Decorating for the holidays is a wonderful way to bring the family together each year. It’s a fun holiday activity, and it makes the Christmas season so magical. But let’s face it, taking down the decorations is such a hassle. Packing delicate and bulky items into storage bins and lugging them to your garage or attic doesn’t sound nearly as fun as hanging stockings or decorating the tree, but we are here to help. Here are a few tips for storing your holiday décor that will help you save space and time while simultaneously protecting your decorations so they will last for years to come.

Vacuum Seal Bags

Vacuum seal bags are a great way to protect your fabric décor and helping you save space. They come in a variety of sizes to fit decorative pillows, throw blankets, tree skirts, stockings and more. Simply pack your decorations into the bag, seal it, and use your vacuum hose to take the excess air out of the bag. The bag will shrink so that your decorations will lay flat and be easy to store. Have no fear about storing them in your attic or garage. Vacuum seals bags will protect your fabrics from mold, mildew, dust, dirt, stains, and bugs. You can even add a dryer sheet (or two) to the bag to keep your fabrics smelling fresh for the next holiday season.   

Ornament Organization

Ornaments can be difficult to store, especially when they are delicate. Investing in ornament boxes is a great way to keep ornaments separated from one another while saving you the hassle of bubble wrapping each ornament individually. Ornament boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on your storage needs. Walmart has options for underbed storage, but they also have bigger boxes that can also be stored in your attic or garage. Many of them have handles and straps to make them much easier to carry than the traditional brown box.

Storing String Lights

String lights look beautiful on our Christmas trees and around our homes, but they are definitely the most frustrating holiday decoration to store. Untangling string lights after they spent a year in a box has to be the worst part of holiday decorating. There must be a better way! Luckily there is, and I can guarantee that you already have all the materials you will need to store string lights more efficiently. Before you throw away your boxes from your online Christmas shopping, break them down and cut them along the panels with a pair of scissors or box cutters. Save the pieces of cardboard and wrap your string lights around the cardboard to prevent them from getting tangled. You can even use a piece of tape to secure the ends of the string lights to the cardboard to ensure it won’t unravel in storage.  This method will give you peace of mind for next year knowing you won’t have to untangle a ball of lights. Just be sure to store them in an air-tight container to protect them from any moisture. The only thing worse than untangling string lights is untangling them and realizing they’re damaged and don’t work!

Avoid a Dish Disaster

If you’re storing dishes, glassware, or anything fragile be sure that you are protecting your pieces as you store them. Bubble wrap, tissue paper, and newspaper will be your friends as you pack delicate décor. When you pack your dishes be sure to add a layer of bubble wrap between each plate. The task seems tedious, but it is worth it to make your holiday dishes last for years to come. Once your dishes are placed in a sturdy box, stuff tissue paper and newspaper between the stacks to ensure that your dishes will stay in place. Shifting could cause your delicate items to chip or scratch, so be generous with filler.

We hope these tips help as you begin to prepare storing your decorations for next season! What are your favorite holiday storage hacks? Let us know in the comments or on social media! Have a happy and safe holiday!

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