How to Safely Store and Organize Holiday Decor

It's easier to decorate for the holidays year after year when your decor and trimmings are properly stored and organized. Invest in high-quality storage bags and bins to protect decor, from tree skirts and wreaths to lights and ornaments, and keep everything safely tucked away without getting crushed. Knowing where your decor is stored helps you find what you need faster during the holidays. Learn tips on how to store and organize holiday decor so you can start and end the season with joy.

Best Places to Store Holiday Decor

• Closets: A closet is an accessible, temperature-controlled spot to store holiday decor storage but make sure the bags and bins won't get squashed.
• Garage: Try storing holiday decor on the side of the garage that shares the wall of your house (for attached garages) to reduce temperature shifts. Storing items on garage shelves is an ideal way to keep decor safe and dry.
• Attic: Store holiday decorations in an attic using stackable airtight plastic bins, which are best for areas that are not climate-controlled.
• Under the bed: Storing holiday decor under a bed ensures that delicate ornaments and objects will likely enjoy a temperature-controlled and pest-free environment.
• Guest bedroom: This out-of-the-way room is ideal for holiday decor storage because you can place bins in the closet, under the bed, or in a corner.
• Shed: If there isn't a spare inch inside your home for holiday decor storage, opt for a shed but make sure you use airtight bins to keep pests out.
  

The Best Storage Tips for Holiday Decor

Declutter Every Year

Holiday decorations accumulate quickly and it helps to declutter your collection every year. As you take down decorations, decide if each piece is necessary, fits your style, or is broken and needs to be tossed. You may realize you have too many of the same items, making it the perfect time to start a donation box.

Categorize

There are two ways to organize holiday decor. Group items by category or by room. Group "like" items into categories, such as candles, Santas, or wreaths, for example. Group items by room if you set up your home the same way every year. This helps you remember how you decorated the previous year.

Invest in Proper Storage

The holidays will be back year after year, so make a one-time investment to buy quality storage. Invest in sturdy red or green—recognizable!—bins, and Christmas tree storage solutions with proper compartments for ornaments, lights, and collectibles. You will not have to make this investment again for many years, and it will save you time, money, and stress.

Separate Your Holiday Wrapping 

Storing holiday wrapping paper apart from regular paper means you won't have to dig through everything when you need supplies for a birthday present. Invest in a wrapping station or create your own. Wrapping stations are great because they have designated pockets for paper, bows, scissors, tape, and bags. Make your own using a large container and add smaller containers inside for specific items—file gift bags inside one large bag, organize bows in a small container on top, ribbon in a second small container, and other supplies in a third.

Keep Holiday Pillows and Blankets Fresh

Clean holiday pillows and blankets before storing them so they do not become musty. Storing these items in airtight containers will preserve them, as well as safeguard them from extreme temperature changes in an attic or basement.

Don't Use Hooks for Garlands and Wreaths

While hooks seem an efficient way to store holiday wreaths and garlands, they can weaken and put pressure on fibers where the hook is touching them. Use hooks to hang holiday gift bags.

Mark Your Holiday Containers

Use an index card to list what's inside each storage bin. Tape the list on the front or top of the bin so you can easily see it. This system keeps your items organized, uniform, and easily identifiable.

Frame Holiday Keepsakes

Frame holiday keepsakes, such as handwritten holiday letters from loved ones or drawings of Santa by your child. It's a great way to preserve these cherished memories for years. Store framed keepsakes with bubble wrap to ensure they're packed safely. 

Pare Down the Holiday Photo Cards You Save

Holiday cards are special but saving all of them can inundate your home. Avoid this by sorting through and discarding those without special messages or photos of close family and friends. Save the ones that hold special meaning to you and store them in a holiday card memory binder which is a lovely idea for a holiday coffee table piece to display each year.