Ok, so you’re asking yourself, what crazy person organizes their ornaments before Christmas. Well that answer to that would me “ME”. I have always kept my ornaments in some type of stackable storage system, but I never had each container organized by color. This was a must for me this year….I normally decorate about 6 trees in my home, and that includes the ones on the porch.
But this year something exciting is happening for me, I am opening my own Photography Studio and my first photos session is Christmas portraits, and Christmas cards {insert big cheer here}. That being said, I knew I wanted my white artificial Christmas tree set up in the studio to use as a prop along with my burgundy sofa. I suddenly panicked when I thought about dragging all 500 ornaments to the studio, decided what I want on the tree, and then dragging the remainder home. I chose to get organized at home before carting every Christmas doodad to the space.
I know second question, what crazy person owns over 500 ornaments? Yep, “ME” again.
One of the easiest things to do was designate one container per ornament color. The storage devices I have hold 48 ornaments with nice cardboard dividers. I turned on the TV, watched the PBS show “Paradise” and sorted ornaments. There was glitter everywhere before it was over, but now it will be much easier to grab the box containing the color I want and run. I have decided to decorate the white tree in the studio with the traditional green and red ornaments and the family tree at home this year with the turquoise, copper and cream ornaments.
Wow it was so much easier to make a decision now that I could see each color combination beside one another. From here on out I will take them off the tree and put them in their designated colored box.
Here’s a few other organization systems that are a must if you like to keep things neat and tidy.
1. Ornament storage boxes (remember to put the same color ornament in each box)
2. Stackable organizers (these are great for garlands, replacement bulbs, hooks, the tree skirt, and general tabletop decorations)
3. Wreath storage (one of the best inventions every, no smashed wreaths anymore)
4. Wrapping paper storage container
5. Christmas light storage (make sure you check your lights before stringing them on the tree, it’s a real bummer to get them all on and then discover they don’t work)
6. Artificial tree bag (for some reason those trees never fit back into the box they came in)
I hope you found some inspiration that gets you in the mood to organize your Christmas ornaments this year.
Friend, we are in much the same boat! I do a tree in every room of the house (some are really small, though) – and I have tons of ornaments. I do not separate them by color, but I DO know what is in every single box of every bin. Also (this is my crazy) every year at the end of October, I take the bins to my large master closet & look through them to make sure. Then when it’s time to decorate, it’s a breeze!
Congrats on your photography studio – this will be a fun season for you!
Christi, you are way ahead of me if you are getting ready in October. I hope to get our tree in the next few days and I can get started decorating. I don’t do anything but lights and bulb, and this year I plan to spray the tree with fake snow. It makes it pop against the log walls better. I agree it makes it so much easier to decorate when you’re organized.
Best of luck with the photography studio, I’m sure the results will be stunning and you will have many happy customers. I have ornaments organized into handmade, delicate, themes, special but don’t have nearly as many as you do. I’m rather minimalistic on the decorating … one tree, one village, one snowfall community.
Linda, so glad to hear you are an organizer too. I tend to go with a different color combo every year. I only use what I have and just mix it up from year to year. This year I don’t have time to change out my slipcovers for Christmas so the tree will have to match the color theme that’s going on currently.
SO exciting to open your studio – congratulations!! I am inspired by your organization. I don’t have that many ornaments (at least I don’t think so!), my sons have their childhood ornaments, and I keep our tree simple. Your idea will help me have the ornaments I prefer to use at the ready – thanks!
Barb, I didn’t realize I had that many ornaments either until I noticed each box held 48 ornaments. I never buy new I just mix and match the colors differently each year. There only up for a short time so why buy new every year. I know colors go out of style from time to time and that’s when I break down and modernize. LOL
Oh Dawn,
How exciting to start your own photography studio. You will take wonderful pictures. Love all the organization. I actually have a few of those containers you showed and they work great for storage and they keep the ornaments from breaking and tangling up with each other. Happy Thanksgiving.
Kris
Kris, thank you for the Thanksgiving wishes. We are going out to dinner this year and to a movie, I lucked out and no cooking for me 🙂 I have to stay organized or my life would be out of control, just like the Christmas ornaments. LOL
Wow, I need to get organized like you! Congrats and good luck on your photography studio! How exciting 🙂
Susan
Thank you Susan, the busier I am the more organized I have to be.
Glad to hear the photography studio is ready to roll! I only decorate a very small tree and honestly haven’t looked at my ornaments in years. I do have a large bin in the attic that most likely needs sorted! I love the color coding system. 🙂
Ann, you better drag down those ornaments and see if there’s some treasures in there to decorate with this year.
Hi Dawn
i love the idea of organizing by color. Where did you find the bins?
Julie, I think they came from Target.
This is so timely! We have new ornaments that are large and glass. The original boxes are pitiful. I love the idea of color coordinating and the big bag for those pesky trees. I’ll be adapting our storage system. Thank you! Linda from Inspire Me Monday…
Linda it makes it so easy to decorate every year, and every year I like to use new color combinations and this works perfect.
This is so smart! Ours are a hot mess… I could definitely use the organization! Thanks for sharing at the Share the Wealth blog hop!
Morgan I love this trick, it’s so easy to decorate with new colors every year when I’m organized.