Nobody looks forward to taking Christmas down. But how your decorations come down in January decides how easily they go back up next December, and whether your favourite pieces survive another year.
This is how I approach Christmas decoration takedown and storage, so next year starts with a box you’re pleased to open.
Before you start, take photographs
Photograph the tree, the mantelpiece and anything else you loved before a single ornament comes off. Next year, those photographs are the quickest way to recreate a scheme that worked, or to remember what you’d change.
Gather the right supplies
A little preparation saves breakages and tangles.
- Sturdy boxes with lids, ideally sealed plastic if they’ll be stored in a loft or cellar
- Acid-free tissue paper for wrapping
- Ornament boxes or dividers for glass baubles
- Pieces of card or cable reels for lights
- Small bags for hooks, clips and tiny pieces
- Labels and a pen
Take things down in reverse
Remove the topper and the most delicate ornaments first, while there’s plenty of room to reach them. Then work through the remaining ornaments, take off ribbon and garlands, and remove the lights last.
Wrap and pack with care
- Glass baubles: wrap each one individually in tissue and keep them in a single layer where you can.
- Heavier pieces go at the bottom of a box, lighter ones on top, and don’t overfill: boxes that bulge crush their contents.
- Ribbon: roll it around a piece of card or a cardboard tube rather than folding it, so it stays free of creases. Store velvet ribbon flat.
- Wreaths and garlands: keep artificial ones in their own boxes, or hang them in a cupboard, so they hold their shape.
- Candles: store them somewhere cool, away from anything that gets warm.
Look after the lights
Test each set before packing it, and set aside any that need replacing. Then wind each set loosely around a piece of card, plug end first, so it unwinds in seconds next year instead of knotting.
Label by room and by scheme
Rather than “Christmas” written on every box, label each one by where it goes: “Living room tree”, “Mantelpiece”, “Hallway”. Next year, each box goes straight to the room it belongs in. A simple list of what’s in each box, or a photograph of the contents taped inside the lid, makes it easier still.
Choose the right place to store them
Decorations last longest somewhere cool, dry and dark. Lofts and garages can become damp, or very hot in summer, which is hard on ribbon, candles and painted ornaments, so seal boxes well if that’s where they’re going. In a London flat with limited storage, under-bed boxes and the top of a wardrobe are often the best options.
What to do with a real tree
Most London boroughs collect real Christmas trees in January or have drop-off points where they can be recycled, so check your council’s website for dates. Remove every decoration, light and hook first, along with the stand.
Make a note for next year
While it’s fresh in your mind, write down what you loved, what you’d change and anything that needs replacing. It turns next year’s planning into a five-minute job.
Christmas takedown and pack-away in London
If you’d rather not spend a January afternoon doing all of this, a takedown service can do it for you. When the season comes to an end, I can return to carefully take down your decorations and pack them away, ready for next year, for homes across London and the surrounding areas.
Takedown and pack-away can be arranged as an additional service at the time of booking, alongside Christmas tree styling or complete Christmas home styling. You can see how it fits into the process, or enquire about Christmas styling for your home.