45 Days ’Til Christmas: Inventory & Organize Holiday Decorations

This post is part of the #100DaysTilChristmasChallenge – one small step every day to make the holidays more joyful and less stressful.

If your attic or garage looks like a holiday time capsule, you’re in good company. Most of us haven’t truly sorted through our Christmas bins in years — we just shuffle them from one season to the next, adding a little more each time.

I actually tackled mine this past weekend… and let’s just say things escalated quickly. Somewhere between pulling out the lights and sorting ornaments, I became a full-blown Christmas person. By Sunday afternoon, the tree was up, the garland was hung, and I had fully committed.

Honestly, I decided I’m not in the business of redecorating my house three separate times between October and December. Once the pumpkins were packed up, I went straight into holiday mode — no regrets.

If you’ve got the time and energy today, this is a great opportunity to do the same: clear out, reset, and maybe even start decorating early if the mood strikes.

Clear the Clutter Before the Cheer

Over the years, it’s easy to collect more décor than we actually use — the kids’ crafts, the inherited pieces, the random items that somehow survived every move.

Today’s goal isn’t to toss everything and start over. Although that sounds really tempting. It’s simply to make decorating easier by keeping what you actually love and use. Less rummaging, more relaxing.

Pull It All Out

Grab every box, bin, and stray bag of holiday décor from wherever you stash it and spread it out. Seeing it all at once helps you realize how much you actually have — and which things haven’t seen the light of day in a while.

Sort by type: lights, ornaments, garlands, wreaths, figurines, etc. Keep a couple of trash bags and donation boxes nearby. Jot a few quick notes like “need new outdoor lights” or “missing ornament hooks.”

💡 Tip: Turn on your favorite holiday playlist or light a Christmas candle. It sets the mood and makes the task feel festive instead of overwhelming.

Sort Through What You Have

You might discover a few things that have earned retirement. I had a set of Christmas lights that worked faithfully for over a decade — but once we bought a pre-lit tree, they were just taking up space. At that point, they were more fire hazard than backup plan.

Set aside anything broken, faded, or not something you’d actually put up this year. Keep the décor that fits your home and brings you joy, and let the rest go.

Easy ways to clear things out:

• Donate gently used décor to local shelters or community centers.
• Offer extras to friends or family.
• Recycle or toss anything unsafe or beyond repair.

Check and Refresh

Before packing things away again, plug in every strand of lights and toss any that flicker or fail. Check ornaments for missing hooks or cracks.

If you plan to fix something, set a quick reminder so it doesn’t end up in storage for another year.

And here’s a small trick that helps: take quick photos of the decorations you’re keeping. They’ll make decorating (and repacking) so much faster next time.

Store Smart and Save Space

Once you’ve sorted and refreshed, it’s time to repack.

• Use clear or color-coded bins so you can find things easily.
• Wrap lights around cardboard or spools to keep them tangle-free.
• Keep fragile pieces in smaller boxes inside larger bins.
• Label bins clearly with both contents and location — “Front Porch,” “Mantel,” “Tree Décor,” etc.

💡 Optional idea: Create a “Favorites” bin with your absolute must-use pieces. That’s the first one to pull out next year — instant Christmas cheer.

Make Room for Something New

After streamlining, you might find a little extra space — and honestly, that’s the fun part. Maybe it’s finally time for that updated garland or the new wreath you’ve been eyeing.

Think of it as swapping, not stockpiling. Add new pieces that fit your home now and make decorating feel fresh without overwhelming your space.

A Note on the Aftermath

Here’s something I’ve learned about myself: I struggle with putting Christmas away. I like to leave a few “winter” pieces out — the cozy greenery, the candles, the simple white lights. But by the time I’m ready to pack those away too, my bins are buried in the back of storage.

This year, I’m creating one smaller, easy-to-reach bin labeled “Winter Décor.” That way, once I’m done with those last few cozy touches, I’m not tearing apart the garage to put them away properly. It’s a tiny change, but it’ll make January a whole lot smoother.

Celebrate Your Progress

Take a step back and appreciate your work — bins labeled, clutter cleared, and your holiday setup ready to go.

You just made decorating day easier, faster, and more fun. Add your decorating date to your calendar (or jump right in if you’re feeling festive — no judgment here).

Daily To-Do Recap

• ✅ Pull out all holiday décor
• ✅ Sort through what you actually use and love
• ✅ Check lights and toss broken ones
• ✅ Take photos for future reference
• ✅ Repack and label bins clearly
• ✅ Consider creating a “Winter Décor” bin for after-Christmas items
• ✅ Enjoy that extra space (and maybe a new wreath)

✉️ Get the Printables That Keep You Organized (and Sane!)

If you’re loving this 100 Days ’Til Christmas series, make sure you’re on my newsletter list — that’s where I share all the free printables that go with these posts.

Each week, you’ll get fresh resources straight to your inbox that help you stay one step ahead of the holiday chaos.

You’ll get access to printables like:
🎄 Holiday Planner Pages — organize gifts, menus, and budgets in one place
🕯️ Holiday Cleaning Schedule — keep the house guest-ready without losing your mind
📦 Gift Wrap + Supply Inventory Sheet — know what you already have before buying more
🍪 Christmas Baking Tracker — plan all those cookie swaps and treat boxes with ease
💌 Holiday Card Checklist — track who you’re sending cards to (and who sent one back!)

You’ll also get reminders, daily to-dos, and easy ways to catch up if you fall behind on the challenge.

👉 Sign up using the form below so you don’t miss the next printable drop and can keep following along with the 100 Days ’Til Christmas Challenge.