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Setting up your Christmas decorations is so much fun. Packing them away again – not so much! But you can make the inevitable so much better with clever Christmas decoration storage ideas.
Actually, when do you take down your Christmas tree and other decorations? Do you keep them up as long as possible to extend the festive cheer just that little bit longer? Or are you a traditionalist that takes down your decorations twelve days after Christmas (i.e. 6th January)?
There’s one thing for certain, you will be taking them down and here are 3 DIY ways to neatly store your festive decorations and all the items you can pick up to make it even easier.
01
Holiday light organiser box
from $38.95, Amazon
Best for: Keeping Christmas lights tangle-free
Keep Christmas lights tangle free year after year with this handy holder that collapses flat when it’s empty. It comes with spools to wrap the lights around so there’ll be no more wrestling cords apart trying to separate the coloured lights from the warm white lights.
Sizes: One size available, 25.4cm (L) x 25.4cm (W), 33cm (H)
Colours: Red and gold.
Materials: Plastic.
Key features:
- Zipper design makes keeping lights dust- and tangle-free a breeze
- Box folds flat when not in use
- Comes with 5 divider reels to wrap light cords around
02
Artificial Christmas tree storage bag
from $44.95, Temple & Webster
Best for: Protecting your Christmas tree
You only need to try getting your artificial Christmas tree back into its original box to realise: you really need a Christmas tree storage bag. If you take good care of your Christmas tree, it’ll last forever, so invest in a bag that keeps it looking its best. This lightweight, yet sturdy design, can accommodate a tree up to 210cm tall. Plus, it’s constructed from premium Oxford fabric, meaning it can withstand the rough and tumble of long-term storage.
Sizes: 175cm (W) and 140cm (W).
Colours: Silver.
Materials: Oxford fabric.
Key features:
- Comes with a 2-year product warranty.
- Can be cleaned with a soft cloth.
- Lightweight, weighs less than 0.9kg.
03
Christmas bauble storage bag
from $8, Big W
Best for: Storing your precious bauble collection
If you’re a keen Christmas bauble collector then protecting them is a must. Keep them organised in this handy cube that features transparent walls so you can easily see exactly what you’re looking for at a glance.
Sizes: 27cm x 27cm x 28cm.
Colours: Red and transparent.
Materials: Plastic construction with zip closure.
Key features:
- Can store up to 64 baubles
- Transparent construction keeps bauble collection visible
- Grid feature keeps baubles organised
04
Large gift-wrapping organiser
from $25.99, Amazon
Best for: Keeping gift wrap and ribbons in one place
What do Christmas, birthdays, weddings and housewarmings all have in common? Gift-giving! That means you’ve probably got a collection of wrapping tubes, ribbon, and gift bags gathering dust and getting rumpled in the back of a cupboard. Get them out of the cupboard and into this gift-wrapping station. It can fit up to 24 rolls and has extra pockets for large ribbons and decorations. One reviewer says “[It has] straps to hold the wrapping paper in place and seems to be well made, too.”
Sizes: 34.6 x 18.4 x 8 cm.
Colours: Black, grey and red.
Materials: Fabric with zip enclosure.
Key features:
- Can store up to 24 rolls
- Fabric construction keeps dust out
- Extra pockets allow you to keep wrapping accessories like large ribbons and tape on hand.
05
Christmas wreath and garland storage bag
from $34.95, Pillow Talk
Best for: Protecting wreaths, garlands and tinsel
There’s nothing worse than finding Christmas garlands at the bottom of a storage box crumpled and out of shape. Make sure you protect all your decorations, including your wreath and garlands by investing in a purpose-built storage case. This design from Pillow Talk features a zip closure and carry handles. One reviewer says the storage bag is, “Excellent, large and fitted 2x wreaths and 4x garlands.”
Sizes: 70cm x 70cm Dia x 18cm L
Colours: Black, grey and red.
Materials: Oxford cloth with zip closure.
Key features:
- Large, can fit multiple wreaths and garlands
- Features easy-to-hold carry handles
- Multipurpose, can also be used to store Christmas tree baubles
DIY Christmas decoration storage ideas
1. Keep things clear
Clear plastic storage tubs (with or without wheels) from discount variety stores or the supermarket make for stackable storage you can see into. Label each crate by category (e.g. type, colour, large, small, fragile, etc) so you can quickly find and unpack what you want.
2. Egg cartons
Repurpose egg cartons for tree trims which you can then place in the crate. For larger items, consider collecting cardboard takeaway coffee trays. These are great for storing and protecting large baubles and bulky decorations.
3. That’s a wrap
Wrapping baubles is the best way to protect them from damage while in storage. Rather than simply throwing out Christmas wrapping paper, or popping it into the recycling bin, consider reusing it to wrap fragile baubles and decorations. Label each bauble so you know exactly which one is which next . Alternatively, you wrap alike items in the same kind of wrapping paper, e.g. all white baubles are wrapped in white gift wrap, all glass baubles are wrapped in gold wrapping paper.
4. Cardboard rolls
Save cardboard tubes from paper towel rolls and wind delicate fairy lights around them. Tuck the plug into the tube.
5. Coat hangers
Coat hangers are great for storing long decorations, think: garlands and tinsel. They can even be used to keep fairy lights tangle free!
6. Garment bags
Garment bags can be used for more than just clothes. Place garlands, fairy lights or even wrapping paper tubes into a garment bag and hang it up at the back of a wardrobe.
7. Save the box!
Boxes tend to be in abundance around Christmas time. Keep an eye out for boxes worth saving for the purpose of storing Christmas decorations. Smaller boxes, like those used for storing fresh cherries, are great for packing away smaller items like ribbons, candles and small baubles. Larger boxes can be used to store segments of the tree, or other ornaments you use to decorate the rest of the house.
