30 Best Christmas Decor Storage Ideas to Keep Your Home Looking as Polished as Ever
Brilliant ideas to keep your ornaments, garlands and tree in great shape.
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We've all been there. Christmas comes around and it's a struggle to find the pretty garland you snagged on sale the year before or the ornament collection your parents so lovingly gifted to your children. For these reasons (and more), it's important to have some smart holiday storage ideas to rely on. There's nothing more frustrating than losing time (that can be dedicated to holiday decorating or enjoying a Hallmark movie marathon) trying to fix broken ornaments, revive way-too-flat wreaths and detangle bunches upon bunches of string lights.
Believe it or not, there are some tips and tricks that you can follow to make packing your Christmas decor much easier this year. You can repurpose your boxes from Black Friday to store lights and precious ornaments. Cardboard tubes from wrapping paper are brilliant for keeping cords tangle-free. Plus, household items like coffee cans, plastic cups and drink containers with lids can be used as organizers. (And the best part is that you're doing good by preventing these items from ending up in landfills).
Click through to learn more about these Christmas decor storage ideas and more. It's going to be your most organized holiday season yet!
Hang gift bags from Command hooks.
It's never fun scrambling to find a gift bag at the last minute. Keep a few on Command hooks to make it easy to find one in a pinch.
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Use a tree storage bag.
With a large red storage bag like this one, you'll always be able to spot your Christmas tree in a full garage or attic.
Go for storage stools that serve as decor.
There's no reason why your holiday storage can't double as decor. These festive Santa stools are perfect for keeping things like holiday cards and ribbon in one place.
Try a tiered ornament box.
Tired of broken ornaments year after year? This tiered box is outfitted with dividers to ensure that your collection remains intact for the holiday season.
Use a fabric bin for wrapping paper.
Go for a stylish fabric bin to keep your best wrapping paper on full display during the holidays.
Place gift wrapping essentials in magazine holders.
File holders aren't just for magazines. Set up a small gift wrapping station by filling a couple with bags, bows, tape — you name it.
Put a hanging organizer to use.
Everything from decorative ribbon to tissue paper can be tucked away in hanging bags for easy access.
Label your storage bins.
You might already use labels to organize pantry essentials, office supplies and even cosmetics, so adopt the same approach for your Christmas decor. Choose label colors like red and green to stay on theme.
Repurpose household items.
Pack ornaments in egg cartons or plastic cups lined with tissue paper or paper towels. Cardboard drink holders, old takeout containers, and plastic apple containers work, too!
RELATED: 12 Convenient Ways to Store Your Entire Christmas Ornament Collection
Get creative with packing.
Start by packing away decorations in customizable storage that doesn't cost a thing, such as the liquor-store castoff shown here. Tape an extra holiday card onto each box and write the contents on it so you don't have to open every one to find your tree-topper.
Be strategic.
Once you get your liquor-store boxes (or what-have-you), layer two to three ornaments wrapped in tissue paper into each slot, placing heavier ones on the bottom.
Keep beads in water bottles.
Nothing is more frustrating than when long strings of beads get twisted around all of your holiday decorations. Prevent that mishap by storing them in a plastic water bottle — each container will hold two strings of beads!
Or tennis ball containers.
If you don't have a water bottle on hand, other containers work too — like this tennis ball organizer. The lid pops on and off, making it snap to get them in and out.
Use a hanger to store wreaths.
Treat wreaths with the same care you give your favorite party dress. Slip the hoop over the neck of a coat hanger, then cover with a plastic dry-cleaning bag to prevent a year's worth of dust from building up. Hang it in a closet or from a beam in your attic.
RELATED: Christmas Wreath Ideas to Add Festive Cheer to Your Front Door
Make custom dividers.
Don't let your colorful decorations knock into each other and chip when they're in storage. Soft-sided cardboard dividers will keep them in shape even if a box falls by accident (oops!).
Use old hosiery with holes.
Old hosiery can protect specialty candles from getting damaged. Slip knee-highs over the pillars to keep them dust-free. Then, nestle them in tissue paper to prevent dents or scratches and stow away from heat or pressure — they can melt or warp the wax.
Wrangle cords in paper towel holders.
Not only will your extension cords stay tangle-free until next year, you'll know which size you're taking out next year if you stick a gift tag on the outside and write the dimensions on it.
Wrap lights around cardboard.
Strings of festive lights have long been a part of the Christmas celebration, and tangled masses of them have been the aftermath of many a holiday season. Wrap string lights around a piece of cardboard with one-inch notches cut in it so they won't get tangled.
Or use coffee cans.
You can also try winding unwieldy strings of lights around coffee cans. Cut an X in the plastic top, and stick the plug through. Label each string with masking tape and a marker to remind you which lights go on the tree and which go around the door.
Or buy a storage reel for lights.
Keep your string lights tidy with a spool organizer. If you have separate sets (like for outdoors and the tree), you can buy special plastic storage boxes with slots for each organizer and cavities for extra bulbs.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.
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