7 Christmas Decoration Storage Ideas for an Easier Next Year
Taking down decorations is the least loved job of the season, so it gets rushed. Lights go into a box in a knot, ornaments get wrapped in whatever is nearby, and next December starts with an hour of untangling.
A little structure now saves that hour. Pack by type, protect the fragile things and label for the person you will be in eleven months.
1Sort before you pack
As you take things down, make three groups: keep, donate and broken. If a decoration stayed in the box this year, ask whether it will ever come out. Test light strings before storing them, and recycle the ones that no longer work.
2Give ornaments their own cells
A divided ornament box holds each bauble in its own compartment, so nothing knocks against anything else. Choose one with removable trays and rigid sides. Wrap the most fragile pieces in tissue, and keep handmade and sentimental ornaments together in one tray.
3Wind the lights
Lights tangle when they are stuffed. Wind each string onto a reel or a flat holder and clip the plug to the end. Store indoor and outdoor lights separately and label each with its length and where it hangs.
4Bag the tree
The original tree box rarely survives a second year. An upright or duffel-style tree bag with handles and wheels protects the branches from dust and makes the trip to the basement easier. Compress the branches gently and label the sections if they are not marked.
5Keep wreaths round
Wreaths and garlands flatten under other boxes. A round hard-sided or padded wreath bag keeps the shape and can hang on a hook, which uses wall space rather than shelf space.
6Stand the wrapping paper up
Rolls of paper crease and tear when they lie in a pile. A tall wrap organizer holds the rolls upright with pockets for ribbon, tags, tape and scissors. It slides under a bed or hangs in a closet and keeps everything for wrapping in one place.
7Label for next December
Label each bin by room or by order of use, not just 'Christmas.' Put the things you need first, such as the tree stand, hooks and the advent calendar, in a bin marked 'Open first.' Add a note of anything to buy before next year: spare bulbs, hooks, a new extension cord.
Keeping it that way
Store decorations somewhere dry and away from extreme heat. Attics can damage candles and some plastics, and damp basements are hard on fabric and paper.
Take a photo of each decorated room before you pack up. Next year, the photo answers the question of what went where.
Everything mentioned in this guide
One list, so you can check sizes against your own measurements. Links go to Amazon; we may earn a commission.
Questions people ask
What is the best way to store Christmas ornaments?
Use a rigid box with individual compartments, wrap fragile pieces in acid-free tissue, and store the box in a dry place with a stable temperature.
How do I keep Christmas lights from tangling?
Wind each string around a reel or a flat piece of cardboard, secure the plug, and store each string separately with a label for its length and location.
