Holiday Installs: 5 Tips for Taking Them Down

If you added holiday installs to your interiorscape services this season, you’ve probably noticed it’s not as simple as it seems. By now, the design and installation work is complete, and the festive displays are in full swing. But with the end of the season right around the corner, it’s time to start planning how you’ll remove and store everything so next year’s installs start off smoothly. One thing I can’t stress enough is that organization during the removal phase will prevent headaches down the road, so here are five tips to help set you up for success.

1. Invest in Clear Containers

When I first began offering holiday installs, transparent containers weren’t something I thought about. In fact, I purchased containers based purely on price. Then, when it came time to find a certain item in stacked storage bins piled four to six high, it was a lot of physical stress—not to mention a waste of time—moving containers around just to pop the lid off to see what was inside. A small investment in clear containers can save you countless hours when next year’s holiday rush hits.

2. Create Detailed Labels

When your crew arrives on the scene ready to remove all the seasonal items, it’s a natural desire to get it done as quickly as possible. This used to mean placing all the décor items in bags, stuffing the bags into plastic containers, loading and transporting the containers, and then stacking them in a dark corner until the following year. Years ago, I could remember which wreaths, garlands, trees, and various other décor items went to what company, along with their exact placement. However, after I acquired more than a few seasonal accounts, I found myself spending too much time wondering whether the bag of garland belonged in the lobby at one client’s building or if it decorated the staircase of another.

To save myself hours of stress (and money), I create a detailed label when removing decorations, stating which building, room, and floor the items came from. That way, when installs start again the following season, everything goes exactly where it belongs without guesswork. For example, if a client had garland swagged along a staircase, I would label the container as follows: swagged garland—client name—1st floor—staircase—left side, facing stairwell.

Note: Marking the left or right side is important if the lengths are different. This will save labor and materials, so you won’t have to cut and reattach sections.

3. Don’t Remove Ornaments

With a typical client, I remove everything from trees, wreaths, and garlands, placing the items neatly in boxes and labeling them well, but it takes an enormous amount of time to separate every ornament into a container. If I have holiday accounts that are strictly labor—setting up and taking down client-owned holiday design decorations—or I know a client sticks with the same design each year, the entire setup and teardown time can be halved by leaving items in place. Keeping their holiday décor consistent not only saves time now but also streamlines next year’s setup.

In essence, don’t waste your time on décor items that don’t need to come apart. You can wrap trees and wreaths with stretch or shrink wrap to protect them from dust and hold the delicate ornaments in place for next year. When the holidays roll around again, you simply remove the plastic, make a few adjustments, and they’re ready to go.

4. Take Photos of Your Holiday Installs

When I first started, there weren’t smartphones with awesome cameras that could take panoramic pictures or videos. I still have some of those blurry photographs of my first jobs and wonder how those years passed by so fast. Taking a moment to document every display will be exceptionally helpful. Was this garland swagged, or did it hang straight? Did this tree need presents under it instead of a skirt? Where did the poinsettias go? Little details like this are so much easier to recreate next year when you have a photo to reference.

5. Hire Seasonal Holiday Design Staff

The majority of my seasonal installation crew is just that—seasonal. They help out for a couple of months during the holidays. Finding people willing to give up their important family or vacation time is challenging, but I’ve found that making the work enjoyable and sharing the financial rewards will help bond them to you and your company. Creating a loyal seasonal crew is invaluable. When employees know the accounts and how displays should look, you don’t have to face interiorscape challenges by yourself.

As you wrap up another busy holiday season, remember that the work you put in now sets the tone for next year. A little extra care during the removal and storage process goes a long way toward saving time, reducing stress, and keeping your clients happy. Every interiorscaper develops their own system over time, but staying organized and thoughtful during takedown will help you start next season’s holiday installs with confidence, not chaos. With each year, you’ll find your rhythm, refine your process, and build a smoother, more profitable holiday workflow.