It’s that time of the year again when the decorations need to retreat to their homes in the garage, basement or loft until they are needed again. If the thought of packing them all away is just too much- here are some hacks to keep them under control.
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Buy a real Christmas Tree each year: If your fake Christmas tree takes up a lot of room in your storage area, sell or donate it and invest in a real tree each year. That way, once the festivities are over, you can recycle your tree rather than put it back in a box. It may cost a little more- but you could buy a smaller tree than usual to reduce the price.
Buy a real wreath: Along the same vein, if you like to display a wreath on your door, why not sell or donate your fake one and buy a real one each year too?
Make your own garlands: Garlands are messy and often get tangled when you put them into storage. Instead of giving yourself this headache- why not make you own? You can turn it into a family tradition if you like and if you use plain paper, newspaper or magazines, they can be recycled once the new year begins. In the UK alone we create 30% more waste than usual during the festive period so it's important to think about the environmental impact of everything we discard at this time.
No more gift bags: If you keep every gift bag you are given, chances are they take up a lot of space- you probably still have ones left over from last year too! Instead- allocate each person you normally buy for a sack- you could even personalise it if you like. Then once Christmas is over you aren’t saddled with a bunch of bags. Just ask those you have given sacks to to keep hold of them until you need them again the following year.
Avoid Christmas themed tableware: If you have plates, cups, bowls, tablecloths and centrepieces that all have a Christmassy theme- why not donate them and just use the ones you always do? It might not feel as special, but it will save a lot of space for the sake of something you only use once a year.
Don’t buy Christmas cards: If you are someone who always buys next year’s cards in the sale- perhaps you could donate the money you would normally spend to a charity that is close to your heart. That way, you don’t have to house the cards all year round and a good cause benefits from your space saving too.
Use plants as decorations: If you are overwhelmed with your decorations- why not pare them down and next year opt for plants and flowers as decorations instead? You can pick up some beautiful bouquets around Christmastime and there’s always the festive Poinsettia to bring colour to your room. Once these are past their best you can pop them in the green recycling bin.
Buy brown paper to wrap your presents with: Did you know that most wrapping paper can’t be recycled? This means that tonnes of paper goes into landfill each year after Christmas. If you buy brown paper- this is available all year round so you don’t have to find a place for it until you need it- you can just buy it nearer the time. Plus, you can pop it in the recycling bin afterwards and feel guilt free about your festive waste.
MORE: Seven things you can declutter in January
Tagged in Christmas Minimalism