For nearly a third of Americans, how tidy their home appears to others is the most important factor to consider during the holidays (31%), according to a new study.
A survey of 2,000 adults who celebrate a winter holiday examined the pain points of preparing your home for the holiday season and found that appearance matters.
The holidays are a joyous but scary time, with 55% already thinking about preparing holiday homes in September.
Conducted by Talker Research for The Container Store, the survey found that respondents got a head start on decorating (59%), buying gifts (56%) and organizing their home (42%).
With all the holiday tasks, 47% said they felt overwhelmed or overwhelmed for time (48%), with these respondents willing to spend an average of about 50 hours preparing their home for the holidays.
Respondents take the appearance of their home seriously, with six in 10 ranking it one of the top three factors to consider when having guests over (58%).
As a result, almost a third would choose to pay someone to take care of the pre-holiday arrangements and do the heavy lifting for them (31%).
This is especially desirable for the 32% who feel stressed by the thought of organizing and cleaning up the mess in their home.
Fifty-five percent said that when preparing their home for guests during the holiday season, they often don’t know where to store things they usually keep outside.
“Effective organization is the foundation of productivity at home, and we know that the holidays are a time when our customers need to be most productive,” said Satish Malhotra, CEO and president of The Container Store. “Our specialists can help provide a fresh perspective that can unlock potential in their homes that they didn’t know they had.”
The living room (40%), kitchen (25%) and dining room (14%) are particularly difficult to organize.
When it’s time to break out the holiday decor, 68% turn to their storage spaces dedicated just for holiday decor.
However, a quarter of respondents dread the thought of doing their own decorating – so many that one in six would pay someone else to do it or put it up.
According to respondents, Christmas trees (41%), string lights (24%) and ornaments (17%) are the most difficult to obtain.
Two in five have even considered the easy way out: buying new decor entirely (43%).
And some may just need to invest in some new decor, as 55% have ended up with broken holiday items as a result of the difficulty of storing them with these respondents losing an average of $100.
After all is said and done, a third of respondents are still trying to figure out the best way to store their holiday decor (32%).
Thirty-six percent would even go so far as to leave their decor after the holiday season because they don’t want to deal with storing it, with 48% of these respondents saying it would be left for at least a month.
“Proper maintenance of holiday decor is key to enjoying it year after year,” Malhotra said. “Our goal is to help our customers find solutions that fit their exact needs – whether they’re labeled sturdy containers for storing their holiday belongings, wrapping fragile items with care or just need advice from professional organizers to help find a dedicated space for everything.”
TIPS TO AVOID A STORAGE SETUP FOR NEXT FIELD SEASON
- Triple wrap everything individually and put as much protective padding in the storage bins as possible
- Have a dedicated space slightly larger than you need, if possible
- Wrap delicate ornaments and store separately
- Be sure to mark all the boxes with specific items inside so you don’t have to drag more than necessary
- Rotate your belongings so that the next party is on top and more accessible
- Give yourself twice as much time as you think you have
- Make sure breakable items are placed last
- Get sectional inserts for storage boxes
- Make sure you know what your stuff is made of so you know how to store it properly. EG Ceramics and plastics can be treated very differently in storage
- Use clear bins: This makes it easier to see what’s inside and reduces the chance of damage from overcrowding
THE HOLIDAY DECOR TO PULL OUT OF STORAGE
- Christmas tree – 41%
- String lights – 24%
- Ornaments – 17%
- Decorations with strange shapes – 13%
- Christmas Villages – 11%
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans who celebrate a winter holiday; survey was commissioned by The Container Store and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between September. 11 and September. 17, 2024.
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