BEFORE YOU EVEN think about taking down the decorations, pause for a second. Step back. Admire your handiwork. Then, get your camera out and take photos of your setups. Every nook, every cobweb, every pumpkin perfectly placed. You’ll thank yourself next year when you’re sipping on a pumpkin spice latte and someone else is doing the heavy lifting, following your photo guide to recreate your Halloween masterpiece.

Declutter and Sort

Now, before you start shoving everything into boxes, take a moment to sort through what you actually have. Ask yourself the hard questions. Did I even use this last year? Is it broken, faded, or just… past its prime? And be honest, is there anything that might once have been edible? Halloween décor has a sneaky way of rebranding nuts and root vegetables as “seasonal styling.” Don’t fall for it. They will not survive until next year.

As Marie Kondo wisely says, does it bring you joy? If not, it’s time to part ways. While you’re in sorting mode, think about your aesthetic for next year. Maybe you’re feeling classy and refined, or perhaps you’re more in a fun and playful mode. You might even want to lean into an all-natural vibe with wood, linen, and neutral tones. Or maybe you’re drawn to a colour scheme – all the oranges, or deep purples and moody blacks. This is the time to consider your style, refine it, and let go of anything that doesn’t quite fit. When in doubt, donate.

Contain Your Excitement

There’s something strangely thrilling about organising, isn’t there? It’s that same buzz you get walking into a stationery shop – the promise of order and fresh starts. But here’s the secret: there’s no organising without separating, and there’s no separating without the holy grail of storage: containers.

Before you begin, gather what you’ll need. Plastic bags or brown paper if you’re that way inclined – they will do nicely for smaller items. A bit of bubble wrap or even the humble newspaper will help cushion the delicate pieces. If you’ve got bulky decorations or things that don’t play well with damp (an occupational hazard of the Irish attic), vacuum-packed bags are a revelation. They save space and protect against moisture. And speaking of moisture – be sure to tuck a few silica gel packets into your bins to keep everything dry and odour-free.

Then we move on to the real heroes of the story: the clear boxes. Stackable, sturdy, and transparent, these are the Russian dolls of the storage world. They make life infinitely easier when you’re rummaging through next year’s stash, trying to remember which box the glow-in-the-dark skeleton ended up in. Transparency is key for simple navigation.

Get Your Label Gun License

Now that you’ve got your storage sorted, it’s time to get official. A good label maker is your new best friend. Of course, a trusty Sharpie and some sticky blank name tags work just as well, but whatever your tool of choice, make it clear and legible. You don’t want to be squinting at faded handwriting next October trying to decode what’s in which box.

If you want to go pro, keep an inventory list. Think of it like a little archive for the skeletons in your closet. Give each box a name, jot down what’s inside, and maybe even number them. You’ll thank yourself later. And when it comes to how you pack, choose what makes sense for you. Some prefer to sort by room – kitchen, living room, garden – while others swear by type, grouping lights or costumes together. There’s no wrong way, as long as next year you can find what you’re looking for.

Store Smartly

Once everything is packed, store your bins together in one tidy corner or shelf. Keep fragile or electronic items higher up, away from any lurking damp. If you have outdoor pieces, store them near the garage or back door so you’re ready to roll next year without a treasure hunt. And for the love of batteries, take them out of any props before you store them. No one enjoys the smell of corrosion come next October.

Don’t Prepare to Fail

Finally, set yourself up for success. Create a small Halloween repair kit for next year: a glue gun, black zip ties, spare bulbs, a few batteries. Basically, anything you found yourself frantically searching for this year. Your future self will love you for it.

Putting in the effort now will save you the stress later, and honestly, isn’t that the dream? The more we can make next year’s festivities a breeze, the better. Because life is short, and we may as well celebrate the good things… like warding off evil.