If you are anything like me, you love decorating for the holidays. From bright, bold light displays to beautiful Christmas trees – there is nothing that brings me more festive joy. However, there is another side to all this decorating and that’s the process of storing everything when the holiday season comes to an end.

In this guide, we’re going to explore several Christmas décor storage ideas. This includes how to stash your light strings away without worrying about how to untangle them again next year. We’ll also explore how to make the most of the storage space that you have available, creating an organized storage system. Proper storage of your decorations will protect your investment and make the process easier each holiday season.

Dedicate a Closet or Corner of the Garage to All Things Christmas

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One of the biggest mistakes that people make when storing their Christmas décor is tucking it into any available storage space. By tucking your holiday decorations in and around the rest of your belongings, you make it harder to find what you’re looking for. Each year, you must dig everything out, Christmas-related, or not, just to find what you’re looking for. Instead, set aside a designed area specifically for your holiday storage needs.

Use a Tackle Box for Smaller Ornaments

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Smaller ornaments can easily get lost if they are tossed in with everything else. They may be small, but they add a special touch when decorating your Christmas tree or accenting your holiday garland. A basic tackle box provides you with a way to organize your ornaments by style and color, making use of the compartmentalized storage. Most tackle boxes also offer a larger bulk storage space that can hold bigger ornaments, keeping it all together in one easy carry case.

Store Wrapping Paper in a Plastic Garment Bag

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Wrapping paper can be used for more than just wrapping gifts during the holiday season. There are many creative DIY decorations that can be made with the decorative and festive designs that gift wrap features. However, it doesn’t take long for partial rolls of paper to add up and start to take over your storage space. This season, store your collecting of wrapping paper in a way that will keep it all up off the ground and minimize space required while also making it easy to see what you have on hand by placing them in a clear hanging garment bag.

Wrap Christmas Lights Around a Piece of Cardboard to Avoid Tangling

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It is one of the biggest frustrations faced while decorating our houses for the holiday season – sorting through the tangled strings of Christmas lighting. The bigger your lighting display, the greater the chance that you’ll run into problems. One of the easiest ways to prevent tangling requires nothing more than a few pieces of cardboard. Cut your cardboard into a rectangle, with a slit on one end. Tuck the end of your light string into the slit and proceed to wrap the lights around the cardboard like you would a spool of thread, securing the other end in the same way that you did the first. They can easily be stored on a shelf or in a storage tote.

Create a Written Inventory of Your Holiday Storage

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Don’t dig through all your holiday boxes blindly each time that you’re looking for something specific. Instead, take the time this year to create a written inventory of everything that you have using either paper and pen or a spreadsheet. Make sure to include information like the style or color of your decorations, the number that you have available of each type, and specifically where they will be stored. For example, if you have a set of 3 traditional green holiday wreaths for your front windows that are hung in the back of your storage closet during the off-season, include all of that on your inventory. It will make it far easier to plan out and execute your holiday decorations next year.

Add Felt to Protect Fragile Ornaments

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When storing glass ornaments, the most important factor to consider is how to keep them safe from breakage. A simple and low-cost solution is to line each of your storage compartments with a piece of felt. The soft felt will cushion your breakables and can be purchased at any craft store as well as most dollar stores. Simply cut the sheet you purchase into smaller squares based on the dimensions of the space in which your ornaments will be stored.

Take Advantage of Vertical Space with Shelves

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If you’re trying to fit a large collection of holiday décor into a limited space in the corner of your garage, adding shelves will provide you with significantly more storage space. This allows you to use the vertical room available, stacking items up off the floor while still being able to access any bin you choose at any given time. You can use wall-mounted shelving or large commercial shelving units, just be sure that your shelves are large enough and have a high enough weight capacity to support your storage totes.

Use Magazine Files for Organization

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One item that you may not think to use when organizing and storing your holiday décor, magazine holders are a great solution for smaller collections of items including bows or gift tags for wrapping, window clings, or smaller decorative figurines. You can line them up beside one another in a box or basket creating individual compartments for each of the items mentioned while still being able to easily see and access the items being stored.

Store Artificial Wreaths in a Plastic Bag to Keep Dust Off

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Most of us will store our artificial wreaths by hanging them, minimizing the space that they will require. However, they can collect a lot of dust sitting out like that. One easy way to control the dust build-up is to place each of the wreaths in a plastic garbage bag before putting them away for the season. If you choose bags with an easy-tie drawstring, you can also use the drawstrings as a hanging loop that can be hooked onto a wall hook or around a clothes hanger.

