We do it every year – we bring out the holiday bins, we buy a few more ornaments, make a craft with the kiddos, and pick up the cutest new mantel décor. The question is, does it all fit back in the same containers?

Here are three organizing tips you can do right now to make next year’s holiday season simpler.

1.        Toss or donate the un-used décor. You’ve decorated your home – now is the time to see what decorations or trinkets you didn’t use this year.  You may have some with sentimental value which is completely acceptable, but everything else you’ve not used in a few years can and should be cleared out.

2.        Clean and organize the bins. If you’re like me, you do your best to organize the bins but I’m sure they need a wipe down to remove the accumulated dust and glitter. Another tip to keeping the ornaments safe is to have smaller containers within the large boxes. I like to reuse shoe boxes, tissue paper and cookie tins.

3.        Save memories digitally. Did you children come home from school with every holiday art project or did you make crafts as a family? It’s unrealistic to think you can keep everything you and your kids make, so take photos, print them out or simply add them to a digital photo album organized per year.  

Implementing these few simple steps now will help you make space for memories, traditions and routines that ease your mind next year. Happy Holidays!