The Best Way to Store All Your Christmas Decorations

Dec 23rd 2022

shiny, colorful Christmas ball ornaments stored in compartmented boxes, with paper grass

When is the right time to put away your Christmas decorations? Some people clean house the day after Christmas. Others can’t bear to hide away their Christmas things, so they put off packing for several weeks.

Most people fall somewhere in between, frequently tackling the job in stages.

January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, marks the traditional end of the Christmas season. In fact, the 12 Days of Christmas immortalized in the song actually refers to the 12 days after the holiday - the days leading up to Epiphany, also known as the Feast of the Three Kings.

Preparing to Put Away the Decorations

No matter when you decide to do it, “putting away Christmas” can seem overwhelming. The joy for the season that spurred your pre-Christmas decorating frenzy has been whisked away by post-New Year’s doldrums and icy winter blasts. The enthusiasm just isn’t there.

Luckily, there are some tips that can help ease your de-Christmasing stress – and make next year’s decorating even easier.

Review Your Christmas Storage & Supplies

First, bring out all your Christmas storage containers. Before refilling your bins and boxes, take a good look at them. Are the plastic lids cracked? Are the boxes more duct tape than cardboard?

Replace any containers that are worn or broken. Depending on where you store your Christmas decorations – typically a basement or attic – a cracked plastic storage bin or battered cardboard box no longer provides the best protection. Cracks can let in water, damp and insects that could ruin velvet bows and strings of Christmas lights – not to mention your precious Christmas stockings. And boxes that are already half crushed don’t provide enough cushioning for fragile ornaments.

Next, think back to when you began decorating. Were you scrambling for tape, ornament hangers, bulbs, hooks, ribbon, wire, string or any other supplies? Gather all that stuff now. Take advantage of post-Christmas sales for replacements. Then put it all together to store with your Christmas decorations so you’re fully prepared next year.

Downsize

Finally, take a look inside your storage bins. Was anything left out of your Christmas decorating frenzy? Maybe it’s time to donate or recycle decorations that are tattered, broken or no longer suit your style. Anytime is a good time to consolidate and save on storage.

Get Organized

Group similar items. Ornaments, candles, tabletop decorations, greenery and lights are among the items you’ll want to keep together. Not only is it helpful to have, for instance, all your ornaments in one box, it can help prevent damage. Artificial foliage could scratch delicate glass Christmas ornaments, which require additional padding anyway to protect them from breaking. To prevent staining, scented or colored candles should not be stored near fabric, like bows, stockings and tree skirts.

Label your storage containers and write down everything that’s stored inside. This will take the guesswork out of which boxes to bring up first next year.

Did you really like a particular mantel or table arrangement? Take a picture of it and make notes for next year. Give the file an obvious name like “living room tabletop arrangement Christmas 2022” and store it where you can easily find it next year, like in a folder marked “Christmas 2022 Decorating Notes.” Or go old school: Print the pictures and tuck them in with the decorations.

Pack it Right

As eager as you are to get things put away, take the time to pack everything carefully. Avoid cramming things together so you don’t crack, crease or otherwise damage your beautiful Christmas decorations.

Be sure to use plenty of packing material between items – tissue paper, cardboard, bubble wrap and even paper towels can be used as cushioning to keep things from knocking or rubbing against each other.

Use small plastic food containers or zipper-top plastic bags to keep small items together, like ornament hooks, replacement Christmas light bulbs, fuses, beaded garland or gutter clips for your outside lights.

How to Store Your Christmas Decorations

Now that you have everything organized, you’re ready to start packing. What’s the best way to store Christmas ornaments and decorations? Let’s address your Christmas decoration storage needs item by item.

How to Put Away Your Artificial Christmas Tree

An artificial Christmas tree is one of those things that never seems to fit back in its original box. And a cardboard box isn’t the best place to store your Christmas tree, anyway. Boxes get tattered over time and don't fully protect the tree from moisture and insects.

Some people simply bag their Christmas trees from trunk to tip and store them standing up, but this solution isn’t practical when storage space is tight.

Fortunately, you can find a wide range of alternative Christmas storage solutions, including Christmas tree storage bags, boxes and containers. Look for a Christmas tree storage bag that’s sized appropriately to fit your tree. Additional helpful features include waterproof material and durable handles. Some Christmas tree storage containers are designed to be put away standing up. Consider a Christmas tree storage bag with wheels for easier maneuvering.

Depending on the type of tree and your preferred Christmas tree storage, you may or may not need to disassemble your artificial tree. If you do need to take it apart, be sure to:

Remove all ornaments and store them separately
Unlit Tree - Remove lights and store separately
Pre-Lit Tree - Locate the connectors and unplug the lights at each tree section
All Trees - Starting at the top, fold tree branches in toward the trunk, to make the tree as compact as possible for storage.

After you disassemble the tree, you may have three or four sections, plus the stand.

Place the largest section on the bottom of the storage bag, carefully stacking the smaller sections and the stand on top.

Store your tree in a dry, out-of-the-way spot. Flocked trees, in particular, can become discolored when exposed to humidity and extreme temperatures.

How to Store a Christmas Wreath and Garland

Many people will pull a large plastic garbage bag or dry cleaning bag over their Christmas wreath and toss it on a shelf until next year. A better wreath storage option is to hang the wreath to keep the frame straight.

