Christmas is almost here, and it’s time to embrace the holiday spirit fully. By now, your home may be already filled with festive trees, sparkling ornaments, and all things merry and bright. Or perhaps you’re like other people, unsure where all those decorations will go once the celebrations are over. Either way, one thing is certain—decorations need proper storage once the season ends. Without it, you might find yourself replacing them year after year.
That’s why knowing how to store Christmas decorations is just as important as picking out the perfect ones to keep the festivities alive for years to come. Read on as we tell you how.
How To Store Christmas Lights
Why Proper Storage Is Essential for Christmas Lights
Without proper Christmas lights, your tree, ornaments, and all the festive decorations you’ve carefully chosen lose much of their charm, as lights are what give them the Christmas glow. Imagine, after everything is set up perfectly, broken bulbs, damaged strands, or tangled wires taking away that magical glow everyone is waiting for—indeed, stress you don’t need.
So, if you’re still wondering why knowing how to store Christmas decorations—especially lights—is so important, the answer is simple. Proper storage prevents premature wear and tear, saves you from the unnecessary stress of detangling wires, and ensures your lights are ready to shine brightly for many seasons to come.
Tips for Storing Christmas Lights Without Tangling
Our tips on how to store Christmas decorations, lighting edition, are very simple yet often forgotten. First, wind the lights around a spool or a piece of sturdy cardboard by starting at one end and wrapping them snugly. This method will keep the wires flat and untangled. The second tip is to label each set of lights with information on where they were used to help you next year. For instance, ‘by the window lights,’ ‘tree lights,’ or something similar.
Protecting Lights from Damage
Once your lights are safely packed away in their proper containers, the next crucial step is to store them in a free-from-moisture-and-extreme-temperature-changes kind of place. These conditions can cause the electrical components to corrode and weaken the plastic insulation over time. Ideally, a basement or closet works well for storage, but if your basement isn’t waterproofed, you might need to find an alternative to keep your lights in excellent condition.
Next, to avoid having to buy new sets of lights, keep your lights away from direct sunlight! Prolonged exposure can cause the plastic components to become brittle and discolored, certainly not the lights you’d want to see hanging around in your home next Christmas. You can keep them in covered boxes that block out light for extra protection.
How To Store Christmas Tree
Storing a Real Tree After the Holiday Season
Nothing is quite as inviting as the fresh pine aroma of a real Christmas tree filling your living room—it truly screams Christmas. However, choosing a real tree comes with its own responsibilities. Unlike artificial trees that can be stored, real trees need a proper plan on what to do with your live Christmas tree after it’s all done.
Remove the tree from your home using a tree disposal bag to manage this responsibly. But before it goes without any purpose, there are many communities that offer eco-friendly disposal services or designated drop-off locations for tree recycling, turning them into mulch or compost. Alternatively, you can compost it yourself by breaking it down into smaller pieces. This way, you can enjoy the beauty of a real tree without harming the place that provided it.
Storing an Artificial Christmas Tree
There’s also nothing wrong with keeping it simple by opting for an artificial tree. Not only are these factory-made trees reusable for years, but they’re also much more hassle-free to store when Christmas ends. First, you need to disassemble the tree, section by section, and label every piece to store it. Otherwise, the stress of sorting through mismatched parts next year could unnecessarily lead you to buy a new tree.
Next, invest in a durable tree storage bag to protect your tree from moisture, dust, and unwanted pests. If you’re taking simplicity to the next level with a pre-lit tree, extra care is needed to ensure the lights are not damaged by avoiding bending the tree and securing the wires. Lastly, just like how to store Christmas decorations lighting earlier, keep your tree in a cool, dry place.
Tips for Maintaining Tree Shape and Structure
Now, how do you store Christmas decorations, like your Christmas tree plus their built-in lights, if there are any? It really doesn’t take that much of an effort, a little care just what it takes. Before disassembling, take a moment to arrange the branches of your tree to keep its natural shape. And, when it’s time to store it, don’t squish them too tightly. Instead, fold them gently toward the center to avoid bending or breaking.
How To Store Christmas Ornaments
Why Proper Ornament Storage is Crucial
Christmas ornaments are more than just decorations—they hold precious memories, some even passed down through generations. Their sentimental value makes proper storage essential to protect them from damage. Even with new ornaments, you might want to pass them down to your kids someday. That being said, following our tips on how to store Christmas decorations ensures these treasures continue to brighten your family’s celebrations each year.
Best Storage Solutions for Ornaments
The best way to keep your ornaments safe and organized is to use storage boxes or bags with dividers to separate each one so they don’t bump into each other and, worse, scratch or break. But what if you’re not blessed with a big home? Don’t worry—stackable storage bins can be your lifesaver. They save space while keeping your ornaments arranged, and their clear color makes it easy to see what’s inside without creating a mess in your already small living space.
How To Store Christmas Wreaths and Garlands
Storing Wreaths
Having a wreath on your front door is a must-do. However, this decoration is tricky to store without damaging the shape. You can follow our tip from this ‘How to store Christmas decorations’ guide using a wreath storage bag or box to protect it. A simple hack, however, can be used by storing it inside a garment bag or on a sturdy hook in your closet. Whichever you go with, storing it properly can save you money that you can put toward something new and exciting for next Christmas instead.
Storing Garlands
Before we move on, let’s talk about garlands—another tricky decoration to store. To keep them as beautiful as they are now, gently wrap each garland around cardboard and secure both ends with ribbon so they don’t tangle or lose their shape. For garlands with lights, wrap those lights using bubble wrap for extra protection. After everything is set, keep them in a long, shallow bin to avoid crushing and, of course, in a cool, dry place.
Organizing and Storing Other Holiday Décor
Last but not least, fabric décor like Christmas stockings, tree skirts, and other fabric items—because, let’s face it, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without them. Before storing, give them a quick wash to remove any aftermath from the festivities. Once clean and dry, fold or roll them neatly and tuck them in a plastic bin or fabric storage bag. Here’s a little pro tip: toss in a few silica gel packets to keep everything dry and fresh. With these steps, your favorite fabric décor will look new every year.
End Note
Storing your Christmas decorations properly will protect your favorite holiday items and make your next year’s setup a breeze. By following our tips on how to store Christmas decorations, from lights to ornaments, wreaths to fabric décor, you ensure that those things that bring the joyous atmosphere can last a long time and maybe even pass down to your kids’ generation.
Ready to get started? Visit Johnson’s Ace Hardware to shop for the best storage solutions and keep your Christmas decorations in perfect condition for years!
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