Reduce Required Space with Vacuum Storage Bags

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When it comes to storing items like holiday throw pillows or decorative blankets, vacuum storage bags can help you to reduce the space necessary for holiday storage. These bags can be purchased in a variety of different sizes, accommodating whatever you need to store. Simply fill the bag, seal off the bag, and then remove the air to compress them using your standard vacuum cleaner. Your items will be clean and protected until you open the bag to put them out again next year.

Use Clear Storage Totes to See What’s Inside

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Storage totes are an obvious solution for packing up and storing your holiday decorations when they’re not in use, however, they don’t always make it easy to identify what you have contained inside. Trade in the standard totes for clear storage totes, giving you a full view of everything. Make your decorating efforts easier than ever with everything you’re looking for a quick glance away.

Reuse Original Packaging Where Possible

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Companies are careful when packaging their breakable items, ensuring that they are safe during the shipping process, whether it’s shipping to your house or to your local store to be displayed on the shelf. One of the best storage solutions to keep your items safe during the off-season is to store them in the original packaging. This could include durable plastic or foam padding. The idea is that these packages have been designed specifically for the shape and unique needs of your décor.

Organize Items with Travel Packing Cubes

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Packing cubes are designed to help sort out our belongings in a suitcase to make it easier to find what you’re looking for when you’re on the go. It was suggested to me a few years ago that this could be carried over into our holiday décor and we’ve been taking advantage of it ever since. Within your storage totes, organize your decorations using the packing cubes, either based on the type of decoration or the area where it will be used. Label your packing cubes or select cubes with a clear top so that you can see which is which at a quick glance. Next season, grab the appropriate packing cubes for each job and you’ll move through the decorating process even quicker.

Take Photos as You Tear Down for Next Year

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Are you in love with the way that your holiday decorations came together this year? If so, the easiest way to recreate that look year after year is to document how it is all arranged. Take detailed pictures before you take down your holiday décor, making sure that you cover different angles so that you can see how everything is placed. Save these pictures on your computer or even print them out and stick them to the storage totes that they correspond with.

Purchase a Durable Wreath Storage Bag

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There are several storage bags specifically designed for the storage of your holiday wreaths from year to year. They offer protection from dust and debris, keeping your wreath clean and fresh. Soft-sided wreath bags are easy to store when not in use, but they offer less protection against physical damage, like your wreath being smashed. However, if you are concerned that this may happen, there are also hard-sided plastic wreath containers with that additional level of protection.

Add a Garment Rack to Your Storage Area for Hanging Options

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You will see several different ways to hang items on this list, however, this method of storage will obviously require a place to hang everything up. If you don’t have a built-in space for hanging your decorations, you can create one with the addition of a garment rack. Choose a rack on wheels to make it easy to move out of the way in your storage space as needed or even to bring with your while you move your décor to the desired location to put it out on display. Many garment racks also include additional storage space for other décor.

Sort Decorations by Color or Theme

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If you are the kind of Christmas lover that enjoys changing up your decorations from year to year, this storage tip is for you. This year, organize your ornaments into different storage totes based on their color or a specific decorating them. Doing this will make it easier than ever to find what you need next year. Simply choose your new theme/inspiration and then pull the bins that correspond with it. No more digging through everything trying to figure out what will and won’t fit your vision.

Use Vinyl Decals to Label Storage Totes

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Vinyl cutting machines have taken the world of crafting by storm, giving people the opportunity to make custom shirts, signs, mugs, and more from the comfort of home. Another way that you can tap into your creativity and incorporate vinyl into your personal routine is to make cute vinyl stickers for the front of your storage totes indicating which holiday is kept inside. Some examples include a Christmas tree for the Christmas season, a Jack-o-lantern for Halloween, or a rabbit for Easter. These quick visual cues will let you know which bin is which in mere seconds.

Save Tissue Paper from Unwrapping Gifts to Protect Fragile Items

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As you unwrap your gifts this holiday season, take a moment to sort out all the tissue paper and hold onto it. Why? Used tissue paper often winds up heading out to the landfill when the holidays are over, however, it makes a great packing solution to offer a level of padding and protection for your more fragile decorations. At the end of the day, the color of your packing supplies won’t matter if it does the job. So, save whatever you get your hands on.