Different kinds of wreaths may require slightly different care. For instance, while the branches of undecorated pine wreaths can be compressed for storage, you should never stack anything on top of an ornament wreath. Those ornaments are shatterproof, meaning they won’t create any sharp glass splinters, but they can still break. And the bulbs, ornaments, pinecones and other decorations on a pre-lit or decorated wreath could be damaged under a heavy weight.

Whatever kind of Christmas wreath you own, you likely spent good money on it. If you’d like to use your wreath for many years to come, give it the benefit of careful storage.

Wreath storage bags typically are made using waterproof and rip-resistant material that offers superior protection against moisture, dirt and insects. Similar to a tree storage bag, Most wreath storage containers have handles and zip to close; some wreath bags feature a convenient storage hanger.

Get a spare wreath storage container or two to store your pine artificial Christmas garland.

How to Store Christmas Ornaments

Are your Christmas ornaments all still in their original boxes? Not likely. Considering the fragility of the decorations they hold, Christmas ornament boxes are surprisingly flimsy.

Many people wrap their Christmas ornaments in tissue paper or bubble wrap and stack them in a cardboard box or plastic bin. Some people store their ornaments in egg cartons, though this only works for certain sizes. A popular DIY hack found on the internet utilizes disposable plastic drinking cups to create individual compartments for ornament storage.

If you’re not interested in another DIY project, you’ll be happy to know there are many types of options for Christmas ornament storage. You can simplify ornament storage by keeping all your ornaments safe in the same box. Most ornament storage boxes offer divided trays to hold dozens of ornaments, sturdy handles for easy carrying, and secure zippered closures. Look for an adjustable ornament storage box to accommodate large or oddly-shaped ornaments.

Best Way to Pack Christmas Decorations

What about all those Christmas knick knacks you’ve collected over the years? Rather than stack dozens of individual boxes on shelves, gather them together in a couple of Christmas storage containers.

Christmas decoration storage containers with padded interior compartments are an especially efficient solution for odd shaped and delicate items, like collectible Santa figures, Christmas village houses and snow globes. Christmas Central even offers a nutcracker storage box made especially to hold your nutcracker collection.

Best Way to Store Christmas Wrapping Paper & Bows

Where do you store extra Christmas wrapping paper after the holidays? You could shove it in a closet, where you run the risk of it getting wrinkled and torn before next Christmas rolls around. A spare dresser drawer or under-the-bed storage container is another popular option.

It’s best to store gift wrap somewhere it can remain dust and dirt free, undisturbed, until you’re ready to use it.

The internet is full of wrapping paper storage ideas. You can get creative and turn a laundry basket or large waste basket into a standing bin for your Christmas wrapping paper rolls. Or, build a gift wrapping station in a spare room, if you have the space.

If you can’t devote a closet or room to storing Christmas gift wrap, consider a wrapping paper caddy. A gift wrap organizer can hold all your Christmas wrapping paper – even the long rolls - keeping them wrinkle, rip and dust-free. Some wrapping paper storage also has space for your gift boxes, bags, ribbons, bows, tags and other wrapping supplies. Gift wrap storage caddies are tear-resistant and can zip to close. You can find over the door wrapping paper storage, as well as gift wrap storage containers that fit under your bed. Other features may include carrying handles, hangers for storage or wheels for easy transport. Deluxe models even prop up like a golf bag to create a portable gift wrapping station.

How to Store Christmas Lights

Before putting your Christmas lights away, make sure the cords are in good condition, not frayed or cracked. Check the bulbs and replace any that are burned out to get a leg up next year. Wipe off any dust or dirt that has accumulated on the bulbs and strands.

Neatness counts when it comes to putting away Christmas lights. No matter how carefully you store them, Christmas string lights always seem to come out of the box a tangled mess.

The internet has many Christmas light organizer hacks involving cardboard, paper towel rolls, clothes hangers and even plastic wrap. But if you’re not handy, there’s no need for a homemade Christmas light storage solution.

Christmas light storage reels are designed to let you organize multiple strings of lights by easily and quickly winding them around a sturdy plastic spool. Next year, just roll them off the reel to decorate. A Christmas light storage reel lets you store multiple strands of lights together. The reels also can be used to keep your extension cords neat, tangle-free and ready when you need them next Christmas. The reels tuck into a zippered nylon carrying case to protect lights from dust, dirt and breakage.

How to Store Outdoor Decorations & Inflatables

Safeguard your expensive outdoor Christmas decor, such as wicker deer, Christmas inflatables and other plastic and lighted decorations, by putting them away properly.

After taking down the decorations, bring them into a protected area like a garage or basement. Inspect your outdoor Christmas decorations for damage, broken or blown-out light bulbs and frayed electrical cords. Brush or wash off mud and debris. Make sure the decoration is completely dry before you put it away.

Some decorations will need to be taken apart. Inflatable decorations can be rolled or folded up for storage, with the electrical cord neatly secured.

Plastic bins are a popular storage option for large Christmas decorations, but a filled bin may be too heavy for some people to lift. An extra large Christmas tree storage bag is a lightweight, roomy solution that can serve double duty for your large outdoor Christmas decor. Large Christmas storage containers typically are constructed with sturdy frames to keep the bag from sagging when filled, and some feature wheels for greater maneuverability.

Christmas Managed

The thought of putting away Christmas decorations doesn’t have to fill you with dread. A little organization, along with some clever storage solutions, can make the job less demanding. Next year, you’ll be glad you handled your decorations with such special care.

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