How to Keep Your Holiday Decor Items Looking Fresh: The Ultimate Guide to Pittsburgh Holiday Decor Storage
Winter is the season of festive decorations, and many of us spend a great deal of time and effort perfecting the look of our homes with winter wreaths, garlands, and other seasonal decor. But once the holiday season ends, it’s essential to store these items properly to ensure they remain fresh and beautiful year after year. In this blog, we’ll provide expert tips on how to store your Pittsburgh holiday decor to maintain its quality and longevity.
Why Proper Storage Matters for Holiday Decor
Your holiday decor represents a significant investment, whether you’ve purchased items from a winter shop or had custom pieces designed for your home. Proper storage is essential to maintain the appearance and integrity of your decor. Storing holiday decorations without care can lead to fading, damage, or deterioration.
Common risks of improper storage include:
Crushing and bending of artificial wreaths, garlands, and trees.
Fading and discoloration from exposure to light or moisture.
Breakage of delicate ornaments and fragile pieces.
To avoid these issues, investing in high-quality storage solutions is key to keeping your holiday decor looking fresh.
Clean Your Holiday Decorations Before Storing Them
Before packing away your Pittsburgh holiday decor, it’s important to clean each item properly to prevent dust, dirt, or moisture from damaging your pieces while in storage.
Tips for Cleaning Common Holiday Items:
Wreaths and Garlands: Lightly dust artificial greenery using a soft cloth or brush. For heavily soiled pieces, wipe them down with a damp cloth and let them air dry completely before storing.
Ornaments: Clean glass and delicate ornaments with a microfiber cloth to remove dust. For more intricate designs, use a soft paintbrush to gently clean the details.
Lights: Wipe down string lights with a dry cloth to remove dirt. Be sure to check for any broken bulbs and replace them before packing them away.
Pro Tip:For Pittsburgh’s humid climate, ensure that all items are fully dry before storing to prevent mold or mildew growth.
Choose the Right Storage Containers
Using the right storage containers can make all the difference when preserving the quality of your holiday decor items. Plastic, airtight containers are a great option because they protect against moisture, dust, and pests. However, for some delicate items, padded boxes or fabric-lined storage bins may be more appropriate.
Best Storage Solutions:
Wreath Storage Boxes: Invest in specialty wreath storage containers that are designed to keep your wreaths intact and dust-free. Many come with hooks or straps to help maintain the shape of your wreath.
Ornament Dividers: Use ornament storage boxes with dividers to protect each ornament individually. For extra protection, wrap fragile ornaments in tissue paper or bubble wrap before placing them in compartments.
Garland Containers: Store garlands in long, shallow plastic bins to prevent tangling and crushing. If you don’t have specialty garland storage containers, you can loosely roll your garlands and wrap them in acid-free tissue paper before placing them in a large storage bin.
String Light Reels: Prevent frustrating tangles by wrapping holiday lights around a light reel or even a piece of cardboard. Then, store them in a separate box or container.
Label and Organize Your Decorations
When storing your Pittsburgh holiday decor, make it easy to find and unpack your items for next year by labeling everything clearly. Organized storage helps preserve the condition of your decorations and ensures you know exactly where everything is when it’s time to decorate again.
Tips for Effective Organization:
Label storage bins: Use clear labels to indicate what’s inside each bin, whether it’s "Outdoor Lights" or "Dining Room Table Decor."
Categorize by room or theme: If you decorate specific areas of your home or use different color themes, organize your decor accordingly. This way, you can easily pull out only what you need when the time comes.
Keep a digital inventory: Take photos of each item and store them in a digital folder or app so you have a visual reference of what you own. This helps when planning next year’s decor and prevents duplicate purchases.
Pay Special Attention to Fragile Items
Delicate items like glass ornaments, heirloom pieces, and handmade decorations need extra care during storage. Make sure each fragile piece is wrapped individually in tissue paper, bubble wrap, or a soft cloth. Avoid storing breakable items in boxes with heavy or bulky pieces that could shift and cause damage.
Bonus Tip:For extra protection, place fragile items in hard-sided storage containers with plenty of padding between items to prevent shifting.
Don’t Forget About Outdoor Decorations
Outdoor decorations like inflatable displays, lights, and wreaths face the elements all season long. It’s crucial to clean and dry these items thoroughly before storage to prevent mold and mildew.
Storage Tips for Outdoor Decorations:
Inflatables: Deflate inflatables fully and allow them to air dry before folding them neatly. Store them in their original packaging or a plastic bin to prevent damage.
Outdoor Lights: Wipe down outdoor light strands to remove dirt and moisture, then wrap them around a reel or cardboard to prevent tangling.
Wreaths and Garlands: Outdoor wreaths and garlands should be stored in climate-controlled spaces to avoid exposure to extreme temperatures, which can cause artificial materials to crack or fade.
What to Do With Fresh Holiday Decor Items
While storing artificial decor is fairly straightforward, fresh items like wreaths and garlands require a different approach at the end of the season. Here’s how to handle your natural holiday items:
Fresh Wreaths
Our 24" fresh wreaths are the perfect way to bring nature into your home for the holidays. But when the season wraps up, they begin to dry out and lose their freshness.
Here’s what you can do:
Composting: Fresh wreaths, garlands, and other natural decor can be composted. Simply remove any wire, ribbons, or non-biodegradable decorations, and add the greenery to your compost bin.
Mulching: If you have a garden or outdoor space, you can break down your wreath into smaller pieces to use as mulch for your plants.
Community Recycling Programs: Many local recycling programs in Pittsburgh offer Christmas tree and wreath recycling services. Check with your local municipality for collection dates
Pack Up the Holidays with Holly Hanna Floral
The holidays may come and go, but the memories (and decorations!) last forever. With Holly Hanna Floral’s Pack-Up Holiday Decor Service, you can rest easy knowing your festive decor will be safely stored and ready to dazzle again next year. Plus, with our tips on handling fresh items like wreaths, you can take a sustainable approach to post-holiday clean-up.
Ready to wrap up the season stress-free? Contact us today to book your Pack-Up Service and let Holly Hanna Floral take care of the hard work so you can enjoy the holidays without the hassle! With proper care, your holiday decorations can last for many more joyful seasons to come.
Photos by: Kathryn Hyslop Photography
