20+ Ideas for Storing Christmas Decorations
Last Updated on December 9, 2021 by lydiaf1963
How you store your Christmas decorations this year determines your decorating experience next year.
Think about it.
What’s your Christmas decorating experience like? Do you fight with tangled lights and garlands and hunt for tools and hardware? Or is everything organized and easy to find?
Decorating for the holidays should be a joyful experience. If that’s not the case for you, here are a some ideas for storing Christmas decorations. Bring back the decorating joy!
When I was a kid the Christmas tree went up on Christmas Eve and came down by Epiphany Sunday in January. We’d go to bed and wake up to a transformed home.
Nowadays decorating the home for the holidays is part of Thanksgiving celebrations in many families.
No matter when or how elaborately you decorate the difference between a smooth or chaotic process is organization.
As mentioned, the best time to organize is when you’re storing Christmas decorations for next year. Have a look at these ideas for storing Christmas décor. You’re sure to find something to fit your situation.
Quick Tips for Organizing Your Christmas Decorations for Storage
1. Take a hard look at your collection
Get rid of outdated, and worn out items. Some things will be harder to part with than others, especially if they have sentimental significance. I have chosen to keep many of my “precious things” even if I don’t display them every year.
2. Group like items together
When breaking down the decorations, group them together to make them easier to pack, especially things that are displayed together like a nativity set.
Like items could be all the Christmas ball in one box, or they could be all of the decorations for a particular area of the house. It’s us to you.
3. Take inventory as you pack
Make note of the items inside each box or bag as you pack them. Be as descriptive as you need or opt to purchase a printable (see below). Then, when putting the box or bag into storage, make note of its location.
This is invaluable especially if you store some things in the garage and others in the attic or basement (or under the bed in the spare room).
4. Keep your inventory safe
I put mine in the same bag I keep the Christmas tree. I’m not likely to forget where I put that! hahaha
5. Pack tools with the decorations
Consider packing a small kit of inexpensive tools with your Christmas decorations (again the tree bag is a handy spot). A hammer, a pair of needle nose pliers, scissors and whatever else you think you’ll need will be at your fingertips when it’s time to decorate next year.
6. Store in durable boxes and bags
Once you’re satisfied you’ve whittled your Christmas decorations down to items you will use next year (or otherwise can’t part with) it’s time to put everything in some sort of container for storage.
I’ve provided affiliate links to most of the items below, but you should be able to find the same or something similar in the big name home improvement and box stores.
General Storage for Christmas Decorations
Quilted china storage bags will not only work well for storing your special dinnerware and serving pieces but also things like figurines, nativity pieces and more. Handy inventory tags will allow for at a glance searching.
I’m a bit of a sucker for sturdy plastic boxes with latching lids. I have learned the hard way that other types of lids can come loose. The boxes come in various sizes and they’re clear so it’s easy to see what’s inside without having to open the box.
Zippered bags made from a strong tarp like material are perfect for storing your special linens, Christmas stockings and anything else that can be crushed but still needs protection from dust. These also come with inventory tags.
Of course you can reuse boxes you already have. Just make storing them more efficient by keeping track of what’s inside. That’s where the printable sets from Printable Possibility and The Rain Journal come in handy. These are attractive and are sized to fit into your home journal.
Wouldn’t you like to know exactly where your icicle lights are instead of having to buy a new set?
Storing Christmas Ornaments and Precious Heirloom Items
In some cases, specialty storage is best
Out of all these storage possibilities I am most impressed with the stacking ornament boxes from Plywood Science. Not only are they very attractive, they can be configured in different ways to suit the pieces to be stored.
I can see this stack filled with antique glass ornaments, nativity figurines or even a train layout. You can also purchase a wheel base so the stack can be pushed, too. (I admit I’m thinking about this stack for craft supplies…but that’s another post!)
This box is also adjustable and would be a good alternative. Pop up bags like these make convenient storage for round ornaments and garlands. They feature zipper tops to keep everything in place.
It’s hard to beat the convenience of an ornament box with dividers and zippers. This one holds over 100 ornaments and folds flat when empty.
Wooden keepsake boxes from Melitiya MOM not only make nice gifts but will also protect small figurines and other delicate items like the ornaments my children made in kindergarten.
Ideas for Storing Wreaths, Lights and Garlands
Wreaths, garlands and strings of lights present storage challenges. They’re odd shaped or prone to tangling.
The usual solution for strings is to wind them around something. The green windups in the center of the image are what I’ve used for ages. They work fine for small strands. This box will hold several light strings or garlands and it’s see through for added convenience. For outdoor lights you’ll want these reels with their own zippered storage bag. They come with a clamp for attaching the reels to a ladder or the rain gutter to make it easy to install the lights.
You spend good money on wreaths, so make sure you protect them. There are other products, of course, but these feature a clear top and zipper or a clear plastic top for crush proof storage. Be sure to measure your wreath before ordering.
Specialized Storage for Trees and Wrapping Paper
Even if you don’t have an artificial tree you may find these bags handy for storing outdoor decorations, especially tall ones. Both of these bags have wheels and room for the stand, but this Christmas tree bag can be stored flat while this one stands upright.
A good wrapping paper organizer will serve you all year round. This one stands upright and holds 25 rolls while the other wrap organizer is designed to fit under the bed.
Whichever you choose my helpful hint to you is to buy a dedicated pair of scissors and tape and store them right in the organizer with the wrapping paper. This will save the frustration of having to search for those items when it’s time to wrap.
Long Term Storage
Once everything is has been placed into boxes and bags you’ll want to store it all safely. Many people will put their Christmas stuff in the attic or basement, especially precious items. Not everything needs to be stored indoors and not sometimes you’ll have to get creative with storage. One suggestion is to create overhead storage in a garage or shed. This sort of system works well for things like sporting equipment, etc, as well.
Waterproof storage boxes like these from Rubbermaid can be a good solution for apartment dwellers. Again, this sort of thing is a useful solution for just about any outdoor storage.
Now, these solutions will work well for a family with a modest display indoors and out, but your family may love to go all out for Christmas. If you are that family you probably already have a good storage system but if you’re struggling every year to get the decorations up, check out ULINE. Just have a little browse on their website. They have everything you need for storage; from shelving to boxes to packing materials to things like rolls of shrink wrap. They will deliver directly to you within days of placing your order, and they have great customer service. I don’t have an affiliate relationship with this company. I’m recommending them because I’ve dealt with them before and was pleased with the results.
What happens next year?
Next year, you will retrieve your inventory and gather all your Christmas decorations.
You won’t have to search through boxes and bags because you’ll know where to find those icicle lights.
Your expensive wreaths will be in good shape, without any damage.
The garlands and light strings will be tangle free and easy to hang.
You may even enjoy yourself and reclaim the joy in decorating for the season.
