The warm glow of the tree, Nativity scene and candles suggest the season of love and light. I hope your decor delights you and your guests, providing a beautiful backdrop for photos and memories. 

Sorting through your accumulated ornaments, garlands and the like is helpful and necessary, whether you do it at the beginning or end of the season.

When I hauled my bins out of the basement in November, I made a warm beverage and did some deep breathing to prepare myself for the onslaught of decorations and the emotional journey that often comes with unpacking holiday decorations. 

The first bin I opened contained items I hadn’t used last year, marked with a note and date. I had made some tentative decisions about what no longer worked for me. As I revisited these items, I asked myself:

• Is it anything I wish I’d used last year? 
• Why didn’t I use it? 
• Is my home too small to accommodate it in a way that’s meaningful and aesthetically pleasing? 
• Was I too busy or didn’t want to be bothered with setting it up? 
• Are there more practical reasons for keeping it tucked away? Are any items too delicate for young children or pets?

Then I dive deeper. 

Am I holding onto things because they were once in a place that brought me joy, like my childhood home? Are certain memories activated by them? 

As I unpacked each piece, I processed it individually to decide whether to keep it. I found the following questions helpful:

• Why do I feel the need to hold on? 
• Do I even want it anymore? 
• Is this item serving me? 

IS KEEPING IT REALLY HONORING IT?

I also considered whether I was truly honoring the item. How is keeping it hidden away in a bin—never to be displayed—an act of honoring it? If I don’t plan to use it, what’s the purpose of holding on to it? 

Take, for example, the ginormous plastic holly garland my mom used to wind down the banister in the entryway of my childhood home. It was so long and bulky it filled most of an extra-large bin! Over the years, the glue holding the fake fruit and berries had loosened, leaving them scattered at the bottom. 

As a child, I loved running my fingers over the garland’s sparkly leaves and tiny wooden apples as I descended the stairs, flooded with joy that Christmas was coming. Many years of family photos show us standing on those stairs, dressed in matching pajamas or Christmas vests my mom made, with the garland proudly on display.

So why was I storing this green monster that had lost its luster and that no longer fits my home or my style? One word: nostalgia. 

But the memories don’t go away when the item does. Whether it’s stored in the basement, in the donation pile or the trash bin, I still hold the memory. 

If the garland were in better shape, I’d donate it—but it wasn’t.

THE “AHA” MOMENT

Silly questions helped make the decision easier (and more fun). Should I take a picture with it for posterity? I imagined wrapping myself in the garland from head to toe and laughed at the thought. Would I actually print and display such a photo? If the answer is no, then do I need to keep it? 

Why did I feel responsible for holding on to it, as if it could somehow stop time? It’s not realistic. Grateful for the memories, I let it go, like the old glue on the garland’s baubles. I walk it out to the trash bin and released it—both physically and emotionally.

This process may sound like overthinking, but for me, it’s a thoughtful method to end the madness of hanging on to things and never getting to the root of why. Holiday decorations aren’t just “stuff”; they evoke powerful emotions and memories. Successfully processing those feelings takes time, energy and a willingness to see things from a different point of view. 

I try to approach my own decision-making with the same compassion I’d offer someone else. If I can get to the bottom of why I’m holding on to something, I can release it and move forward. If I think I may want to use an item next year, I’ll keep it—until then. If it stays unused, I’ll donate it with confidence, knowing I’ve made peace with letting it go.

Gradually, my basement looks less like a dumping ground and more like an organized place to keep treasures I will honor during their season to shine. 

BE KIND TO YOURSELF

If you’re sentimental like me, you’ll need to be intentional as you sort through your decorations. Replace the pressure of rushed decisions with kindness and gratitude—it’s transformative. Compassionate reasoning and gentle self-challenges will help you make progress.

A quick tip: If you’re sorting decorations after Christmas, remember that many thrift stores won’t accept holiday items in January, as they don’t have space to store them until the next season. Instead, mark your calendar to donate them in September or October.

Once you’ve released the physical and mental clutter, you can relax, knowing you won’t need to repeat this process next year. Pack up your current decorations with care, and when the season rolls around again, they’ll be ready to bring you joy once more.