Tuck Electrical Cords into Toilet Paper Rolls and Label with the Length

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When we talk about storing holiday décor after the season ends, there is one important piece of the puzzle that’s often forgotten. I’m talking about the extension cords! What would a beautiful light display be without power? You may reuse a couple of your cords outside of the holiday season, but there is a good chance that there are several that you won’t need again until the following Christmas. One way to easily store your cords is to wrap them up as if you’re going to tie them, then slip them into an empty toilet paper roll. Write the length of the cord or any other important details (number of outlets, whether there is a built-in timer, etc.) on the roll so that you can easily grab the right cord for the job.

Use Plastic Disposable Cups to Protect Fragile Ornaments

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One reason that glass Christmas bulb ornaments are damaged during storage is that they are placed all together in a tote where they knock against one another. It doesn’t take much for this action to lead to cracks or broken ornaments. Separate your ornaments cheaply and effectively using sheets of cardboard and disposable plastic cups. Cut your cardboard to the dimensions of your storage tote so that it can sit inside. Taking one cup at a time, glue them down onto the cardboard with the open end of the cup facing up. Repeat this process until they fill the tote when stacked up. You can now place a single ornament in each cup, creating a buffer around them to keep them safe.

Build a Functional Ribbon Shelf

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Ribbon can be used in many ways throughout the holiday season from hanging ornaments to wrapping presents. This often means that we end up with a large collection of ribbons in different colors and styles. Rather than throwing it all in a box where your rolls may come unraveled and tangled, consider creating a ribbon-specific shelf. This is a shelf that allows your ribbon to sit up on its side with a protective lip in front of it to prevent it from rolling out. It will make it easy to take the ribbon from a roll without even having to remove it from the shelf. Incorporate a cover to close it up easily and store it away until next year.

Organize Replacement Bulbs Using a Pill Organizer

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Another element that is often overlooked in holiday decorating, replacement bulbs are important to have on hand for your holiday lighting display. However, their small size can make them easy to lose in the shuffle. A great solution that’s readily available at your local dollar store is a standard weekly pill organizer. Separate your bulbs into different compartments based on their colors to make it easy to find what you need when you need it.

Create a DIY Tape and Ribbon Storage Option with an Aluminum Foil Box

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Smaller rolls of ribbon can be stored by repurposing an empty aluminum paper box. These boxes have been designed to hold a roll of foil so that you can easily pull out what you need keeping the rest stowed away safely. Why not do the same with your festive ribbon? If you don’t have enough to fill out the box or are worried that they may slide out of the box too easily, add a wooden down along the center to hold everything in place.

Hang Wire Baskets on the Back of Closet Doors

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Take advantage of every available space in your Christmas storage closet this season by mounting wire baskets on the inside of the closet door. This is a great place to keep smaller items that you are worried will get lost or those items that you are going to need to access repeatedly. This is a great place to create a wrapping station or to stash necessary repair or replacement items like spare bulbs for your Christmas lights or extra ornament hooks.

Add Wooden Dowels to Storage Totes for Contained Hanging Storage

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Do you hang your Christmas ornaments using ribbon? If so, you may struggle with that ribbon getting tangled up when those items are put away at the end of the season together in a storage tote. One great way to prevent this is to add a couple of wooden dowels to your tote, extending through the front and back of the tote and stretching directly across. Hang all your ornaments from the dowel rather than laying them down, keeping the ribbon organized and tangle-free.

Purchase Oversized Totes for Holiday Signage

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A current trend that we’re seeing during the Christmas holidays and throughout the rest of the year is the use of decorative wooden signs. These can be done using vinyl or paint, depending on your preferences, with cut quotes and festive holiday images. However, storing these signs so that they aren’t damaged can be a challenge. If you simply leave your signs sitting out in your storage closet or garage, they may get scratched. Instead, purchase oversized totes that are large enough to accommodate their size. Stack your signs one on top of the other with tissue paper in between to prevent any damage.

Repurpose a Large Garbage Bin for Storage of Holiday Garland

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Are you searching for an effective way to store your holiday garland while making it easier to hang when the season comes back around once again? If you have an extra garbage bin sitting around in your garage, it’s time to put it to use! By rolling the garland up in the bin, you prevent tangling or snags, making it easy to simply unroll and use next Christmas. Place a lid over the bin and it’s now safe from any dust and debris that it may encounter while sitting for a year in your storage space.

