have too much tape.
- Keep spools of ribbon on a paper towel holder.
- Store rolls of gift wrap upright in a bucket or an umbrella stand.
- Instead of buying seasonal gift wrap, consider stocking up on a big roll of brown or white paper (as shown here) and embellish with ribbons and tags.
- Keep small items like scissors, tape, gift tags and pens together in a small basket or sewing box.
3. Where to hide the presents: Aside from a few special cases (see No. 4 for more on those), most gifts don’t really need to be hidden, just wrapped. Wrapping early allows you to remove bulky outer packaging and recycle it, saving space in your house. Bonus: You can use your beautifully wrapped gifts as decor. Just be sure to mark the initials of the gift recipient on the bottom of each wrapped package to avoid confusion in case a gift gets separated from its tag.
Holiday DIY: Block-Printed Gift Wrap
Holiday DIY: Block-Printed Gift Wrap
4. Where to hide the gifts that can’t be wrapped: Certain gifts must be hidden away until the last moment, whether they are wrapped or not. For these items, consider the person you’re hiding them from. To keep gifts out of reach of small children, choose the top of a high cupboard or shelf. If you have persistent present hunters on your hands, below are some sneakier things you can do.
- Put the gifts in the garage or storage shed, in big black garbage bags surrounded by lawn equipment.
- Tuck them inside reusable grocery bags in the trunk of the car.
- Pack them inside your biggest suitcases (bonus points if they lock).
- Hide them under clothes in a laundry basket.
5. How to make room for guests’ coats and boots: Unless you’re lucky enough to have a vast mudroom, chances are that space for coats and boots is tight around the holidays. Instead of trying to squeeze more coats into the same cramped closet, consider investing in an extra coat tree or garment rack that can be put to work during parties.
When you don’t need it in the entry, use it in the laundry room for hanging freshly ironed shirts, in the guest room as bonus closet space or in your own bedroom to expand your dressing area.
Get the Details on 4 High-Performing Mudrooms
When you don’t need it in the entry, use it in the laundry room for hanging freshly ironed shirts, in the guest room as bonus closet space or in your own bedroom to expand your dressing area.
Get the Details on 4 High-Performing Mudrooms
6. How to keep the pantry organized for holiday baking: Make baking projects easier by keeping the most common ingredients for different types of cooking projects together in one spot.
- Use baskets or clear plastic bins to keep items together.
- Check dates and toss expired ingredients.
- Consolidate ingredients into clearly labeled, airtight containers.
- Keep a shopping list posted inside the pantry door and add ingredients to it as you run low.
7. How to keep holiday photo projects organized: Photo books and holiday cards can make meaningful gifts for family and friends, but you’ll need to stay organized to get products ordered with enough time for holiday delivery.
- Check delivery deadlines and mark them on your calendar right away.
- Browse through digital photos from this year and mark the ones you want to use. Depending on your photo program, you may be able to mark photos with a star or place them in a labeled folder.
- Make final decisions and order photo products. Double-check delivery addresses before placing your order.
8. How to make space for holiday decorations around the house: Adding holiday decorations to an already full house can make your space feel more cluttered than festive. Create some breathing space for your holiday decorations by clearing off surfaces first. Use holiday storage boxes to temporarily store some of the items you clear away, and you’ll know right where to find them when it’s time to swap again.
5 Decluttering Projects to Help You Get Ready for the Holidays
5 Decluttering Projects to Help You Get Ready for the Holidays
9. Where to store the holiday decorations:
- Store outside decor and holiday lights that are in working order together in lidded, labeled plastic storage bins in the garage or shed.
- Store delicate ornaments and heirlooms together indoors, where they will be protected from fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
- Wrap delicate ornaments in tissue paper or bubble wrap, in original boxes if you have them.
- If you have heirloom ornaments or decor (like snow globes) that you would want to save in an emergency, pack these in their own small, clearly labeled box, and store in an easily accessed spot (such as the guest room closet instead of the attic).
10. How to keep track of your schedule:
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- Use one master calendar to keep all events (personal, family, work) in one place.
- Get details for all the events you already know about (the work holiday party, events at your child’s school, church or community events you know you like to attend) and add them to your master calendar.
- Instead of automatically saying yes to invitations, make a habit of saying, “That sounds fun! Let me check our schedule and get right back to you.” If you know that being overscheduled stresses you out, avoid planning more than one big event in a single weekend.
- Schedule downtime for getting caught up on sleep, shopping for last-minute gifts and enjoying simple things like reading by the fire.
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- Start a master gift list as soon as you begin thinking about holiday gifts, even if you don’t have any ideas yet.
- A list on paper or on your phone will work; just be sure to keep the list with you.
- Separate gift recipients into groups based on whether their gifts need to be shipped or you’ll be seeing them in person.
- Find out holiday shipping deadlines and note them on your list.
- If you’re making DIY gifts, create checklists to keep track of buying supplies and completing projects.
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