Not a nervous breakdown…the Christmas decoration breakdown.
We’ve barely sung the last chorus of Jingle Bells when I get the itch to start un-Decking the Halls. Which is funny considering how eager I am to get the decorations up in November. I guess all the visual stimulation and activity becomes a little too much and I want things to be clean and fresh. Actually, I think I’d like to be in a completely empty room.
Wanna to hear a funny story?
Back in my “Working Outside the Home Days”, I lived by myself in a little one-bedroom apartment. I had a 4-foot tree that I decorated with lights and ornaments given to me by my mom over the years. Back in those days, I worked (and traveled for work) a lot. If I wasn’t in the office, I was on an airplane. One year, that tree stayed up until the middle of May. You heard me right. The middle of May.
And whenever I was at home, I would plug it in and turn off all the lights so I could enjoy my tree. It sat right in front of my sliding glass door, so my neighbors probably thought I was nuts.
One day, my dear Mama couldn’t take it any more. No self-respecting woman leaves her Christmas tree up until mid-Spring. She came to my apartment while I was away on a trip and packed it up for me. I was grateful because there’s something a little disconcerting about having a Christmas tree up while you’re barbecuing on the deck. At least up here in the cold Northeast.
Obviously, times have changed and I’m itching to get everything put away. It always starts innocently enough…The Hubster turns on a football game and I start to thinkin’. “Maybe I’ll just put away the Nativity Scene.” And before you know it, I’m doing the Christmas Decoration Breakdown Boogie. There’s boxes everywhere and the kids are a-skeered I’m gonna wrap ‘em in bubble wrap and stick ‘em in the basement.
Here are few tips to help you get Christmas all wrapped up and put away neatly.
- Rubbermaid containers are your friend. I always pick up a couple when I see them on clearance during the year. I especially love the ones that have the separators for storing ornaments. I resisted them for a long time, but now, I’m a convert. I was able to get rid of all those falling-apart ornaments boxes and tissue paper.
- If there was a a display or arrangement that you particularly liked this year, take a picture of it and store those items together. Save the pictures in a folder on your computer called Christmas ’09 or something like that. You think you’re going to remember how you decorated this year, but you won’t. Take a picture.
- Get rid of some stuff. If you haven’t put it out in the last 2 years, you can probably pitch, donate or sell it. This year, I started a box called “Swap/Donate/Sell”. If someone invites me to a Swap Meet, then I’m all set. If not, I’ll sell the stuff at a garage sale this summer.
- I always have a special box for the kid’s Christmas books, toys, videos and games. They don’t seem as special when the Christmas books stay on the shelves all year, so I put them away. But I always keep this box handy so that when I find a Christmas book in June, I can put it in the box without digging.
Now tell me….Are you itching to take your decorations down or do you like to leave them up for a while?
Monkey photo: National Geographic
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We had a little New Year’s party this year. Two kinds of decoration at the same time was going to be too much for me, so we took them down a few days before New Year’s. Usually, though, we take them down around New Year’s. I’m a teacher and if they aren’t down before Christmas break is over and I go back to work, they are likely to stay up until February – not that that has happened before. Ahem.
We actually got home from our Christmas holidays last night. Our home seemed extra inviting to me at 11 o’clock last night as we walked in the door. Today I will take most of them down – though I do love them so much. It just doesn’t feel like Christmas anymore now that we are “back to the grind”. Or maybe I’ll keep things up a touch longer….we still have to celebrate Christmas with my hubby’s family
Mandi @ Finding Home´s last blog ..Welcome Home
Oh, I was itching alright…..mine came down the Tuesday and Wednesday after Christmas….still haven’t got my house back in order fully, but the holiday decor is out!
Suzanne
suzanne´s last blog ..getting it done……then resting…..
My decorations come down the day after Christmas! I usually lay low on telling people because I catch a lot of flack from the people who love to leave them up until after New Years day. I’m always anxious to get my house back to “normal.” In my defense, I do like to put them all out the day after Thanksgiving so I’m always early on that end.
