From Decorations to Gifts—How to Store, Give Back & Declutter After Holidays

The holiday period is one for merriment, joy, and—be honest with me—a lot of unnecessary garbage. From tinsel that seems to make its way into every crevice in your living room to gifts that you *smiled sweetly at* but will not utilize, post-festivity chaos is a real reality. Whatever your reason for wishing to regain your living room, organize for the new year, or rid yourself of those "loving but not necessarily useful" gifts, below is how to store, give, and sort out post-festivity with ease.

Smart Solutions for Holiday Decoration Storing

Before you shuck them all into a sloppy box with a label that reads "Xmas Junk," stop and inhale a deep breath. Storing them in a proper manner will save your annual three-hour torture of tangles with lights for next year. Invest a little cash in **clear, labelled storing containers** and actually know what’s in them. Roll string lights onto cardboard, not in a twisted, tangled heap. For fragile ornaments, use bubble wrap and save yourself an annual guessing contest of what’s in one, unbroken unit. Artificial trees? Forbid yourself that first box and buy a **tree storing bag** and your closet won’t become a cemetery of mangled branches in two years' time. What’s at work here is simple: make your life easier for next year, not a holiday horror.

Decluttering: What to Do and What Not to Do

It’s time to face reality with yourself. Do you actually have five wreaths, half of them a post-hurricane disaster? Do you have that broken Santa figurine out of sympathy? If it doesn’t work, hasn’t seen sunlight in years, and rolls its eyes at your face whenever your eyes fall upon it—cut it free. Same with gifts. If it’s getting dusty ALREADY, it’s time to give, regift, or sell.

Ask yourself: Does it serve a purpose in my home, or is it simply taking its space? If it’s the latter, then kudos, you’ve won a win at decluttering.

Where to Give Holiday Donations and Presents

Some people actually will make use of items that you don't have a purpose for. Instead of allowing your almost-unused holiday decor or unopened sweater to sit in a trash can for eternity, pass it along. Nearby charities, shelters, and thrift stores have a purpose for post-holiday gifts. Look at a few Long Island locations below that will make use of your extras:

The Salvation Army – Takes in gifts, apparel, and household goods.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island – Fantastic for clothes and toys.

The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) – Serves local impoverished families.

Local church and community groups – Most have annual holiday collections for donations.

And here’s the best part: most of these companies deliver them at your doorstep, and you don’t even have to go out of your living room in your pajamas.

Selling and Regifting: A Smarter Option

Not everything can go into donation bins, of course. In case you have repeat gifts, a present that’s simply not your style, or a present for a person who will actually appreciate it, regifting and resale can work beautifully. Online platforms such as **Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Poshmark** can make your unwanted gifts into cash. Need to go even locally? Get involved in a Buy Nothing group—because one person’s collection of candles is another’s “dream aesthetic.” Remember, **regifting is an art**—just don’t include the first recipient when regifting, of course!

Digital Decluttering: Because Your Inbox is a Horror Show

Decluttering isn’t just about your life, but your virtual life, as well. Holiday sales have stuffed your inbox with a battleground of promotional messages that will most likely go unopened for eternity. Unsubscribe. Get rid of family photos taken at parties (you don’t have 47 duplicates of one picture, believe me). Get rid of outdated files taking up space in your phone and make room for new ones in the new year. And, in case you have **digital gift cards**, make a note of them for yourself first, so it doesn’t become an "I totally forgot" in six months' time.

Decluttering after the holidays isn’t just about making space—it’s about creating a home that works for you. If your current space no longer fits your lifestyle, let’s find one that does! Whether you need more storage, a bigger home, or a fresh start, I can help.

📩 Email me at Dean@TheBeaconTeam.com
🌐 Visit www.TheBeaconTeam.com to explore your next dream home.

🏡 New year, new space—let’s make it happen! 🎄🚪✨