Organize and Protect Fragile Ornaments with Fast Food Drink Trays

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Another great option for separating your breakable Christmas bulb ornaments, protecting them from damage during storage, is to use the cardboard drink trays that are handed out at fast-food restaurants. This is a great green-friendly solution, transforming something that is otherwise seen as trash into a useful storage option. The design of the drink trays will safely hold 5 ornaments, with 1 in each of the cup holders and 1 in the center. Stack them on top of one another in a storage tote and your ornaments will be safe until the following season.

Wrap Icicle Ornaments in Tissue Paper and Store Them in an Empty Paper Towel Roll

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While many of the storage solutions on this list are focused on the more modern decorations that we see today, there are some traditional touches that will never be lost in time. One example is the use of glass icicles on the Christmas tree. These beautiful ornaments will help you to create a magical Winter Wonderland, however, they are also quite delicate making storage a concern. Leading up to the holidays, save all your empty paper towel rolls. When the holidays are over, wrap the icicles carefully in tissue paper and slide the wrapped ornament into the roll for extra protection.

Sort Decorations for Easier Access Next Year Using Ziploc Bags

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We discussed sorting your ornaments by color in separate storage totes, but for those that live in a smaller space, there may not be enough decorations to fill the totes up. Instead, consider taking the same approach but sorting your ornaments in separate Ziploc bags inside a single storage tote. You can rely on your ability to see the ornaments through the clear bag to determine what goes where or label the bag with the area of the home that the contents are earmarked for.

Hang Wreaths in Your Garage Using Bike Hooks

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Often the simplest storage solutions are everyday items that we already have sitting around the home. This is another example of that in play. You can store wreaths easily in your garage or basement space by hanging them on the wall using bike hooks. These oversized hooks may seem like a bit of ‘overkill’ for your holiday décor, but they will ensure that your wreaths and garland are safe and secure, ready for you to use them again next season.

Build Wooden Light Storage Units

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For those that are handy when it comes to woodworking, you can create your own storage unit to keep your Christmas lights safe and secure between uses. All you need is a rectangular base of some kind and two large wooden dowels. Connect the dowels to each end of the board either with wood glue or using a more secure solution with nails. To store your lights, wrap them around the dowels using a figure-8 pattern, tucking the ends in to keep them from coming undone. You can then set your storage unit safely in a storage tote to keep your lights free from dust and safe from being banged around or broken.

Label Storage Totes with a Simple Numbering System

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Another easy way to keep an inventory of which storage totes each of your decorations are kept in is by using a simple numbering system. Write a number on the side of each of the totes that you plan on using for holiday decorations. You can then make a list, taking note of what is in each bin in detail. If you want to take it a step further, organize your decorations in the order that you will need them. Place the first decorations that you will need to put up in bin 1, and continue on from there.

Hang Garland Using Hooks to Prevent Tangling

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Much like your Christmas lighting, holiday garland can become frustratingly tangled if it is stored in a tote during the off-season. One way to avoid this problem is to hang your garland. Using metal hooks or wire coat hangers, carefully fold your garland and hang it from a curtain rod or garment rack. Your garland can also be hung from the wall as previously mentioned using bike hooks. The best option will depend on the space that you are working with and the amount of garland that you are needing to store.

Use Ceiling Mounted Storage to Free Up Floor Space

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In the search for more storage space, many of us are trying to find ways to make the most of the spaces that we have available. One solution that is gaining in popularity is the use of ceiling space in the garage. This can be done by mounting a ceiling rack, allowing you to place your seasonal decorations on top of it where they will be secure after the holidays are over. Another option is specifically designed for use with storage totes, mounting tracks on the ceiling sized to secure a storage bin using the lip around the outside of the bin. This is a great option for lighter-weight storage like holiday ornaments and festive throw pillows.

Use Clear Bags for Covering Large Decorations to See Which is Which

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Larger wooden or metal yard decorations don’t leave a lot of room in terms of storage. This is especially true for those decorations that can’t be folded down or taken apart in any way. When placing these decorations in your garage or basement, their large size makes them a prime target for dust and debris. This means that they need to be covered to keep them clean. Skip the standard trash bags or utility tarps. Instead, cover your large decorations with clear bags to make it easy to identify which is which when it comes to next season’s decorating efforts.