)
Deb´s last blog ..A day in the desert…
I had just mentioned to my hubby how it seems that it takes days to decorate for Christmas and only hours to pull it down. It goes so fast. I am not a leave it up gal. When the last present has been opened, the last movie watched, and the last carol played, I am finished. It might be Christmas night, maybe the day after, but my stuff is always down by the 27th!
Happy New Year!
Jennifer´s last blog ..Blank Pages
Last year I left my big 9 foot tree up in front of our front room window until the first of Feb. I’d turn it on every night along w/ the outside Christmas lights…it’s just so blissful.
My husband and kids were totally embarrassed by me. Great tips Kimba. Thanks.
Please stop by today for my first ever (RED) MEATLESS MONDAY and link up one of your recipe’s k?
Jessica @ These Are The Days´s last blog ..(Red) Meatless Monday = Garlic – Basil Shrimp
I’m a definite “taker downer.” I love to start the New Year fresh and clean! You’re so organized about packing away your decorations. I do have plastic bins…I put lights and garland in one and the other stuff in the other bin. wahlah!
Well…. I was gonna take mine down Saturday… and DH forced me to go shopping. Then I was gonna take it down yesterday…. but I had so many Etsy orders from Friday and Saturday that I ended up working on my shop all day yesterday. So…. ummm…. I dunno. Hopefully today or tomorrow. I would have taken it down last week if I had had the time. I wonder if I can hire someone to do that???
Gina @ The Shabby Chic Cottage´s last blog ..Bunches of baskets
Great tips! I like to put away our Christmas books as well to keep them ‘special’. We don’t have too many ornaments to stow just yet, but I see that changing in the near future!
heidi @ wonder woman wannabe´s last blog ..Monday Musings :: On Desserts
And that is why i love you…mid spring? SO funny. Nope, ours is still up. Just agreed to keep it up til next week after my daughter brought up out of the blue, “don’t you just wish we could keep it up all year?”
(YEs, it’s fake, but a really good fake)
Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlam´s last blog ..Groceries for $25/week
It always makes me feel SO GOOD ABOUT MYSELF when I read one of your posts and I’m like, “I do that, too.” I’m totally on board with the Rubbermaids with ornament separators, editing what I have for next year, and keeping the kids’ Christmas books/toys packed separately. Organization FTW!
Katherine @ Grass Stains´s last blog ..Really regretting that momentary lapse in attention
I love my holiday decor, but I can’t wait to get the tree down. I think it is because we don’t have the space and it irritates me to not be able to sweep under it. We got our tree down right away, now I need to get the rest of the stuff down
Love your packing tips- great ideas!!
Amy´s last blog ..My New Year’s Goal: Get Happy!
Down and packed away on New Years Eve. Isn’t that a great was to spend the holiday?
Normally I leave them up throught Ephiany, but we are moving and I don’t want Christmas decorations in the for sale pictures. Of course if you peeked into my dining room you would never know I cleaned, cause you know, one projrct leads to another. So I brought up all of my decorative things from the basement and gathered them all together to go through next. I just can’t stop organizing one I get started. Is a sickess, I know.
Bekki´s last blog ..Cleaning house
LOL, on New Year’s day when my beloved Ducks started losing the Rose Bowl Game I started taking down decor. The more upset I got over the game, the faster I took apart decorations. They lost but I won.
Marla @ Always Nesting´s last blog ..Laundry Basket Table Cover
Outstanding tips! I like to put away our Christmas books as well to keep them ’special’. I love to start the New Year fresh and clean! You’re so organized about packing away your decorations. I do have plastic bins…I put lights and garland in one and the other stuff in the other bin.
I have most everything down. I left up a few snowmen, my lovely garland cause I can’t bear to not have the pretty lights, and my village. I have two HUGE boxes I am not using, but figure my girls might want it someday, so it stays under the stairs. I suppose if I had no room, it would all go.
Karen´s last blog ..Santa and Me
I took everything down yesterday and it feel so good. It feels empty in here, so refreshing. We really did enjoy the stuff while it was up but I feel like I can breathe again. Now it’s time to move things around 100 times, I always get the itch to redecorate after the holidays are over.
