Organizing your party supplies - Part 1

August 23, 10:59 AMAtlanta Party Planning ExaminerJennifer Weber

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See-through storage containers, such as this one from
Rubbermaid, allow you to quickly identify party supplies
stored inside.

Is your party closet out of control? Are you stuffing holiday decorations into boxes only to find out they've been damaged the next year? Do you loathe cleaning up after your get together because you just don't know what to do with leftover party supplies?

Organization can be a daunting task, but taking time to sort out your supplies now, will leave you more time to enjoy a stress-free party later.

A quick way to organize your party essentials is to separate your goods into categories: Holiday, Birthday, Celebrations (wedding/baby/graduation), and General (basic, non-specific decorations that can be mixed/matched with each category).

Next, purchase plastic bins with lids to store each category. Depending on the amount of decorations/supplies you own, you may need as little one bin for each category, or more than three for each! Of course, space in your home will determine how many bins can be stored. For smaller spaces, use storage containers that can be stored under beds -- this works great for more cumbersome items like gift wrap. If available, color coded bins or lids will help you identify each box quickly (orange for Halloween/Fall items, red or green bins for Christmas/Winter holiday items, etc.) Clear bins will also help you easily identify the contents stored inside.

When packing each bin, separate supplies based on like-items. For example, all paper goods such as table cloths, napkins, paper garland, and invitations might go in one bin, whereas serving items such as plastic ware, platters, cups would go in another. Take inventory of each bin, and label the outside. This will make your supplies easily accessible when you're searching for something quickly.

Take care of more delicate paper items, such as banners, garland, or bunting by carefully folding after each use, and storing in resealable plastic bags. Wrap fragile or breakable items in tissue paper or newspaper before storing in bins to prevent damage.