How to Store Holiday Decorations

Do you have a lot of holiday decorations? Are they in a mass of boxes and bags?

Today’s article is going to help you turn that chaos into a streamlined system with tips on how to store holiday decorations.

Follow one or more of these easy tips to help you decorate more quickly for the holidays.

This is a great tip on how to declutter a tricky part of your home without freaking out.

While everyone is busy getting ready for the holiday season, one that is full of eggnog and mistletoe, others may be avoiding it simply because decorating is a chore.

And maybe you are not a fan of decorating because you haven’t found a system that works for keeping those things organized.

Whether your home is already decked out or you are still months away, these tips will help you turn tinsel chaos into a more organized storage system.

How to Store Holiday Decorations

Not all homes are the same, and that means not all of the options listed below are going to work for everyone.

Choose the ones that you feel will work for you and give them a try.

The goal when organizing is to find a setup that works best for you. One that will help you to find things more easily as well as encourage you to put things away.

In an Attic or Crawl Space

One of the most common places to store decor, or any miscellaneous home item, is in the attic. And if your home has one, this is the best place to start.

It’s a great place to get things out of your hair and away from the everyday hustle and bustle.

Christmas decorations are no exception and do quite well when stored in this space.

You can designate an area in your attic for each holiday to set up a storage system if that is in your budget.

What containers work best in an attic?

My top pick for storing holiday decorations in an attic is inside of plastic totes.

These stackable plastic containers are great for areas that are not climate-controlled.

Since most attics are limited in insulation, using the proper storage is crucial to keeping our decorations safe and sound. 

Having stackable containers is also a space-saver — Since many attics are near the roof’s pitch, you can stack these containers.

Or you can invest in a shelving system allowing you to keep each holiday in it’s own area.

D/M Pro Tip: If you have quite a few items stored in your attic, you can use colored totes to match the holiday this will make finding the exact decorations you need more quickly and easily.

Color Coded Holiday Totes:

• Fall – Orange
• Halloween – Black
• Thanksgiving – Brown
• Christmas – Green
• Hanukkah – Blue
• Valentine’s Day – Red
• St. Patrick’s Day – Yellow
• Easter – Pink
• 4th of July – Dark blue

You can also use clear storage totes. I love this option because you can easily see what is inside without having to open each one.

In the Closet

Not everyone has enough Christmas decorations to justify using attic space. And not everyone has an attic where they can store things in.

That’s why storing Christmas decorations in a closet is a perfect solution.

Using your closet for storage also has the added perk of being inside the home, where you don’t have to worry about a climate control solution like you do with other options found here. 

What containers work best in a closet?

Using variously sized cardboard boxes, shoe boxes, or other miscellaneous containers allows you to utilize the space you have more efficiently.

Here are a few things to remember if you choose to use boxes to store your decorations.

1. Be sure the box is a sturdy one so I can stand up to long-term use.
2. Choose a box that is small enough for you to move around safely.
3. Pack boxes so they are not too heavy even if it is full.
4. If you can, choose a box that has openings on either side that work as handles.
5. Be sure you have big and bold labels, so you know exactly what is inside each box.

D/M Pro Tip: If you are on a tight budget, you do not need to purchase cardboard boxes to store your holiday decorations.

Start collecting shipping boxes that are sturdy and durable to use when you put any decorations away.

You can also call your local grocery store to see if they have any boxes they would like to get rid of.

Under a Bed

One of my favorite solutions for finding storage in a home is to look under the bed. If you are not using this area for storage, it is a great space to consider.

Under the bed Organizers:

• Shallow boxes
• Rolling carts
• Canvas totes
• Plastic bins

My favorite tool for under-the-bed storage is wheeled plastic containers.

They can hold a surprising amount, and because they have wheels, they are easy to grab when it’s time to start decorating.

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Don’t have space for boxes or plastic containers? Take a tip from your college dorm days and use bed risers.

This will lift your bed up a few extra inches to give you more storage space underneath.

In a Basement or Garage

If you are lucky to have a basement or room in a garage, these two areas are great for storing holiday decorations.

You will need to take a few precautions, especially if these areas are not climate-controlled.

Since most basements and garages tend to be damp, using good-quality containers will keep your decorations from getting damaged and storing them on platforms to keep them up off the ground.

