Making Room for Holiday Decorations: Your Pre-December Space Strategy

It's late November, and you know what's coming: boxes of decorations, artificial trees, outdoor lights, inflatables, and that collection of holiday villages that grows every year. But here's the question—where are you going to put it all?

The Holiday Storage Crisis

The National Association of Home Builders reports that the average American home has 300,000 items in it. During the holidays, families add an estimated 15-25% more through decorations, gifts, and seasonal items.

Yet 89% of garages can't fit cars because of clutter, and 47% of attics are too full to add anything new.

The math doesn't work—unless you make space first.

Why Late November is Critical

The December Crunch is Real

• December 1-10: Peak decoration period
• December 11-20: Last-minute shopping adds more items
• December 21-25: Guests arrive, space gets tighter
• December 26-31: Nobody wants to deal with cleanouts during the holidays

Bottom line: If you wait until December, you'll be decorating around clutter instead of enjoying the season.

Storage Unit Math

Did you know that storage unit rentals spike 35% in November-December? Here's what people don't tell you:

• **Average unit cost:** $100-200/month
• **Typical rental period:** 6-18 months (most people forget to cancel)
• **Total cost:** $600-3,600 just to avoid one weekend of decluttering

Meanwhile, a professional hauling service typically costs $200-500 one time, freeing up space you already own.

What's Actually Taking Up Your Holiday Storage Space

Let's be honest about what's in your attic, garage, or basement:

The "Someday" Items (60% of attic space)

• Boxes marked "Miscellaneous" from moves ago
• Old holiday decorations you no longer use
• Childhood items your grown kids don't want
• Exercise equipment from New Year's resolutions past
• Broken items waiting for repairs that'll never happen

The "Seasonal" Overload (25% of space)

• Multiple sets of decorations (you keep buying new, never removing old)
• Broken or outdated lights and inflatables
• Artificial trees you replaced but kept "just in case"
• Bins of decorations from holidays you no longer celebrate

The "Hidden Clutter" (15% of space)

• Empty boxes (saving them for returns that never happened)
• Packing materials from purchases
• Duplicate items you didn't realize you had
• Old insulation, construction leftovers, or previous homeowner items

Reality check: Most people could free up 50-70% of their storage space by removing items they'll truly never use.

The Pre-December Game Plan

Week 1 (Now - Nov 30)

Action: Attic/Storage Assessment

• Pull down all holiday decoration boxes
• Make three piles: Use This Year, Maybe, Never Again
• Be honest: If you didn't use it last year, you won't this year

• 3-5 strings of broken lights (they can go)
• 2-3 sets of decorations from "phases" you've moved past
• Boxes of items you forgot you owned

Barna's Pro Tip: Take photos of everything before packing it away. Next November, you'll actually remember what you have.

Week 2 (Dec 1-7)

Action: Garage/Basement Purge

• Remove obviously broken or unused items
• Clear floor space for decoration staging areas
• Create pathways to access stored holiday items easily

• Old lawn equipment (winter's a great time to upgrade for next year)
• Damaged patio furniture
• Rusty tools and hardware
• Paint cans from projects completed years ago

Week 3 (Dec 8-14)

Action: Final Organization

• Install whatever remaining decorations you're using
• Store "Never Again" items until pickup
• Enjoy your organized, accessible storage space

The Hidden Benefits of Pre-Holiday Cleanout

Safety First

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 44% of home Christmas tree fires occur because decorations are placed too close to heat sources—often because rooms are overcrowded.

Clear spaces mean safer holiday setups.

Family Harmony

Studies show that 72% of holiday stress relates to home preparation and hosting. Organized, clutter-free spaces reduce tension and make decorating enjoyable instead of overwhelming.

Energy Efficiency

Cluttered attics and garages reduce insulation effectiveness by up to 30%. A November cleanout improves your home's efficiency right before winter heating bills spike.

Insurance Benefits

Over-cluttered spaces can affect homeowner's insurance claims. Some policies have clauses about maintaining "reasonable storage"—especially important if you're storing flammable items like old decorations.

What Our Clients Clear Out Before December

#1: Old Artificial Trees

"I had three artificial trees in my attic. THREE. We only use one."

