15 Smart Ways to Organise Holiday Decorations for Easy Storage

Taking down decorations can feel like a chore, but a little effort now will save you a major headache next year. Learning how to properly organise holiday decorations not only protects your treasured items but also makes the next decorating season faster and more enjoyable. Use these 15 simple and effective tips to conquer the post-holiday clutter for good white kitchen.

1) Declutter Before You Pack

Before you store a single item, take time to declutter. Inspect every piece and get rid of anything that is broken beyond repair, no longer fits your style, or you simply didn’t use this year. Donating usable items you no longer love makes room for new treasures and ensures you only store what you truly value as living room chairs.

2) Use Clear Storage Bins

Switch from opaque cardboard boxes to clear plastic bins. This is one of the easiest ways to organise holiday decorations because you can see the contents at a glance without having to open every single container. This simple swap will save you immense time and frustration when you’re looking for a specific item next year.

3) Invest in Ornament Storage Boxes

Fragile ornaments need special care. Specialised ornament storage boxes with cardboard dividers are a worthwhile investment. They prevent your delicate glass balls and treasured keepsakes from clinking together, scratching, or breaking. For oddly shaped ornaments, use tissue paper or bubble wrap for extra padding within each compartment.

4) Wrap Lights Around Cardboard

Avoid the dreaded tangled mess of lights next season. Cut a sturdy piece of cardboard into a rectangle and cut a slit on each end. Secure one end of the light strand in a slit and wrap the lights neatly around the cardboard, securing the other end in the opposite slit. This simple hack keeps them tangle-free and easy to test.

5) Use Garment Bags for Wreaths and Garlands

Artificial wreaths and garlands can get crushed and misshapen in standard boxes. Protect their shape by storing them in wreath-specific storage bags or by hanging them on hangers inside a garment bag. This keeps them dust-free and ready to hang, with minimal fluffing required next holiday season.

6) Label Everything Clearly

Every container should have a clear, detailed label. Instead of just writing Christmas, be specific: Living Room Mantel Decor, Kitchen Christmas Linens, or Tree Ornaments Fragile. This allows you to grab exactly what you need when decorating a specific area of your home. A simple label maker makes this task quick and neat.

7) Store by Room or Area

Take your labelling system a step further by packing items based on where you use them. Create a dedicated bin for the entryway decor, another for the dining table centrepiece, and so on. This strategy streamlines the decorating process, as you can take one bin to each area and set it up efficiently.

8) Use Vertical Space with Shelving

Don’t let your storage bins become a teetering pile on the floor. Install sturdy shelving in your attic, basement, or garage to take advantage of vertical space. This makes it easier to access every bin without having to unstack them, and it protects the containers on the bottom from being crushed. 

9) Protect Fragile Figurines in Original Boxes

If you still have the original packaging for ceramic villages or fragile nativity sets, use it. The styrofoam and custom-fit boxes were designed to protect those specific items. If the original box is gone, wrap each piece individually in bubble wrap and place them in a sturdy bin with packing peanuts for cushioning.

10) Create a “First On, Last Off” Box

Identify the items you always put up first—like an advent calendar or outdoor lights—and pack them together in a clearly marked Open First box. This box should be the most accessible one in your storage area. It simplifies the start of the decorating season and gives you an immediate sense of accomplishment.

11) Use Ziploc Bags for Small Pieces

Keep small, related items together using clear resealable bags. This is perfect for ornament hooks, replacement bulbs, stocking hangers, and small nativity figures. You can then place all these small bags inside one larger, clearly labelled Holiday Smalls bin so nothing gets lost at the bottom of a box.

12. Utilise Under-Bed Storage

For those with limited closet or garage space, under-bed storage is an excellent solution. Low-profile bins or zippered bags designed to slide under a bed are perfect for storing non-fragile items like holiday linens, tree skirts, stockings, and seasonal throw pillow covers.

13) Repurpose Household Containers

You don’t always need to buy new storage solutions. Egg cartons are perfect for holding small, delicate ornaments. Empty coffee cans or plastic drink carriers can protect and separate larger, round ornaments. Getting creative with items you already have is a budget-friendly way to organise holiday decorations.

14) Store Wrapping Paper Vertically

Keep your wrapping paper rolls from getting crushed and wrinkled by storing them upright. A tall, slender trash can, a laundry hamper, or a dedicated wrapping paper storage bag works perfectly. This keeps the paper neat and allows you to see all your patterns at a glance.

15) Designate a Holiday Storage Zone

To make everything easy to find, dedicate one specific area of your home—a corner of the basement, a set of shelves in the garage, or a guest room closet—exclusively for holiday storage. Grouping all your holiday bins ensures you won’t be hunting through general storage to find the festive gear.

Taking the time to organise your holiday decorations now is a gift to your future self. A well-organised system not only protects your cherished items but also transforms decorating from a stressful chore into a joyful tradition.