Add Itemized Labels to Storage Bins

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Rather than keeping a separate inventory of your holiday décor in a notebook or on your computer, why not keep your inventory right with the decorations themselves for easy access. The best way to do this is to label the storage bins with a detailed list of their contents. This doesn’t have to be your only inventory. For those that prefer to stay organized, you can keep a full inventory on your computer that you can reference when planning. However, reading a list on each bin when searching for a specific item will save you time.

Wrap Your Christmas Tree with Plastic Wrap

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The biggest challenge when storing an artificial Christmas tree is the sheer space that it requires. While they can be taken apart, storing each of the branches individually in an oversized storage tote or Christmas tree bag, that also requires more work again the following year to put it all back together. One solution is to store the tree standing, fully assembled. Carefully fold your branches up flat against the trunk of the tree. You will then need to secure them in place during storage, which can easily be done using a roll of plastic wrap. It’s not the most environmentally friendly solution, but it is one that will work.

Take Advantage of Any Extra Wall Space

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Vertical space in your garage or storage area is valuable real estate that is far too often overlooked.  If you are looking to make use of as much of the space available to you as possible, you will need to explore different ways to secure your decorations in an organized and easy-to-access way. This includes some of the options already mentioned, such as the use of shelving and bike hooks, but there are many more options available. Take some time to take stock of the space that you are working with and use your imagination. The more décor you are able to store using this vertical space, the more floor space you will have available to you.

Use Small Spice Containers for Bulbs, Ornament Hooks, and Other Smaller Items

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Widely available in big-box stores and home goods stores across the country, magnetic spice tins are good for more than just storing easily accessible spices on your refrigerator. These little containers are the perfect size for storing ornament hooks, spare bulbs, and other smaller decorating supplies. The fact that they are magnetic makes them easy to store in your garage or storage closet. You can either mount a metal bar to hang them on the wall or secure them to other items like metal shelving units.

Store Beaded Garland in an Empty Plastic Bottle

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If you use beaded garland on your Christmas tree, then you likely already know how challenging it can be to keep these decorations from getting tangled. Each of the beads along the string makes it harder to untangle than a basic string, creating quite a frustrating situation! Luckily, there’s a simple storage solution that will spare you from the trouble, and it’s something you likely have sitting around your house. When you take the decorations off your Christmas tree this season, slowly feed your beaded garland into an empty water bottle. It will curl up in the bottle, settling to the bottom and preventing it from becoming a big mess. Slowly pull it out of the bottle as you put it on the tree next year and you’ll have no problems.

Make Use of the Space Under the Stairs with Custom Shelving

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Is there unused space underneath the stairs in your basement? If so, you may have the perfect holiday storage area just waiting for you to put it to work. Install custom shelving that will not only fit into the space but also be sized to hold your storage totes without a lot of unused space. This is a corner of the house that is often left empty, so you won’t be giving up any valuable space that you will miss during the off-season. It can also free up any storage closets in your living space for other uses.

Invest in High-Quality Storage Bags

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We previously mentioned the benefits of purchasing a wreath bag to safely store your decorations after the holidays come to an end. However, wreath bags aren’t the only commercial storage options available. If you’re looking for a safe and reliable storage solution without the work necessary to put together a DIY option, you can purchase high-quality storage bags for nearly every aspect of your holiday décor including tree bags, storage for wrapping paper and accessories, and ornament storage cubes. While the upfront cost of this option will be higher than the others listed here, it will be ready to go with no work necessary on your part and you know that you’re getting something that is designed to last.

Go High-Tech with an Inventory Organization App

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Tech lovers, this one is for you. In recent years, our smartphones have taken on a role as the center of our lives. They are our calendars, calculators, alarm clocks, cameras, and more. There are also several different apps and programs available to help organize your holiday décor easily. Outlinx Smart Stickers are a great example of this at work. The stickers allow you to label your storage bins using a QR code that can be read using your phone. This code will pull up smart notes in the company’s mobile app, making it easy to check what you have in front of you without even opening the tote.

Use an Old Belt to Secure Your Artificial Tree for Storage

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If you’re searching for an easy way to secure your artificial Christmas tree for storage without the waste created by using plastic wrap, as discussed above, here’s a greener option to consider. Repurpose some older belts that you have lying around the house or pick up a couple of used belts from your local thrift shop. After you have folded the branches of your tree up for storage, wrap the belts tightly around your tree to hold everything in place. In addition to holding your tree in the storage-ready position, the belts can also be used as an easy handle for moving your tree to and from your storage area.

