When I store my decorations at the end of the holiday season, I make it as easy as possible to locate what I need for next year. Here are a few things I recommend doing:

Label everything (you don’t need to own a Label Maker* - paper and a marker work fine)
Make sure all your holiday totes are one color (I use red) so they are easy to locate among the other totes in your storage area.
Store all holiday lights using cable cuffs*, labeling them for how they will be used (i.e. outside, Christmas tree, etc.). I find these easier to use than traditional light reels.
Group like items together. Most people, including me, store ornaments together, but I also put room-specific items together. For the dining room, I store holiday napkins, serving trays, tablecloths, etc. together. I also put all stockings, tree skirts, pillows and other soft items together. Likewise I pack all fragile items in one box.
I do have (and recommend buying) an ornament organizer. If you spend a little extra to get a good one, it will last a very long time. You won’t break any ornaments and you won’t need to wrap them in packing materials. Make sure if your organizer has layers, that it also has handles on each tray or you will have to remove all ornaments on a given level to get to the rest. I bought mine a long time ago so it is no longer available, but it came from Balsam Hill and was of high-quality.
Designate an early-access tote. This is where I store things I need to get to first, so I don’t have to go through ten other totes to find what I need. This typically includes:
- Anything holiday card related (i.e. card holders, holiday return address labels, etc.) since I usually start sending cards before all of my decorations are out
- Outdoor décor since I try to get this up before it's too cold out which is often before I decorate the interior.

***Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff***

Put all small decorative accents into reusable storage bags*, then organize them in rolling carts labeled by color or type so you can take out single drawers without having to drag out the entire cart. This one is mine!

I don't drag out every single Christmas decoration I have in my basement because I know I won’t use every thing every year. I personally have way more decorations than I can use each year. I tend to over buy because I change the “themes” each year. I get bored easily, so I don’t like my house to look the same every Christmas. Instead of spending a lot of money to buy new holiday decorations, I first designate a new style for each main space (living room, den & dining room). I typically choose from:

Retro
Traditional
Modern
Upscale
Cozy & Warm

I also select new colors for each room each year. My favorites are:

Red & Green
Pink & Gold
Blue and Silver
Silver, Gold and Rose Gold
White

So one year my living room is decorated in traditional colors (red & green) and traditional décor (reindeer, Santa Clause, etc.) while the next year I go upscale sleek with all gold and silver decorations, like glass ornaments and metallic trees.

While I do sort through what I have and donate those items that are no longer needed or ones I am tired of, I also try to use everyday items or things from other seasons that I can repurpose. For example:

Cloche or Glass Dome: I have one that sits in my dining room all-year round. I remove the existing bird figurine and replace it with a small ceramic tree or metal reindeer. Sometimes I turn it over and fill it with small decorative items, such as glitter balls.
Lanterns: I have several that I use on my back deck in the summer and on my front porch in the fall. At Christmas, I put candles in them and put them on my mantel.
Ceramic Bowl: This is also an every day item most people own for fruit or potpourri. At Christmas, I usually fill it with shredded metallic paper and matching ornaments.
Vases: Glass or white vases are perfect for fresh or faux holiday greens.

In addition, I purchase inexpensive items that I can use to supplement my current decorations and easily change things up. Here are just a few suggestions:

Ribbons in a variety of colors
Outdoor greens from your yard
Glass or plastic Christmas tree balls (to stack in bowls or display on a mantel)
Candles
Pinecones (spray paint some gold or silver)
Decorative picks
Shredded metallic paper
Small glitter balls
Fake snow

A few final recommendations that I hope will come in handy at the end of the season.

Test: Be sure to test all light strands, window candles and anything else that could have burned out or died during the season. Then toss them and add those items to “The List” described below.
Mid-Year Purchases: Storing everything in a way that allows you to easily locate items is not just for next years’ decorating. Sometimes you may purchase an ornament or other holiday item out of season and need to easily know where to store it so it doesn’t get broken or misplaced.
End-of-Year Sales: Crafts stores always have terrific sales right after Christmas, so stock up on faux greens, wreaths, picks and ribbons for the following year!
The List: Write down the holiday items you need to replace or add before next year and tape it to your early-access tote. I don’t know about you, but once and the holiday products go out on display the next October (or is it now August?) I usually don’t remember what I needed to buy from the year before.

*All products noted above are available on My Store. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products that I have purchased for myself and have personally used or have purchased for a client.