Decorating for the holidays is an tradition and a must for millions of homeowners. The lights, trees, glitter, and ornaments make the season more magical, memorable, and fun. Once the holidays have passed, though, it’s important your decor gets stored properly so that it lasts for year to come. Many decorations are expensive, or have sentimental value, so it’s vital that you keep safe while in storage.

To help, the storage specialists at NSA Storage put together this helpful list of seven decoration storage tips for the holiday season. Use them to ensure that all your holiday decorations are good to go next season, and for many more afterwards.

Why It’s Important to Store Your Holiday Decorations Correctly

Storing holiday decorations correctly can be a tedious task, but if you love decorating each holiday season, it’s truly important. Below are a few excellent reasons to properly store all your holiday decor:

• Saving Money– By storing your decorations correctly, you’ll save money next year because you won’t need to buy replacements.

• Reducing Your Stress– Ever wanted to scream thanks to a badly tangled set of lights or because your favorite ornament was smashed? Store your holiday baubles and trinkets well and you’ll skip the stress when decorating next year.

• Maximizing Storage Space– Most homes are already low on storage space. By storing holiday stuff correctly, you’ll use less of this coveted space and have more room for other things.

• Simplifies Decorating Next Year– Storing holiday decor well now will ensure that, next year, putting everything up again is easy and fun.

Our Best Decoration Storage Tips

1. Sort First, Store Second

Are all the decorations you have worth keeping and storing? If not, keep these things in mind:

• Only keep what you truly love and use every season.
• Throw out anything that’s badly damaged or broken and won’t be used again.
• Consider donating anything you don’t use (but is still in OK shape) to Goodwill or another charity.

By sorting, donating, and tossing, you’ll reduce the amount of decorations and holiday fluff you need to store, thus using less storage space,

2. Storing Fragile Items Safely

Many holiday decorations are fragile and delicate, which means you need to pack and store them with extra care. Here are a few tips to store fragile items safely:

• Have plenty of tissue paper or bubble wrap on-hand.
• Wrap each piece individually.
• Use box dividers for extra protection.
• Place a layer of crumpled paper on the bottom of each box to absorb accidental drops and movement.
• Put heavy items on the bottom and lighter items on top as you work your way to the top of the box.

3. Wrap String Lights to Prevent Tangles

Tangled lights cause more holiday stress than high credit card bills! To avoid it, follow these tips:

• Cut a 10” x 20” piece of double-corrugated cardboard (or several of them).
• Cut a notch on one of the long sides to hold the plug in place.
• Wrap the lights around the cardboard.
• Label each string to know where it goes next year. (Tree, porch, fence, house, etc.)  

4. Wreath Storage Hacks

Natural wreaths are usually thrown away because they dry out and fall apart. Plastic wreaths, however, can be used year after year. To keep them looking good during that time:

• Store them in a container made for wreaths.
• No container? Store them in a heavy-duty plastic bag with a dryer sheet to prevent pests and moisture.
• Hang them in your garage or another area that’s dry and cool.

5. Label Everything

This tip is simple but powerful: label everything. A clear labeling system is one of the best ways to reduce your stress when putting up decorations again next year. For example:

• Label boxes, bags, and other storage containers with easy-to-read wording.
• Use color-coded labels for even more clarity.
• Use an app that creates QR codes and links them to a digital list of your decorations.
• Use “FRAGILE” and “THIS SIDE UP” labels when needed.

6. Storing Fabrics and Linens

Fabrics are also fragile, including tree skirts, stockings, tablecloths, and more. Keep them in beautiful condition with these storage tips:

• Wash and thoroughly dry all holiday fabrics before storage.
• Wrap in breathable fabric bags. If you have silica gel packets from shoes and other purchased items, add those to the bag to soak up moisture.
• Use cedar blocks or chips to prevent pests.
• Don’t use plastic bags, which trap moisture that can cause mold and mildew.

7. Be Careful with Candles

Storing candles isn’t difficult or dangerous, per se, but if you store them improperly, they might melt or get destroyed. To avoid this:

• Candles should be packed and stored standing upright.
• A cool, dry storage spot is a must. Never store candles in the attic, where summer temps can be extreme.
• Trim wicks before storing to prevent the smell and color of cinders from spreading to the wax.
• For scented candles, place in a sealable bag so their scent isn’t lost.

Rent a Storage Unit for Your Decoration Storage

Most American families have a few boxes of holiday decorations that they can easily store at home. If, however, you’re big on holiday decorating, you might need a lot more space to store everything. 

Here are a few reasons why a storage unit might be your best choice to store your holiday décor:

• You’ll free up a lot of storage space in your home.
• Large, expensive holiday decorations, like outdoor inflatables, will be well protected and safe.
• You can organize your storage unit in any manner you like, to make decorating even easier next season.
• You can choose a climate-controlled storage unit for the ultimate decoration protection.

Storing your holiday decor properly is the best way to ensure that everything will be ready to make magic again next year. The tips and hacks above will make that task easier and make decorating again more enjoyable and less stressful.

At NSA Storage, many American families use our safe, secure storage units to store their holiday decorations. You can reserve a storage unit online and start using it right away to keep your ornaments, garlands, and tinsel in pristine condition!