Emily Smith
You might be thinking how dare I discuss Christmas before we’ve even had Halloween? However, with today being Prime Day and my need to share brilliant organisational tools when I find them, I just had to discuss these Christmas essentials that are currently on offer.
We’ve all been there, the dreaded return to the overstuffed loft. Crawling through the various boxes of decorations and tangled lights only to realise you really didn't need to buy those extra baubles. This is when I knew I needed to use some organisation ideas and change this rather tragic tradition.
So I decided enough was enough and I was ready to invest in some essential items that would make this festive decor transition as seamless and joyful as it should be. Of course, I was determined to keep the costs down, Christmas already is so expensive, so the Amazon Prime Day sale couldn’t have come at a better time.
Whilst you may find some of these items less than exciting, I can promise you they will take lots of that added stress away and allow you to actually enjoy the holiday this year.
Shop Christmas essentials
My first purchase was a tree bag after years of trying to stuff my artificial one back in its very battered box. It's so simple but makes life so much easier – being a bag it is much easier to store, it has handles on each end and the top to easily manoeuvre and can fit up to a 7.5ft tree plus accessories. This just might be my top Christmas essentials pick.
Don't even get me started on lights and the hours of my life I have wasted trying to untangle them each Christmas. Second to the Christmas tree bag is this light storage box I bought last year. It comes with individual dividers you can wrap lights around and then store upright to keep them tangle-free and safe from breakages.
My third top pick - a wrapping paper storage bag. This is the item I didn't know I needed until I had it, and now it genuinely makes me happy knowing I can neatly store away any unused paper, and it will be ok to use again next year. This bag is versatile and can be used to store everything from delicate decorations and paper to ribbons, tags and bows.
I told you this list was exciting, didn't I? Ok, so it's the dullest item ever, but you'll thank me for this one come Christmas when you're wrapping your presents and constantly cursing the lost end of the sellotape. And a tape dispenser isn't just for Christmas, it's there for you on birthdays and special occasions throughout the year too.
This may seem like an unnecessary buy, but if you have dexterity issues, these wrapping paper cutters are a game-changer. They glide through paper easily for a super neat cut and come with 4 replacement blades to keep you going all through the festive season and more. A handy, underrated little tool.
If you're anything like me, your Christmas decoration collection has grown rather quickly over the years. I now have everything from baubles and tree toppers to Christmas gonks and miniature village scenes - all of which have individual storage boxes. So labels are a must-have, plus they are handy for everyday use the whole year round too.
There is method in my madness here, promise. Last year I invested in a beautiful artificial Christmas wreath, and rather than shoving it in a box for a year, I came across the idea of hanging it up, and covering it in these clear bin bags to keep it protected until next use. This gorgeous set of 20 wooden hangars is a brilliant price in the Prime Day sale - the excess you can use in your wardrobe.
These decorative peg hooks are a handy little investment to hang your festive decorations around the house and can double as handy hanging spaces throughout the year too. I got these heavy-duty wall hooks, which are larger at one end to stop things falling off, and are individual so can be placed in different locations around the home.
The one thing I forget to buy every year – batteries. And when you have kids who have toys that need them, if you don't have them, it's pretty much the end of the world. Thankfully I have always been saved by very prepared grandparents up until now, so this year I'm taking advantage of the Prime Day deals and stocking up early.
Whilst you're preparing yourself for the festive season, we've put together our five essential cosy buys that you can pick up this Prime Day. From heated blankets to slow cookers, there's a recommendation for anything you'll need to keep you cosy this time of year.