Why they accumulate: You upgrade but keep the old one "for the kids' rooms" or "as a backup."

Reality: If you haven't used it in 2 years, you won't.

#2: Broken or Outdated Lights

"I spent two hours untangling lights only to find half of them didn't work. I should've called Barna's in November."

The facts: LED lights last 10+ years, but incandescent bulbs (pre-2010) should've been replaced years ago. They use 90% more electricity and burn out constantly.

#3: Outgrown Decoration Collections

"We had boxes of Santa figures from when the kids were little. They're in college now."

Common evolution: Cute country themes → elegant sophistication → modern minimalism

Your decorating style changes. Your storage shouldn't hold you hostage to past tastes.

#4: Duplicate Everything

"I had four boxes of outdoor decorations because I kept buying new sets when I couldn't find the old ones."

The storage spiral: Disorganization → can't find items → buy duplicates → more disorganization

Breaking the cycle: Clear it ALL out. Start fresh with only what you actually want.

The "But What If I Need It?" Mindset

This is the #1 reason people keep items they'll never use. So here's a framework:

✅ You've used it in the past 2 years

✅ It has significant sentimental value

✅ It's expensive to replace and in good condition

✅ You have a specific plan to use it this year

❌ It's broken and hasn't been fixed in 6+ months

❌ You've kept it "just in case" for 3+ years

❌ You have multiple of the same item

❌ It belonged to a different era of your life

❌ You have to dig through other stuff to reach it

Real Client Success Stories

"We freed up an entire half of our garage. Now the car actually fits AND we have room for all our Christmas decorations. Should've done this years ago!"

— Jennifer & Tom, Strongsville

"Barna's crew removed six boxes of old decorations, three broken snow blowers, and a bunch of lumber from a project we finished in 2018. Our basement looks like a different space."

— David M., North Olmsted

"I was paying $125/month for a storage unit full of junk. Barna's hauled it all away for $350. I'm saving $1,500 a year now. Best decision ever."

— Patricia K., Lakewood

How to Maximize Your Space

Vertical Storage Solutions

Once you've cleared out 50-70% of your clutter:

• Install overhead garage racks ($100-200)
• Use wall-mounted shelving in basements
• Stack bins efficiently (we can help organize before we leave)

Seasonal Rotation System

• Keep current season's items accessible
• Store off-season deeper in your space
• Use clear bins with large labels
• Take inventory photos

The Holiday Bin Method

• One bin per holiday
• Everything for that holiday goes in that ONE bin
• If it doesn't fit in the bin, you have too much
• Forces annual editing

Professional Service Makes the Difference

What We Remove

• Old decorations and artificial trees
• Broken outdoor inflatables and lights
• Storage materials (old boxes, packing supplies)
• Unneeded furniture blocking storage access
• Construction debris from home projects
• Anything preventing efficient space use

What You Get

• 50-70% more storage space on average
• Organized, accessible areas
• Items donated to local charities when possible
• Eco-friendly disposal of everything else
• Same/next-day service available

Why Clients Choose Us for Pre-Holiday Cleanouts

• **Speed:** Most jobs done in under 2 hours
• **Convenience:** We schedule around YOUR availability
• **Fair pricing:** Clear estimates, no hidden fees
• **Full service:** We handle all loading, hauling, disposal
• **Local expertise:** We know Cleveland's donation and recycling centers

Pricing & Service

Typical pre-holiday cleanout: $200-500

Average time: 1-3 hours

Availability: Same/next-day appointments

Service area: Greater Cleveland & Berea

• Storage unit for 12 months: $1,200-2,400
• Doing it yourself: Truck rental ($80) + dump fees ($40-100) + your weekend + potential injury
• Procrastination cost: Continued stress all season

Book Your Pre-December Cleanout

Late November is the PERFECT time. December gets hectic fast—book now while we have availability.

📅 Mention "Holiday Prep" for priority booking

Same/Next-Day Service Available

Registered & Insured

Serving Greater Cleveland

Don't let last year's clutter ruin this year's holidays. Make room for what matters—starting today.