Another downside is the possibility of rodents, however, if you are using plastic totes with locking lids, they will not be able to get inside and do any damage.

Storage Setups

When storing anything in your basement or garage, look for an area that is up and off the ground. This will keep any moisture out of the tubs.

You can use a shelving unit, being sure it is durable enough to stand up under the weight of full totes.

You will also want to choose shelves that have enough room for the storage containers you are using.

Your best bet is to invest in shelves that are adjustable. Another option is to invest in a ceiling system.

This setup will do best in a garage as it gives you the storage space you need without taking space away from where you park your car.

Holiday Decoration Storage Tips

Once you have decided on a location, you can not finish your setup by using any or all of these tips.

Tip #1. Store by category

With any of the storage options above, it is important to designate specific spaces for your seasonal decorations.

Instead of storing ornaments and garland in with your Christmas china, try to segment out your decorations, giving each category its own box.

This will help you to find specific items more easily.

• Ceramic items
• Cloth items
• Dishes
• Tree ornaments
• Garland
• Lights
• Glass
• Books, movies
• Decorations for a specific area

Remember, the haphazardness and disorganization of tossing things in a box now will only lead to anxiety next year at decorating time.

That is why I want to encourage you to take the time to streamline things as you are putting them away.

Yes, it will take a bit more time, but you will be so happy next year when you are ready to decorate once again.

And, since you have everything out on display now, you can do a visual inventory of what you have so you can more easily decide on what containers you need and how many.

Tip #2. Use the best container

Years ago, our options for storing items were very limited, but lucky for us, today, that has all changed.

Now, you can find specific organizers for your decorations that are meant to house these delicate items in the safest way. Let’s go over a few ideas that you may want to consider.

Ornament storage – You can either choose plastic ornament totes, allowing you to stack things without risking damage or canvas ornament bags that are easier to move around.

Wreath storage – I love these canvas wreath bags and find them a great solution for protecting expensive holiday wreaths.

Tree Storage – I love these vertical bags as they allow you to keep the decorations on your tree, saving a big step!

If you prefer to take the ornaments off and store them separately, you can use a duffle-style storage bag instead.

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Tip #3. Organize your totes

This tip will all depend on how you like your decorations organized. Basically, you have two options here.

Read them both and choose which one works best for you. Or you can do a mixture of both options if that is what you like.

Option #1. By Category

Designate a tote for each type of decoration. This will allow you to find whatever it is you need when you are decorating your home.

A few ideas are:

• Wreaths
• Bows
• Garland
• Holiday Pillows
• Ornaments
• Wall hangings
• Knick Knacks

Option #2. By Room

Another way to store decorations is by room or specific area in your home.

If you love to do a holiday scene, you can put all the pieces for that one display into a tote of its own. This will really help you to decorate each area more quickly.

A few ideas are:

• Holiday village display
• Mantel
• Kitchen counter display
• Christmas tree decorations
• Bedroom display
• Family room decorations
• Kid-friendly decorations

Another tip is to take a photograph of the finished display so you remember what you put where.

Tip #4. Stop Tangled Lights for Good

There is nothing so frustrating than a tangled set of lights, and if you use this next tip, you will never need to worry about them again!

When you take your lights down this year, wrap them around a piece of cardboard, tucking the end in when you are done.

This simple tip is all you need to ensure your holiday twinkle lights stay tangle-free next year.

You can also label each piece of cardboard so you know where the lights go, another tip that will save you so much time when you decorate again.

If you are not a fan of this cardboard tip, you can purchase light organizers that are just for holiday twinkle lights.

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Tip #5. Label Everything

Along the same vein, don’t forget to label each container in detail. This will better help you to know what decorations belong where next season.

Labels are the key to any of your new systems working for the long haul.

No matter how organized you are now, you will most likely forget what you put inside each tote by the time the holiday comes around.

Storing your Christmas Decorations doesn’t have to be frustrating or overwhelming.

With some simple planning and the proper tools, you can set yourself up for a less stressful Christmas season year after year!

Do you have any tips on how to store holiday decorations? Please share in the comments below!

More Declutter Resources:

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• What to Declutter in the Winter
• How to Declutter Medicines