~Michelle
Michelle´s last blog ..Kitchen Curtains = Drama
We usually leave it up until New Year, but as each day passes it starts to feel a little sadder to have it out. We didn’t get it down this weekend, because we were painting (yay!), so it might even be up until next weekend. Too long.
all the Christmas decor is put away. I kind of miss the tree though because my living room is too big and empty without it
Anna´s last blog ..Drop cloth drapes Part 2
I was itching to take my decorations down so that I could paint my living room. We took everything down on Saturday and thanks to previous organization efforts it took less then 20 min to get it all put away.
And now my room is being painted a lovely dark blue color. YAY!
Amanda´s last blog ..A Dark Blue Room
I am for sure a keeper upper. I start taking down a few things, but have to have lights through January.
Christmas tree down: check
Decorative ornaments packed away: check
HOLIDAY MEMORY BOOK packed away: not before some follow-up notes are made-
Nativity Packed away: check
Jesus Packed away— no way!
My stuff has been down since the Monday after Christmas. I couldn’t take it anymore – I was ready for clean & organized…..still haven’t gotten to that part yet, though. Maybe by May.
duchess´s last blog ..{Sigh}
I usually take stuff down New Year’s Day-this year was a bit different though, a cross country trip on Dec 30th got me all undecorated. I didn’t think I’d want to come home to a dried up Christmas tree in the middle of January!
We leave our decorations up until Epiphany (when the wise men came to Jesus). I love Christmas and the way my house looks decorated, so the extra nine days or so really extends that warm Christmas feeling. I also put away the kids’ Christmas books, but I love the idea of giving them their own box b/c I am always digging through when I find something to add. Thanks.
elz´s last blog ..Extra time, Extra Projects
I will be taking all my stuff down over the course of the week in the evenings after work. I want to make sure I put things away in a more organized fashion this year and maybe even label my rubbermaid containers. I think I may splurge and get a couple of those ornament ones. I still do the box and put the box in the container. I’m sure I could save a lot of time getting rid of the boxes. By the weekend, I should be Christmas decor free {except for that one little thing that I always forget somewhere and come across a week after I’m done}!
I’m always itching to put things away too, but this year I am taking it a little slower. My real tree is down, but the fancy fake one is still decked out in all its glory, and I have to admit, I’m rather enjoying it.
Thanks for the tips. I need to invest in more rubbermaid for sure.
Musings of a Housewife´s last blog ..Fresh Year, Fresh Start
Kimba,
. So everything is safely in red and green tubs (for easy ID in the attic).
Those are great tips. Usually Jan 1st is our “down day”, and I start the process of getting it all packed away. We have always had a couple of those rubbermaid tubs, but this year Hubby insisted we purchase enough so that we could toss all the carboard boxes that are coated in years of packing tape and writing (I love it when he insists on spending money!)
I also love your idea on tossing stuff you don’t use anymore…I did a big changeover this year on my “theme”…so I had a big box of thrift store donations after packing up this year.
Have a blessed day!
Kathy C.´s last blog ..Bathroom Fixer-Upper
I might have one up on you. We lived in a 2 story that had a big walk in attic. We put a bag over it, lights, ornaments and all and my husband walked up the stairs and sat the tree in the corner for the next year. Easiest decorating year I had. I have been discussed by my friends for years over it. No one will ever forget it.
I had our tree and most of the decorations down on the 27th. I’m with you, the itch to declutter becomes impossible to ignore. I did keep out the snowmen and snowflake ornaments, and blogged about “winter decor” today!
Great minds think alike, right?
Right?
Kimba, are you there?
Kimm at REINVENTED´s last blog ..How Do You Do Winter?
Great minds DO think alike!
Oh, I thoroughly enjoy them while they are up but can’t wait to take them down. I just love a fresh, clean house that seems larger after all the Christmas stuff is down. It’s nice and refreshing and then I am ready for spring…
HA! I thought I was bad for leaving mine up until Easter one year. All of my friends thought I was nuts. Your post cracked me up remembering the funny looks that I was given.
