Packing Holiday Decorations for a Relocation
After the holidays, you carefully store your favorite decorations to keep them safe and ready to use the following year. If you’re planning a move, take the same cautious approach, but add a little extra protection. While it may require a little more effort, going the extra mile when packing ensures that you can deck the halls with your most treasured keepsakes for years to come! Be it Halloween or Christmas items, we know that packing holiday decorations is not easy. We also know how emotional you can be about them. As a result, Best Cross Country Movers has made a list of things to do to help you out.
Complete the Pre-Packing Procedure
You can’t just start packing. You need a plan and some procedures to finish. So, for a start, here is one mistake that people often make, and it is the usage of plastic tots. Plastic storage totes are popular for storing holiday decorations. These work well stacked in a storage unit and are easy to carry down from the attic. However, they aren’t ideal for moving. They can easily shift during transit because they aren’t square, and the plastic can break when items are stacked on top. Instead, you can use boxes that you will fill to the top. Then you can take your holiday decorations straight to storage in your area and unpack only what you need.
Pack holiday decorations with other holiday decorations, not with everyday household items. For example, don’t pack wreaths with regular picture frames. Label each box clearly with the contents so you can find them again during the holidays. Instead of simply writing “Holiday,” be more descriptive and write “Halloween porch” or “Christmas Village” on the box so you know exactly what’s inside.
Get the Right Supplies When Packing Holiday Decorations
The packing materials required are determined by the décor you’re packing. This is a good place to start:
- Small, medium, and large moving boxes (when possible, use original boxes)
- A dish pack kit (for ornaments or small, delicate items).
- For large items, such as outdoor decorations, use paper padding or moving blankets.
- Tape Marker for Bubble Wrap or Packing Paper
- If applicable, special containers such as light reels or wreath boxes.
In case you think that it’s too much for you, consider researching packing services. It’s always the best idea to let professionals do the work!
It’s Time To Start Packing!
If you have prepared everything for packing and got the right supplies, it’s time you do some work! We know you have plenty of decorations and items to pack, but we have made a list of some of the most common and trickiest ones. Remember, following the packing tips will help you preserve and protect your beloved decorations for a long time.
Your Christmas tree
You surely don’t want to buy a new Christmas tree each year, unless you are planning to decorate the real one. Use the box the tree came in if you still have it, and it’s in good condition. If not, consider buying a new box online or at a hardware store — or making your own out of cardboard flats. Put the tree in a Christmas tree bag before putting it in the box for added security.
The ornaments
Wrap delicate ornaments in bubble wrap or packing paper before placing them in a divided box (similar to a dish pack kit). Non-fragile ornaments should be packed in zip-top bags, so they don’t get tossed with the packing material. Then the bags should be packed in a box filled with crumpled paper to support them. Make sure the box is labeled “fragile” and avoid stacking heavy boxes on top of it. This will help you when you call residential movers to load and carry your boxes.
Different lights and garlands
If Christmas lights are simply thrown into a box, the bulbs may break and the garland may become tangled. This can become so frustrating. Instead, you may want to wrap the lights around a storage reel. These are very easy to find online, and they are not expensive. Moreover, wrap the lights or garland around a piece of cardboard, securing the ends with tape and finishing with a layer of bubble wrap to keep everything in place.
Wreaths
Wreaths are very delicate and easy to damage. Placing a wreath in a plastic wreath container is the simplest way to pack it. Wrap it in bubble wrap before placing it inside if it isn’t a tight fit. Then, to pack the wreath container, place it in a box. If you don’t have any of these materials, you can buy them in the nearest store or hire professional movers to provide them for you.
Lawn decorations
If you have the original boxes for lawn decorations, use them. If not, fold them up and place them in a moving box. To prevent punctures, place the stakes in a zip-top bag and pack them in another moving box. Use moving blankets to cover large items like nativity scenes, skeletons, or candy canes, then tape to secure the wrapping. Make sure to only tape to the blanket, not the item, so you don’t damage the finish. The item will be best protected during transit if it fits into a large or extra-large box. If not, pack it like furniture in the moving equipment and tie it down with ropes or straps.
Other holiday items
Do you have holiday stockings, ceramic pumpkins, tree skirts, snow villages, and other holiday decorations? Garden dwarfs, fountains, and artificial snow are common in American households and require careful packing too. As much as you are worried about them, pack them as you would any other household item. When possible, use original boxes, wrap breakables with bubble wrap or packing paper, and use crumpled paper to fill space and keep things from shifting in the box. If you are out of bubble wrap, you can use old newspapers, clothes, and blankets. Don’t forget about the safety tips for packing up your holiday decorations. Safety is paramount!
Packing Your Holiday Items Doesn’t Need To Be So Hard!
Are you preparing your holiday decorations for the move? Have you already found the appropriate boxes and supplies? From artificial Christmas trees to bright holiday lights, moving these seasonal items requires extreme caution. Otherwise, they may be broken, shattered, or smashed. However, if you follow our simple tips for packing holiday decorations this season, your move will be a breeze! Moreover, you will be happy to know that your items are in good order. So, leave your moving tasks to professionals, and start this amazing adventure. Best wishes and happy relocation!