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The Best Holiday Storage Solutions, According to Pro Organizers
Make broken ornaments and wrestling with lights a thing of the past
By Korin Miller
Holiday décor is notoriously hard to store safely thanks to awkward shapes and easily-tangled items, but these decorations—sometimes with sentimental value and irreplaceable—are a special part of festive merrymaking. With that in mind, it’s important to enlist the right storage containers and bags to ensure these decorations hold up over the years through their downtime sitting in an attic, garage or closet during the offseason.
We asked professional organizers for the holiday storage solutions they use and suggest to clients when it’s that time of year. Here’s what they recommend.
Best storage for Christmas trees
Artificial trees have to go somewhere when the season is over, and the boxes they come in typically don’t hold up over the years. Brenna Peyton, owner and lead organizer of One Organized Girl, likes this tree storage bag for its durability and ease of use. “It’s pricey but it’s going to be the most user-friendly as far as put-up and takedown,” she says. The bag, which is made of polyester, has a rolling stand that secures to the base of your tree. To use it, just remove your ornaments, remove the top of the tree (it goes in a dedicated compartment), and pull the fabric over your faux plant. From there, you can roll it to your storage location of choice. The bag comes in slim, standard and extra-large options to match the size of your tree. Balsam Hill is also the maker of our favorite artificial Christmas tree.
(If your tradition is to put up a live tree, don’t miss our writer’s favorite tree stand that makes it doable for just one-person to handle.)
This bag also allows you to store your tree without having to take it apart—that’s a big perk for Naeemah Ford Goldson, certified professional organizer and owner of Restore Order Professional Organizing. She also likes the polyester-nylon bag’s roomy nature. “You can keep some of the tree branches fluffed,” Goldson points out. Another perk: This bag attaches to the tree’s base and can be hidden under a standard tree skirt, so you don’t need to fully remove it when your tree is out. When it’s time to pack up for the season, just unfurl it up over your tree and you’re good to go for another year.
Best ornament storage
This polyester and canvas ornament chest is on wheels and has pullout drawers, making it simple to roll it up to your tree and get to work. It also features acid-free, fabric-lined dividers to protect and separate ornaments, saving you time and hassle in the process. There’s even a zippered pouch in the front for odds and ends. “Do everything you possibly can not to have to wrap each ornament individually,” Peyton cautions. You can choose from 100-, 120- and 150-piece models, depending on your needs, with a dedicated space for each and every ornament.
Best holiday light storage
This light storage box contains four inserts you can wrap your lights around before neatly spacing them out inside. While The Container Store doesn’t specify exactly how many lights the box can hold, the included inserts can be spaced apart as needed to accommodate bulkier and longer light strings. Peyton likes the 4-in-1 design and relatively inexpensive price tag. “Think about your financial return,” she says. “If your lights aren’t expensive, then your storage doesn’t need to be expensive. If your lights are expensive, then your storage solution should reflect the same quality.”
While it’s not purpose-built, Goldson prefers the simplicity of extension cord storage for her tree lights, like this reel. “You simply wrap the wires around the storage and put it into a storage container to keep it in great shape for the following year,” she says. This reel holds up to 150 feet of lights. There are no specifications on the types of lights the reel can hold, but it offers more room for standard bulbs.
Best gift wrap storage
This sturdy plastic storage container is specifically designed to fit up to 20 rolls of standard wrapping paper, with a small top compartment for ribbons and bows. Both sections have hinged lids that snap firmly into place to keep out dust when it’s not in use. Goldston likes the vertical design, which won’t hog floor space, and separate storage for wrapping accouterments.
A clear plastic box with plenty of length for rolls of wrapping paper, this Container Store models a top pick for Peyton. “When it comes to wrapping paper storage, I absolutely hate pretty much every organizer on the market,” she says. “They either don’t hold up, are difficult to use or just overcomplicate the entire situation. Instead, just grab a large flat storage bin like this for your rolls of wrapping paper.” This particular box is short enough to slide under most beds and has handles at the sides for comfortable carrying. The brand offers a similar solution for your greeting cards, too.
Best wreath storage
Available in 30- and 36-inch diameters, this wreath storage solution from West Elm is “super simple,” Peyton says. “If you have the storage space, you could just hang [the container] on a nail in your garage or attic.” The polyester bag attaches to your wreath frame to prevent warping and has a wraparound zipper for ease of use. Its handle is also padded to protect your hands.
Best menorah storage
Menorahs come in a range of sizes—just like these stackable air- and watertight totes. “These are the most protective bins you can get for your holiday items,” says Leigh Achenbach, owner of Suddenly Simple Professional Organizing. “They have very strong locking latches to secure the lid to the bin. They also have reinforced bases and lids that allow for secure stacking.” The totes come in a massive range of sizes, from 6.5 to 156 quarts to suit a slew of needs.
Best storage for holiday dishes
Holiday-themed dinnerware is prone to breakage, making it important to get your storage right. This set of five specialized containers features quilted padding around the interior, along with felt plate dividers to protect dishes and glasses. “They’re easy to move and keep your items safe,” Peyton says. “They’re also not terrible to look at.” With five different sizes and shapes, the kit can house wine glasses, a variety of plates, bowls and more.
Best general holiday storage
It’s difficult to have a designated storage container for every single holiday item. Achenbach recommends having a few of these clear plastic boxes handy for everything else. “These are some of the most affordable bins on the market,” she says. “They offer several different sizes and come with latched lids for great protection.” Indexed lids also allow for easy stacking.