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Scarecrows and Pilgrims - Oh My!
Organizing Seasonal Decorations

image By Professional Organizer Lea Schneider

A spray of fall leaves tucked on the mantle with an array of glass pumpkins makes a home warm and inviting for fall.

Add a scarecrow to the carriage lamp outside or a pair of wooden pilgrims to the front porch and it is sure to make you smile.

Or frown!

From now until New Year’s, it is one holiday after another. Shoot, you are in the attic trying to find the broom for the witch and the local big box store has Christmas trees lining the aisle.

Heading into the closet, attic or garage for decorations so many times this fall can turn things into a mess. If you have heavy things to carry up or down, and ask for assistance, it might become an even bigger mess since each person has a different idea where things belong.

It is possible to organize for seasonal decorating. This year, have a plan in mind for your storage. As you get things down this year, return them with the new plan in mind and you are off to a great start.

Here’s the checklist to help you get started.

Create a box that is just for fall seasonal decorations. These are decorations that can be used from September through Thanksgiving. They are not Halloween. They are not Thanksgiving. They are things that you can put out and leave for several months. This might include dried or silk fall leaves, pumpkins without Jack O’ Lantern faces, gourds, silk berries, pinecones, scarecrows and so on. This is a box you can take out of storage in September and use all fall. During this season, you simply add Halloween items or Thanksgiving items to the scene.

Create a box that is just Halloween.

Create a box that is just Thanksgiving.

Think Spring! When sorting your seasonal decor, if you find Valentines or Easter, go ahead and make boxes for them as well.

Remember that Less is More. A small amount of seasonal decorating puts everyone in a cheerful mood. You do not get a better mood by doing more decorating. You just get a sore back and a grumpy attitude from too much stuff. So be honest as you sort into boxes. Just keep the items you really love, use and need. Put the rest in a donate box and give it away. Keep it simple. Keep it fun.

Now create a seasonal storage area. It doesn’t matter if it is attic, garage, basement or closet. Purchase some shelves that your boxes will fit on. For the attic, I love the kind that can be snapped together in the attic. Using shelves means you can pull out one box without dealing with stacks of tubs.

Label the shelves. Label the boxes. Labeling lets each person helping to decorate or carry boxes to know where the items belong.

For large items, add a peg board. Purchase assorted hooks at the home improvement store. Use the peg board to hold scarecrows, wreaths and other items too large to box.