Christmas Decorations Inventory and Box Index

Who this is for

Know which box to bring down first. Number each box of decorations and lights, write what is in it and which room or tree it is for, and note what needs replacing before next year.

Households packing decorations into the loft, garage or cupboard after the festive season, and anyone who has bought a second set of lights because the first could not be found.

What this helps you track

• What is in each numbered box and where the boxes are kept
• Which room or tree each box's contents are for
• The condition of what went in, and whether the lights were tested
• What needs replacing, so nothing is bought twice
• A buying list ready for next year

How to use it

1. Write where the boxes are stored, the date you packed them and who packed them.
2. Number each box on its side and lid, then write its number and contents on the sheet.
3. Note the room or tree each box is for, the condition of what is inside and whether the lights worked when tested.
4. Tick anything that needs replacing and copy it to the buying list with a note of why.
5. Keep the sheet with the boxes or in the browser version, which saves in your own browser, and read it before buying anything new.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

Should I test the lights before packing them?

It helps, because a set that fails in January is easier to note and replace in the sales than to discover in December. The sheet has a column to record the test; how you test them is up to you and the maker's instructions.

How do I number the boxes?

Any way that you can read from the ladder. A large number on two sides and the lid works for most people, with the same number in the first column here.

Can I use it for other seasonal decorations?

Yes. Use the room or tree column for the occasion instead, and keep one sheet per storage place so the index matches what is on the shelf.

Why is there no cost column?

This is an index of what you have and where it is. If you want to budget for the replacements, carry the buying list over to the seasonal spending review or your gift and festive budget.