Christmas is just around the corner, and it’s hard to find that pretty garland you snagged on clearance the previous year, or that collection of tree ornaments your parents so lovingly gave your kids. For these reasons (and more), it’s important that you have some smart Christmas decor storage ideas to rely on. There’s nothing more frustrating than wasting time trying to fix broken Christmas baubles, resurrect wreaths that are way too flat, and untangle other decorations from strings of lights. We’ll tell you how to store and stow your Christmas decorations here!
Table of Contents
- When to put away Christmas decorations?
- Store Christmas decorations – cool ideas
- Hang gift bags on hooks
- Store wrapping paper
- Clear containers for your decorations
- Store Christmas decorations – label your storage boxes
- Storing Christmas tree baubles the right way
- Creative storage options
- Hangers to store wreaths or fairy lights
- Wrap fairy lights around cardboard
- Store Christmas decorations – use coffee cans for fairy lights
- Store wrapping paper properly in a garment bag
- Organize Christmas tree baubles by color in clear bags
- Storing Christmas decorations: Drawer divider with grid
- Storing Christmas baubles in cookie tins
- Store Christmas decorations: Wrap your tree in foil
When to put away Christmas decorations?
When it comes to Christmas decorations, there are two types of people: Those who take down their Christmas tree on December 26, and those who aren’t quite ready to leave the holiday season behind. And while taking down your Christmas tree is usually a little less fun than putting it up, there’s another good reason why many people wait to do it. So if you’ve been looking for an excuse to listen to Christmas music and admire your Christmas decorations for a few more weeks, you’re in luck: tradition says you should celebrate the holiday season until January 6 and leave your beautiful Christmas decorations up. According to Christian tradition, January 6 is the day the Magi arrived in Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus, so this day marks the official end of Christmas celebrations.
Store Christmas decorations – cool ideas
Believe it or not, there are some tips and tricks that can make wrapping your Christmas decorations much easier this year.
Hang gift bags on hooks
It’s never fun trying to find a gift bag at the last minute. Hang a few on hooks so you can find one quickly in a pinch.
Store gift wrap
Opt for a stylish container to store your prettiest wrapping paper in during the holidays.
Clear containers for your decorations
If you can see what’s inside your clear containers, you can pile them high without worrying that you’ll have to take the lids off next year to find out what’s inside.
Store Christmas decorations – Label your storage boxes.
You may already use labels to organize your pantries, office supplies, and even cosmetics, so do the same with your Christmas decorations. Choose label colors like red, green or white to stay with the theme.
Properly stow Christmas tree baubles
Pack your Christmas baubles in egg cartons or plastic cups lined with tissue paper or paper towels. Cardboard drink holders and plastic apple containers also work well.
Creative storage options
Start by packing the decorations in customizable, inexpensive containers. Tape an extra Christmas card to each box and write the contents on it so you don’t have to open each box to find your tree decorations.
Hangers to store wreaths or strings of lights.
Treat wreaths with the same care you give your favorite dress. Slip the wreath over the neck of a coat hanger, then cover it with a plastic dry cleaning bag to prevent a year’s worth of dust from accumulating. Hang it in a closet or from a beam in the attic.
Wrap strings of lights around cardboard
Fairy lights have long been a part of Christmas, and many a holiday has ended with a tangled mess of lights. Wrap the fairy lights around a piece of cardboard in which you’ve cut notches 2 to 3 inches long to keep them from getting tangled.
Store Christmas decorations – use coffee cans for fairy lights.
You can also wrap messy strings of lights around coffee cans. Cut an X in the plastic lid and put the plug through it.
Store wrapping paper properly in a garment bag
Instead of storing wrapping paper rolls in the living room, you can store them in a garment bag in the back of a closet.
Organize Christmas tree baubles by color in clear bags
It’s a good idea to organize your Christmas decorations by color if you want to choose a different theme each year. If you want to keep all your tree decorations in one container, but sort them by color or size, you can use clear resealable bags from your kitchen. Then next year it’s easy to check your stash and see if you should stock up on certain colors. Use tissue paper in between if the Christmas baubles are delicate.
Store Christmas decorations: Drawer dividers with lattice
If you already have a box but just want to add a little structure, opt for a drawer divider like this one. It can be customized to fit any size or quantity in your collection.
Stash Christmas baubles in cookie tins.
Decorative tins filled with cookies and candy will be swapped out all season long in December. Pick them up and turn them into storage containers! These tins are the perfect size to store smaller Christmas baubles in your collection.
Store Christmas Decorations: Wrap your tree in foil
If you’re storing your artificial tree in the garage, you can wrap it in foil to keep it clean and protected throughout the winter, spring, and summer. When you want to decorate it next year, simply cut the foil with scissors and bend the branches into shape.