How to store Christmas Decorations: A Guide to Festive Storage Solutions
For most of us, the seasonal decorations are about to make their grand entrance. As the festive season gears up, it's the perfect time to take stock of our Christmas decor and consider how to best organise it all. Once you know what you have, you can easily figure out how to store Christmas decorations.
Let's learn how to store Christmas decorations to create a memorable Christmas and a nice tidy home after the festive season.
First, start with a Christmas decoration assessment before you determine how to store Christmas decorations.
Before learning how to store Christmas Decorations, let’s dive into the organisational aspect and assess your current Christmas decor collection.
Christmas decorations often fall into different categories:
Pieces you genuinely adore
Items you've had for ages without questioning their presence
Creations from the kids that might have outgrown their charm
For example, just because your kids made these adorable Christmas decorations at 5 years old doesn’t mean you still need to put them on the tree 20 years later.
Take a moment to reflect on the quality and condition of your collection before we learn how to store Christmas decorations.
Anything broken or tired-looking should be removed.
Consider your colour scheme preferences—are you into an eclectic mix, or do you prefer a more coordinated "matchy matchy" look?
In my house for instance, some years I had a (fake) green tree; other years, I have gone for a chic white tree adorned with gold and purple decorations.
Regarding your Christmas Collection: Ask yourself, what Sparks “Christmas” Joy for you?
Unlike Marie Kondo, I won’t ask you to check in for what sparks joy for you with everything you organise. However, when you are looking at your Christmas decorations and how to store Christmas decorations you want to make sure you only keep items you genuinely like.
Why do you like this item?
Is it the colour, the feel, the smell?
How to store Christmas decorations: Thinking about the materials of your decorations
Having grown up in Europe, Christmas is associated with a myriad of kinesthetic experiences: the smell of a fresh tree, blown-out candles, and the feel of the aluminium or glass Christmas baubles.
The above sounds great, in practice, this was followed by cleaning the shattered aluminium or glass baubles as either gravity or the dog made the natural tree fall down!
I am ashamed to say it, but over the years I have gone from more natural products to more plastic material, which is what most of the Christmas decorations are made of in Australia. In more recent times, I am looking at more natural materials in my Christmas decorations, increasing the sustainability aspect of Christmas and simply being more attuned to less but better and more natural Christmas decorations.
How to store Christmas Decorations: a second cull
Once you are left with items you like and want to keep, it is time to get all your decorations together.
Do another check as you are looking at your items, ask yourself the following questions:
Do you truly love every piece?
Do the decorations match your colour scheme and current preferences?
What “vibe” and atmosphere do you want to create this or next year?
Have some items overstayed their welcome?
Most likely in this process, some more Christmas decorations will go, which is a good thing as you won’t have to store them anymore or deal with them in future years.
Knowing how you will be tidying up after the festivities
For me, the next step is the enjoyable part, figuring out how to store your Christmas decorations.
Your Christmas decorations are in the limelight for just over a month each year, and for the rest of the time, they can turn into clutter unless they are neatly packed away. When considering the number of items, consider your storage options. What is going to work for you?
My suggestion would be to see-through bags, Christmas-coloured boxes, or bags.
Store Christmas Decorations by utilising clever storage solutions for an uncluttered year between festive seasons.
As we contemplate how to store our festive treasures, it's essential to consider options that promote an uncluttered living space throughout the year. Plastic tubes and purpose-designed bags are great practical choices. Personally, I've found that investing some time and money into appropriate/quality storage solutions pays off in the long run. As storage solutions ensure that each item will be protected for months on end, and is ready to dazzle when the festive season rolls around again.
An affordable alternative; utilise see-through covers and sports bags to store Christmas decorations
For years, I've found a repurposed rectangular mattress cover bag to be a game-changer. Given our volume of Christmas decorations, it was the perfect size, keeping all our baubles and other items organised.
When it comes to the Christmas tree itself, storage is crucial. You want to store Christmas decorations, including the tree, away from dust. Otherwise, next year you'll find yourself dealing with a massive dust mite flare-up instead of a nicely decorated space.
Christmas tree storage bags are a blessing—they keep your tree dust-free and clutter-free. If you can’t find a specific Christmas tree bag or don’t want to spend a larger amount of money. I have found a great, super-affordable alternative in sports bags designed to carry hockey sticks or rackets.
Know where you will store Christmas decorations when not in use
With the baubles away and the tree stored in a bag, if you stumble upon the tree during the off-season, you'll feel a sense of accomplishment seeing everything perfectly packed and stored. With Christmas storage solutions you can (unlike with many other material possessions), store them far away from other items you need more regularly. We store our Christmas decorations on the top shelf in the garage, where we only need to grab the items and put them away once a year, making the extra effort worth it.
“All you have to do between January and November is embrace the satisfaction of having acted on a solid plan that comes with spending a little time and energy learning how to store Christmas decorations. ”
A totally different way of looking at how to store Christmas decorations
Earlier in this article on how to store Christmas decorations, I mentioned that as I am getting older and more aware, I am now looking at more natural materials regarding Christmas for future years.
I came across two very interesting articles:
What is the best Christmas tree you can buy and DIY Christmas decorations
The above articles encourage you to think differently about Christmas decorations in general. Instead of purchasing plastic stuff and storing it these voices encourage us to use materials that you already have in your house, and or can find in your local park (like sticks and branches). Once cleaned up, you can use these items to decorate your home for the festive seasons before returning them to nature a few weeks later.
These ideas, in general, shift the thinking from learning how to store Christmas decorations to learning how to utilise resources mindfully during the festive season. As an avid reader, I love the idea of making Christmas trees with books.
From a creative perspective, I also like the idea of utilising wood and creating some festive decorations from natural materials. It would allow me to enjoy something that will stay in my house only for a short time.
Lastly, I like the idea of using cardboard or old clothes (things we all have as part of daily life) to create something beautiful, either for one Christmas season or something sustainable for several years to come.
In turn, this article is about way more than learning to store Christmas decorations. It is about embracing the Joy of an Organised Christmas
In the spirit of Christmas, let's embrace the joy that comes with an organised holiday season. Taking the time to assess, declutter, and thoughtfully store our decorations ensures that each piece retains its charm year after year. Whether you opt for an eclectic look or a coordinated theme, the key is to infuse your space with the festive spirit while maintaining an organised and clutter-free home.
By the time January comes around, and you bid farewell to another Christmas season, relish the satisfaction of knowing that you only have items you like. That your decorations are safely stowed away, ready to bring joy and warmth to your home when the holiday season returns.
Here's to you learning how to store Christmas decorations so you can have an organised Christmas!
Sources:
DIY Christmas Decorations: https://wwf.org.au/blogs/diy-christmas-decorations/
What is the best Christmas Tree you can buy: https://wwf.org.au/blogs/whats-the-best-christmas-tree-you-can-buy/
Give the gift of organisation
Maybe it is a gift to yourself or to a loved one that could use some help.
Note: part of this article was originally an Illawarra mercury article from 2013 updated and refreshed in 2023 and 2025.