Hang Holiday Ribbon on a Clothes Hanger

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If you have a wooden clothes hanger with a removable pant hanger bar at the bottom, this can be used to create a convenient storage solution for your holiday ribbon. Most holiday ribbon is sold on a spool with an open center, allowing you to slide it onto the wooden dowel that makes up the bottom of the hanger. When this dowel is put back in place, you can hang up your hanger wherever you wish, leaving you with a functioning ribbon hanger. This solution will allow you to easily unroll the ribbon as you use it while keeping everything organized.

Store Fragile Christmas Bulbs in Egg Cartons

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An alternative to cardboard drink trays for organizing your glass Christmas bulb ornaments, egg cartons are both a reliable storage solution as well as something that is readily on hand. This option will only work with smaller Christmas bulbs, limited to those that can fit into the individual egg spots in the carton. However, the design makes it easy to store. Close the carton and you have an easy-to-stack solution that will fit inside your storage totes.

Wrap Christmas Lights Around a Paper Towel Roll

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We have already looked at a couple of different solutions for organizing Christmas lights, but here’s another that you can easily put into practice in your own home. Take an empty paper towel roll and cut a small slit on one side. Tuck the end of your light string into the center of the cardboard tube, using the slit to secure it in place. Wrap the lights around the tube all the way down and repeat the process with a slit at the other end of the tube. Due to the size of the toilet paper roll, this is only suitable with mini lights and LED Christmas lights. However, more people are moving towards LED as of late due to the energy savings that they offer.

Repurpose a Wine Box for Ornament Storage

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Another way to recycle and repurpose items around your home to keep your Christmas decorations safe is to use a wine box. In the bottom of each wine box is a cardboard piece that is designed to hold each of the bottles in place, preventing them from being broken during transit. Like an egg carton, these individual compartments can be used to keep your delicate ornaments safe. The spaces in a wine box are larger than those of an egg carton, making them ideal for larger decorations.

Hang Wreaths from a Foldable Clothes Hanger

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The easiest way to organize your seasonal wreaths is using a foldable clothes hanger like the HangerJack. Hanging systems like these were designed to hold several clothes hangers in a laundry room or storage setting, folding down flush to the wall when it’s not in use. However, when set up they can hold several wreaths with ease. This is great for the person that has a wreath for every season, rotating them out as needed. If you are concerned about the accumulation of dust and debris, slide a large clear garbage bag over the entire set up including the hanger and all wreaths that are resting on it.

Wrap Christmas Lights Around a Plastic Clothes Hanger

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Are you ready to pack up your Christmas lights but can’t find a piece of cardboard or paper towel roll to make use of one of our earlier solutions? Here’s another easy solution to keep your lights from becoming tangled during storage. Grab a standard plastic clothes hanger from your closet and you have everything that you will need. Wrap your lights around the hanger loosely enough that you aren’t going to damage the lights (or the hanger as broken parts can damage your lights) but tightly enough that they aren’t going to fall off. Secure the ends by tucking them into the wrapped layers. These can be stored either by hanging them up or placing them into a storage tote.

Stash Tree Skirts and Festive Tablecloths in Garment Bags

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Garment bags are designed to store our clothing safely, protected from dust and debris over time. Why, then, wouldn’t we use the same technique to protect cloth-based decorations like tree skirts and festive tablecloths? Fold these items up and drape them over a clothes hanger in the same way that you would a skirt or pair of pants. Alternatively, you can use a pant hanger with little clips to hold your items in place. You can then use a garment bag like normal, hanging your items up in your storage space where they will stay clean and fresh for next Christmas.

Use an Under-Cabinet Organizer Rack on Shelves for Hanging Storage

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Under-cabinet hanger racks were designed for use in kitchens to hanger mugs and cooking utensils where they would be easily accessible. However, if you are using shelving in your storage space, these little hooks can also be used to add to your storage setup. You can use these hangers to store ornaments that don’t fit into the other ornament storage solutions that we discussed, stockings, beaded garland, or other items that can easily be hung for the off-season. The best part is that they can be purchased at a low cost. Therefore, if you have many items that can be hung in this way, you can add several hanger racks to your space.

