By Elizabeth Wulfhorst
Your Christmas lights have been up for a month, twinkling away, welcoming visitors and those just driving by. Your Christmas tree is most likely standing tall, decorated with all the ornaments and baubles you’ve collected through the years. There are definitely at least a few seasonal tchotchkes around the house – some nutcrackers, a wreath, strings of garland. Your Christmas decorating is finished and you can enjoy the rest of the season.
But come Jan. 1 or Jan. 6 – or maybe even Dec. 26 for some – all of those decorations have to go back into storage until next year. If you’re tempted to throw everything in a big box, shut the lid and worry about it next year, Leigh Genkinger, the owner of orderleigh home in Little Silver, says don’t.
Genkinger said she understands the urge. “You’re in such a rush. The season is over. You’re done with the holidays. You can’t look at one more ornament.”
However, she said future-you will be much happier if present-you takes some time to get organized before putting the decorations away.
“Take a look at anything that you didn’t use this season,” she said. “Often times, there’s bins and bins of holiday stuff and half of it didn’t even get put out. So, the first thing is just kind of assess what wasn’t used and ask yourself, ‘Do I still need that?’ ”
Purging can be very difficult for some and Genkinger has some tips for even the most stalwart hoarder. “A lot of people have emotional attachments to things,” she said. “What we try to get our clients to understand is that the memories are not held within that one particular item. The memories are in you.”
Gerkinger’s motto is “ ‘Keep things with discretion,’ really, really special things because at the end of the day, it’s going get passed down to your children. And do they really want it?”
Parting with sentimental items isn’t easy, but it is easy to fall into the “I may need it” trap.
“Often, people are reticent to get rid of things because they don’t really know what they have. They haven’t taken inventory,” Gerkinger said.
She suggests pulling everything out – easy to do when you’re undecorating after the holidays – and placing each item into a category. For Christmas decorations, that could be big groups like tree items, mantel decor and outdoor lights, or more specific categories like ornaments, garland, reindeer, stars, nutcrackers and more. “Everything gets put into a category and then once you’ve done that, it really allows you to take a true inventory,” Gerkinger said, noting people often don’t realize how much stuff they are holding onto.
Once you see “20 Christmas pillows” in a pile, she said, it’s easier to get rid of items, especially knowing you can pass the decorations onto someone else who might derive joy from them.
“There’s so many people who are less fortunate and they can’t even afford to celebrate the holidays,” she said. “In this sort of situation, you can really give somebody the opportunity to have a very cozy Christmas or Hanukkah” by donating the décor you no longer use.
“There’s always people in need of things that are no longer serving you.” Gerkinger takes usable items to The Salvation Army and any soft items to the Monmouth County SPCA.
Once you have purged, it’s time to box everything up. Most people don’t have unlimited storage space so prioritizing how it’s used is important. If possible, all seasonal items – Christmas décor, fall items, Fourth of July decorations and any other holiday you celebrate – should be stored in the same area to make it easy for anyone in the family to find it. “Even in my own home I’m guilty of being the only person who knows where things are. Putting everything together can make it easier for others to help you,” she said.
Holiday décor comes in many different sizes – from the smallest tree ornaments to illuminated statues for the yard or inflatable items. Figuring out a storage plan can take a little effort. In her business, Gerkinger focuses on function as well as design. While purchasing new storage containers isn’t required, she said having a uniform storage system can make life easier.
“I always think it’s important to invest in good quality storage containers that are consistent with the balance of your storage area,” Gerkinger said.
“It’s worth it to make that small investment, so… the space is maximized to its fullest potential.”
Whether you buy new storage containers or utilize ones you already own, taking a few hours to get organized in the new year can save you lots of time when the 2024 holidays come around. Maybe make it your first – easily accomplishable – New Year’s resolution.
And remember Gerkinger’s sage advice: “The best way to start is to begin.”
The article originally appeared in the December 21 – December 27, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