Michelle´s last blog ..Cooking Challenged
I am itching to pack it all away and admire all of the clean, empty surfaces. BUT, I promised my mother-in-law I would leave it all in place for her and my father-in-law’s visit at the end of the week.
We are celebrating “Second Christmas” with the as we have done for several years.
I am hoping that we celebrate on the first day of their visit so she can help me start (and finish) packing it up before she leaves.
I like to take mine down right around New Years. Im usually itching to pack it all up once I clear away the packaging and toys from Christmas morning, but I resist for my family’s sake. This year we left for two days after Christmas and by the time I got home I had to negotiate with Hubs to let me take down the tree! It’s all packed away now but Im already thinking about what Im going to do with it all next year.
I love to hold onto the holiday spirit as long as possible and leave the decorations up as long as I can get away with it, which is usually mid-January. The house looks so festive and cozy with the decorations, I just can’t part with them. Once they are down, I still like to leave up a few small pieces of “winter” decor to brighten up the house through the winter-blahs. The Christmas comes only once a year so I like to milk it for all I can!
Jenny @ DIY Newlyweds´s last blog ..Christmas 2009 Review
I was ready Christmas Day to start yanking stuff down. But my husband convinced me to wait until after the 1st to do it. Actually he said we would do it on New Year’s Day. Yeah. Well. That didn’t happen. So yesterday I started taking it down, he promised to take it out to the garage but you know…..it’s still in the house. Windchills below 0 seem to hamper his ability to tote & haul. So I’m dragging it out in a few minutes and let the chips fall where they may when he gets home. I told him I only wanted one tree up this year instead of three.
Nope, they stay put until about mid January. My husband’s bday is in the second week of Jan and we usually have a party/family gathering at our house, so I like the house to continue wearing its party shirt!
And you are right….Rubbermaid is a goooood thing! Because of all this year’s decoration shopping, I need to get a bigger bin!
Oh and I am in for that Christmas swap meet if you ever do it!
- ellen
Nope…my tree and garlands are still up. Heck we just got them up right before Christmas so I’m in rush to take them down! Plus, they add lots of cheerful color when the world is extremely cold & white outside. And best of all, it makes me smile! I’ll probably take it down in less than two weeks (around my birthday). BUT most of my Christmas decorations can also go as valentine’s day decor since I’ve got lots of red hearts! Personally, I wish people would leave up their outdoor Christmas lights- it’s so dark and dreary without them.
Astrid´s last blog ..Gimme that Tooth!
I finally got it all (except for the lights–those need to go in a bag) up in the attic yesterday. All by myself! I even toted the 4 foot tall Nutcracker up those rickety attic stairs.
The hubs hasn’t been feeling well, so I didn’t want to ask him for help. Doesn’t it feel great to have a clean start? 
LOVE the divided ornament boxes. I only have 2, but I’d like to get a few more.
Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last blog ..Chalkboard Quote Tray
Oh I’m totally itchin’!
Kara´s last blog ..I Just Gotta Make This!–Camera Strap with Pockets
I took all my indoor decorations down on New Years Day. Outside is still up cause it is just too dang cold!!! It feels so calm and peaceful now after all the bling of the holidays.♥
Hi Kimba,
I could absolutely picture your “Christmas tree up til’ May” story. What a hoot! I think that taking pictures of your displays is an awesome idea and have really enjoyed having mine for reference/memories/…. over the years!
Have a blessed week!
: )
Julie M.
Hi Kimba, I got the itch last Saturday. As much as I wanted it in the attic and cleaned up, we did go through all the totes this year. We weeded through it all, donated some and threw away. We ended up with two totes less, so there is room for more, right? Isn’t how that works? We also tested every strand of lights so that next year we know every stand in the tote is usable should we want to use them all. Feels great to have spent the time, it will be so much easier next year to decorate too!
Happy New Year to you with much appreciation for your time and talents shared on your delightful blog! Deborah
deborah´s last blog ..Farmhouse Track-Lighting
just took everything down yesterday. i even took the time to sweep out all the storage bins & wipe them clean before repacking.
one year (back in the 80′s) when i was a very busy & stressed out divorced mom with teenagers i left my tree up until the week before easter! & then i wrapped it in a sheet & carried it to the basement as it was! (it was just a skinny 4 footer). it was a miracle that nothing broke. every year i think about that & thank God for changing me, my heart & my circumstances.
randee´s last blog ..happy new year!