Label Decorations With Where They Go to Make Next Year’s Decorating Easier

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Rather than labeling your storage totes based on what they contain, another option is to place a label on each tote stating where the enclosed decorations will be used. This is going to make setting up your holiday display next season even easier. Ready to decorate your mantle? Simply grab the tote labeled ‘mantle’ and you will have everything that you need in one spot. Not only will this make your job easier, it’s also a great choice for those who have families and may want to task a child or spouse with decorating a specific area of the home.

Organize Indoor Storage with a Hanging Shoe Rack

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In an effort to make the most of the vertical space in many closets, companies have developed hanging shoe racks with individual compartments stacked one on top of the other. While these were designed to hold shoes, they can also be used to organize your holiday storage space. Purchase baskets or small storage totes that will fit into the individual compartments, transforming your shoe hanger into a vertical storage unit. If you have a lot of decorations that can fit into an arrangement like this, add another hanging shoe rack to double your space.

Purchase Furniture with Hidden Storage Compartments

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Unlike the other options on this list, this tip isn’t one that can just be thrown together to store your decorations. However, it is something to keep in mind when shopping for your home. Many furniture pieces are designed with hidden storage including storage compartments in couch seating, headboards, coffee tables, and more. These storage solutions are usually designed with day-to-day storage needs in mind, such as extra bedding but they can also be used as additional holiday storage for those that love to go all out every Christmas.

Use Cardboard to Make Low-Cost DIY Christmas Ornament Storage

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An easy way to create individual storage compartments for your fragile holiday ornaments, all you need for this holiday hack is a storage tote or box and some extra cardboard. Cut several strips of cardboard long enough for your storage tote and tall enough for the ornaments that you are looking to pack away. You want to place the cardboard so that pieces are running both vertically and horizontally, sectioning your tote off into small square spaces. Cut slits into the cardboard at the intersection points allowing the pieces to all slot in with one another. You can create multiple rows if desired, by putting a layer of cardboard in between. Adjust the size of the storage compartments by changing the number of cardboard dividers that you use.

Purchase Shallow Storage Bins for Under Bed Storage

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Another space that goes unused in many homes is the area under the bed. Luckily, there are storage totes available that are specifically designed for exactly this use. These long rectangular storage totes are very shallow, keeping the height down enough for them to fit underneath all standard bed frames. The lids flip up for easy access and some even include wheels, making it easier to slide the tote out when you need to access its contents. The space available in totes created in this style won’t be large enough for bigger holiday decorations, however, it’s a great option for wrapping paper and supplies, smaller ornaments, garland storage, and more.

Store Tangle-Free Christmas Lights Using a Hose Reel

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While the other hacks that we have shared on this list for storing Christmas lights are great for smaller strings of lights, there are times that we must store a long string that simply can’t be wrapped around a small piece of cardboard or a clothes hanger. How do you keep these lights from tangling between holidays? A great solution to the longer strings of lights that are often used for outdoor lighting is a garden hose reel. Compact and functional, the reel will keep your lights secured safely in a way that prevents tangling while also making it easy to release the lights when you’re ready to hang them. Simply bring your hose reel out to the space where you are decorating and you can slowly unroll your lights, keeping them from becoming tangled as you go.

Clean and Repair Items Before Storage to Save Time Next Year

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Before storing your decorations for the off-season, take a moment to look each item over to assess the condition that they are in. It can be tempting to simply store your decorations away regardless of their current state, leaving it as a problem to be addressed next year. However, when next year rolls around, you’re going to wish that you had addressed it prior to storage. Especially with the pressure of the upcoming holiday rolling in! Take the time to clean and repair any decorations, as needed, so that they are all ready to go when preparing for Christmas once again.

Only Store Items You Know You’ll Use Again

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As you go through your items to clean and repair everything, take note of any decorations that are beyond repair. If you are using the same decorations year after year, there will come a time when the wear and tear are simply too much, and they need to be replaced. Rather than wasting storage on items that you won’t be using, discard these items at the close of the current holiday season. This will also make room for you to take advantage of the clearance sales that usually follow any holiday, allowing you to replace your worn-out decorations without concern about where you can stash them until next Christmas.

Extend the Lifespan of Your Decorations with Proper Storage

Not only are these storage tips important to make the most of your limited storage space, but they also help to extend the lifespan of your decorations. Holiday décor can be costly, and it will add up fast if you have to replace everything each year! By taking the time to carefully organize your items and stash them away while paying attention to the different ways that you can protect your decorations and prevent damage,  they are sure to bring holiday cheer for years to come.