The holiday season is underway, and we welcome all its enchantment with open arms — the twinkling lights, the sentimental ornaments, and the heart-warming ambience. But when the festivities wind down and the New Year’s confetti settles, a less magical task awaits: packing it all away.
After a busy festive season, you’ll be tempted to throw your decorations in a box and call it a day. Unfortunately, this creates broken baubles, tangled tree decorations, and damaged heirloom ornaments. Proper Christmas decoration storage is a must, so we’ve devised a handy guide with all the storage tips you need to keep your accessories safe.
When Should I Take My Christmas Decorations Down?
According to Christmas tradition, you should leave your Christmas tree up until 6 January, once the biblical “Twelfth Night” has passed and the “Epiphany” (when the three wise men are said to have visited Bethlehem) is celebrated.
If you have a live tree, it’s wise to put it away shortly after this, as the needles start becoming brittle and falling off, posing a fire and poking hazard. You might as well tackle the rest of your decorations while you’re at it; legend says it’s also bad luck to leave your decorations up after the 6th — not to mention the fact that they’ll have gathered a lot of dust by then.
Preparing Your Christmas Decorations for Storage
Before you get started with the Christmas decoration storage, it’s essential to get the bells and baubles properly prepared first. Follow these simple steps to prep your decorations:
Step 1: Evaluate
It’s not uncommon for decorations to lose their lustre over time. If you come across items that no longer bring joy to your home, consider donating them. If any are damaged or broken beyond repair, find out if they can be recycled.
Step 2: Clean
Before you pack your decorations away, it’s important to give them a good clean. Wipe down glass ornaments with a soft, damp cloth and use a brush to remove dust from artificial wreaths. This will help maintain the sparkle and shine of your decorations, ensuring they look their best year after year.
Step 3: Catalogue
Make a list of all the decorations you’ve kept and plan to store — you’ll thank yourself when next Christmas rolls around! This step gives you an idea of what you have to work with and what you might have to replace.
How To Store Christmas Decorations (the Right Way)
Christmas Lights
If you no longer have their original packaging, the best way to store Christmas lights is with a storage reel. There are specific ones made just for string lights, but if you don’t have one on hand, you can roll your lights around a piece of cardboard. Just make sure to secure the plug end to prevent unravelling.
For smaller or individual light sets, consider using Ziploc bags, shrink wrap, or plastic containers. These help protect them from dust and moisture and keep them separated from other items. Lights and bulbs that are particularly delicate should also be individually wrapped with bubble wrap or tissue paper to prevent breakage.
Another great hack for Christmas light storage is simply hanging them up if you have the extra space. This keeps pressure off the wires and keeps them tangle-free. Just make sure that wherever you store your lights, it’s cool and dry, as moisture can easily cause damage.
Baubles
Before you toss your egg cartons — and we know how many eggs you’ll be using for those Christmas tarts — consider keeping them around; they make the best Christmas bauble storage boxes! Apple containers, and anything else designed for round storage, also work great.
Another option is to place your baubles in plastic or polystyrene cups, which you can then keep in a larger decorations storage box. You can stack your storage boxes, but place layers of foam between them so your Christmas ornaments don’t get crushed. If you have fragile or hand-painted baubles, give them a layer of bubble wrap before packing them away so they remain damage-free.
Wreaths & Garlands
An effective way to keep wreaths and garlands in tip-top shape is to use a specialised garland storage bag or container. These are designed to accommodate the length and structure of wreaths and garlands, preventing any damage.
If you don’t have a dedicated container, you can secure these decorations with twist ties or rubber bands. This method helps maintain their shape and prevents them from getting tangled with other decorations. If you have the space, place the garland on a hanger and cover it with plastic wrap before hanging it up (if you don’t have a cupboard, a wardrobe storage box can make do!).
Garlands are typically made from organic materials like pine, leaves, and other natural elements, so whichever method you use, make sure you store them in a cool, dry place to prevent mould.
Tinsel
Tinsel storage, like garlands and Christmas lights, requires special attention to prevent tangling. Gently roll the tinsel into coils, being careful not to create kinks or knots. To keep them organised and free from dust, place these coiled tinsel strands in resealable plastic bags. It might be helpful to sort your tinsel by colour and label the bags if you have various kinds. It also helps to wrap each piece of tinsel in tissue paper or around a piece of cardboard before placing it in a bag.
Tree Toppers
Tree toppers are often the most sentimental of your decorations and also the most delicate, meaning they need a lot of special care. To prevent damage, wrap your tree topper in tissue paper or bubble wrap. Make sure it’s well-padded to provide cushioning during storage. If you can, dedicate one special Christmas storage box to the topper alone.
Stockings
Before you store your Christmas stockings, it’s a good idea to give them a gentle hand wash, especially if they’ve got a smoky smell from the fireplace or you stuffed them with sweet treats. Allow them to dry thoroughly and wrap them in acid-free tissue paper or lavender-scented linen sheets (these help deter pests). Once you’ve wrapped them up, store them in a cool, dry place, and you won’t have to worry about moths, moisture, or mould.
Figurines
Once you’ve rounded up all the troops, take your time to individually wrap each figurine in bubble wrap so nothing gets bent, broken, or scratched. If you have any particularly fragile ones, store each in a small decorations storage box. For extensive collections, it helps to use a storage container with adjustable dividers to keep them separate and organised.
Best Packaging Materials for Christmas Decorations
By now, you can probably tell you’ll need a bunch of Christmas decoration storage boxes — not to mention the bubble wrap. You’ll also want to stock up on tape for securing your boxes and packing paper to keep them safe in storage. The good news is that Storage World offers all of these essentials in-store at our Box Shop, with a variety of boxes and other packaging supplies!
We’ve got self storage solutions for every occasion. If your space is overflowing with garlands, ornaments, and tree decorations by the end of the festive season, we’ve got more than enough storage for your Christmas decorations. Secure your Storage World unit, and we’ll hold onto your beloved decorations until next season. Contact us today, and we can give you a run down on all our storage options or get a quote for your desired space online.
