Organizing Holiday Decorations

Searching for DIY tips on organizing your holiday decorations and preparing them for yearly storage? If so, we’ve got some of the best for you below! Read on to find out how to organize your holiday decorations like an experienced pro and make every holiday the best one yet!

Protect Fragile Ornaments with Specialized Boxes and Bins

Many holiday decorations, especially for Christmas, are incredibly fragile. The best way to store them is in a specialized box with dividers. They come in plastic and cardboard and can be plain or decorated also. This one from Target is pretty good and relatively inexpensive. You can buy similar boxes at most large retailers and, of course, on Amazon.

If you only have boxes or bins without dividers, don’t stress. Wrap your ornaments in light paper or bubble wrap before putting them away for the year. (Don’t overdo it with the bubble wrap!) The better protected they are, the longer you’ll have the pleasure of displaying your cherished decorations next year.

Store Beautiful Holiday Bows Intact

Some holiday bows are so beautiful you’ll want to use them, again and again, every season. The best way to store bows is not to untie them, though. Instead, leave them tied neatly and place your bows loosely in a box big enough that it won’t crush them when closed. Also, don’t stack them too high, or the bottom bows might get crushed.

BONUS- For tips from the master organizer herself, click here to visit Martha Stewart’s website.

Store Wreaths in Wreath Storage Containers

Wreaths made from some materials will last for years if organized and stored correctly. Flat boxes are excellent (but hard-ish to find), and many brands make wreath storage containers that are both beautiful and functional. Wayfair offers several that are perfect and will keep your wreaths looking gorgeous for years to come.

DIY Organizing Holiday Wreath Decorations

  1. Purchase a 3 cubic foot (medium) box for each wreath you wish to protect. (NOTE- Larger wreaths made require a larger box.) Also, purchase a bundle of packing paper and a roll of packing tape. (Shameless plug- Moove In sells all these things.)
  2. Tape the box closed on BOTH the bottom and top with moving tape. You should now have a fully constructed and taped box with nothing inside.
  3. Turn the box on its side and, using a tape measure and red marker, mark the middle at each of the box’s 4 edges. (Make sure you can see it from all sides.)
  4. Using a straight edge and marker, draw a line connecting each mark with the box still on its side. Do this on all 4 sides of the box. (You’ll use these lines next to cut your box neatly in half.)
  5. Using a sharp cutting tool, cut the box in half following the lines you drew in step #4. Your box should now be in 2 equal halves.
  6. Take 2 or 3 sheets of packing paper and wad them up tightly into a ball. Then, flatten them back out (but not too much) and use them as padding on one side of the 2 box halves. (Packers choice.)
  7. Place your wreath inside the box.
  8. Crimp all 4 corners of the box lightly in with your hands.
  9. Use the other half of the box as a cover, and slide it down over the first. (Use equal force on all sides. Air will escape, which is normal.)
  10. Tape the 2 sides of your new wreath box together. Done!

Organizing Your Holiday Decoration & Gift Wrapping

Wrapping paper, bows, tape, and gift tags should all be organized with the holiday decorations in a box and stored together. Many different manufacturers offer gift wrap storage boxes and bags. They’ll keep everything in one spot and ready for next year’s gifts! The Cover Store has several that are excellent, including one that hangs in your closet!

TIP-Purchase a small wardrobe box. (Moove In sells those too!). They’re tall enough for even the longest rolls of wrapping paper, and they have a convenient flap that folds down in front. If you have a metric ton of packing paper to organize, they’re perfect!

Organizing Holiday Lighting Decorations

One of the most expensive of all holiday decorations is lights. Christmas is a fave, but many folks use light for Halloween, the 4th of July, and other celebrated holidays. Whatever holiday you light up the most, it’s vital to organize and store your lights well. They’ll last longer and keep your holiday expenses down next year. There are plenty of techniques to do this, including some that are exceptional and inexpensive. BobVila.com has an entire page devoted to DIY holiday light organization. Whatever you choose, be sure to pack extra fuses and bulbs. That way, next year, you won’t have to stop in the middle of decorating to run out and buy more.

Organizing Holiday Decorations

Organizing All Your Holiday Decorations in a Storage Unit

Here at Moove In Self Storage, we see folks rent storage units for all sorts of different reasons. One of the most popular, though, is to store holiday decorations. Below are some of the real-world benefits of renting a storage unit for that very purpose:

  • If you have a vast amount of organizing your holiday decorations, they won’t fill your home to overflowing. (A situation that happens to a lot of American families!)
  • Storage units are clean, dry, and safe. Your holiday decorations will last longer in a storage unit than in your garage, attic, or basement.
  • You can hide presents in your storage unit that the kids will never find!
  • Temperature-controlled storage units protect your decorations even better. They won’t be exposed to extreme temps, which can ruin many decorative items.
  • You can organize your decorations like a pro when you have an entire storage unit to do it!
  • All your decorations are safe, protected 365 days a year, 24/7 by video cameras and an on-site manager.

As you can see, organizing your holiday decorations in a storage unit is a pretty darn good idea. It’s safe, affordable, and oh-so-convenient. You’ll have more space at home, and it’s the best way ever to hide presents from your curious kiddies. (And nosy adults, too!)

At Moove In Self Storage, we rent storage units all over the northeast. You can store all sorts of stuff with us, not just holiday decorations. If you have questions, chat with us online. Better yet, visit your local Moove In location and meet the on-site manager. They’ll gladly show you around, explain the rental process and get things started! Until then, best of luck organizing and storing your holiday decorations.

Read more storage and organizing ideas on the blog!

This post was published on 12/28/2017. It was updated on 9/8/2021.