LOL! Memories….My corporate America life wasn’t that long ago but very similar in that there were many evenings and weekends working and flying to some town somewhere… My decorations also stayed up waaaay too long (though never quite until May) because I was just too darned tired after work and that brightly lit tree was so comforting. Now, like you, I can’t wait until Jan 1 so I feel free to let go and move on.
I was giggling at your Christmas tree in May story. I live in S. Florida and I once heard about some snowbirds from the north who left their Christmas tree up all year in their home down here. However, once they came down for the winter, down came the Christmas tree! Lol!
I know that no one is going to believe this but my mother in law has left her tree up for over 5 years. It is up in the living room. She doesn’t care. We lived with her while we built our house and I just about went NUTS! Absolutely nuts. I made it out okay but it was iffy:)
I like the tree up on Thanksgiving weekend but it has to come down on the 26th. I have to have my house back to ‘normal.’
Melanie Gore´s last blog ..Back to square one:(
Great tips Kimba! Plastic totes and I are friends too…couldn’t do it without them. I love the glow of the lights in my house but I really can’t wait to get everything back to normal around here, including the schedule. Thanks for the post!
I took mine down today … I actually started a box this time to sell at a garage sale, even the Christmas Tree .. it is time for a new one and I want a taller, pre-lit one. I took advantage of the after Christmas sales and bought all new ornaments in totally different colors than I have used for the past 10 years. Time to change things up a bit!
I also posted a super easy way to store your Christmas lights on my blog today.
Christine´s last blog ..Easy Christmas Light Storage
Just enjoying my christmas decorations this evening, the last of my house guests, my mom, has been taken home today and my sister left on Sunday. I have reclaimed my bedroom on the first floor which I relinquish to my mom when she visits. Many family members stay with me, kinda like a bed and breakfast since the 19th of December. So for me a few days of private time with my decorations and probably a glass of wine or two whoops make that three, there small, is very relaxing for a slow wind-down before the big tear-down. So for me when do my decorations come down lets just say the wine bottle is still half full. Who knows, maybe when Kim comes over.
Mom
I swear I get claustrophobic right about now… we have all the boxes up ready to take it all down and it’s none to soon for me! I’m no neat freak or anything HELLO! but seriously it makes me a bit crazy after New Years!
carissa´s last blog ..Resolutions: Soda Spirits & Spiritual
down down down!! i took everything down before New Year’s! up by december 1, down by january 1. it’s like a sickness, but i have to get my house back in order. it was even worse this year since we just moved into a new house! gotta start re-arranging that furniture- then blogging about it! : )
happy monday!
rachel
I pretty much had a breakdown during the breakdown – lol. So stressful! I had so much decorations that I didn’t put up this year. I filled three bags to take to charity. But it feels good to have it all put away again!
XOXO
Jen
jenjen´s last blog ..2010 Burlap Wreath and a giveaway
” take a picture of it and store those items together. Save the pictures in a folder on your computer called Christmas ‘09 or something like that.”
Have you ever used Evernote? It would be perfect for storing this type of info
For the past two years, we have had EVERYTHING taken down on Christmas day. My husband, much like you, starts itching to have everything clean and simple again. I guess in his accountant’s mind, after more than a month, the decor just turns into clutter. But I’m more than willing to have it put away that soon because we were visiting family and only had one day we would be home for a week afterwards… and I knew that day would be spent doing laundry and lounging. If it wasn’t done on Christmas day, it would be weeks before it was done, especially once my hubby went back to work. Nothing says “Bah Humbug” like a Christmas tree on the curb on Chrustmas day!
Hello sweet Kimba – Happy New Year! These Christmas clean-up tips are great. I did manage to scale all my decorations down to three big bins. It felt so good to be more organized. I love your idea of taking a picture of the way we’ve decorated!
Blessings,
Marie
Marie´s last blog ..Leaving behind in ‘09
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