How to Store Christmas Decorations So Next Year's Setup Is Easy

Putting Christmas decorations up is a celebration. Taking them down is... less so. But the way you pack things away in January decides how next December goes. A little care now means no knotted lights, no crushed ornaments and no mystery boxes when it's time to decorate again.

Here's a practical, room-by-room plan for taking down and storing your Christmas decorations.

Gather Your Supplies First

Before you take down a single ornament, set yourself up. You'll work faster and pack better with everything in one place.

• Sturdy bins with lids. Clear bins let you see what's inside. Stackable ones save space.
• Labels and a marker. Masking tape works in a pinch.
• Tissue paper or old newspaper. For wrapping fragile pieces.
• Zip-top bags. For hooks, clips, spare bulbs, stakes and small parts.
• Pieces of stiff cardboard. For winding light strands.
• A soft cloth and a small brush. For wiping dust and debris off decor before packing.

Timing tip: Pick a dry day to take down outdoor decorations. Packing anything damp is the fastest way to get mildew and musty smells.

Take It Down in the Right Order

Work in the reverse order you decorated. For the tree, that means topper first, then ornaments, then garland and ribbon, and lights last. Outside, unplug everything before you start, and take down lights and figures before you pull up stakes and cords.

Set up a staging area, like a dining table or a clear spot on the floor, where you can sort items into groups before they go into bins.

Artificial Trees

Your tree is probably your biggest investment, so give it a little extra care.

1. Remove everything. Check for stray hooks and ornament hangers tucked deep in the branches.
2. Fold the branches up. On a hinged tree, gently lift each branch toward the pole, working from the bottom of each section up.
3. Separate the sections. Unplug the connections between sections before you pull them apart.
4. Store each section flat or upright, never under heavy boxes that can crush the tips.

The 7 ft Pre-Lit Hinged Christmas Tree is a good example of a tree designed for this. Its hinged branches fall into place for setup and pack down small for storage, and it has a foldable stand.

If you'd love to skip the whole take-down-and-redecorate routine, consider a pop-up tree. The 6 ft Pop-Up Pre-Lit Decorated Christmas Tree arrives pre-lit with 150 warm white LEDs and decorated with pine cones and faux red berries, and it collapses when the season is over. The 6 ft White Pop-Up Pre-Lit Decorated Christmas Tree comes decorated with red ornaments, ribbons and candies, and it has 100 warm white lights with 8 modes.

400 Lights Say This Tree Means Business

7 ft Pre-Lit Hinged Christmas Tree with 400 Warm White Lights

$123.99MSRP $198.65

Pop It Open, Plug It In, Christmas Is Done

6 ft Pop-Up Pre-Lit Decorated Christmas Tree with 150 Warm White LEDs

From $188.99MSRP $207.00

Snow-White and Dressed in Red, Ready in Minutes

6 ft White Pop-Up Pre-Lit Decorated Christmas Tree, 100 Warm Lights

$67.99MSRP $108.48

String Lights

Tangled lights are the classic holiday headache, and they're completely avoidable.

• Test before you pack. Plug in each strand and note any dark sections. It's much easier to fix or replace them now than on decorating day.
• Wind them neatly. Wrap each strand around a piece of cardboard, starting with the plug end. Tuck the end into a slit cut in the cardboard so it doesn't unwind.
• Label each strand. Write the length and where it was used, like "front porch rail" or "living room tree."
• Keep spares together. Put spare bulbs and fuses in a small bag with their strand.

If you have C9 strands with E17 sockets, a pack of replacement bulbs is handy to have on hand. The 25-Pack Multicolor C9 LED Christmas Replacement Bulbs include 5 each of red, green, blue, yellow and orange, with shatterproof, waterproof shells.

Ornaments

Ornaments are where careful packing matters most.

• Wrap fragile pieces individually in tissue paper.
• Use dividers. Compartments keep ornaments from knocking into each other. Cardboard dividers or egg cartons work well for small pieces.
• Pack heavy items on the bottom and delicate ones on top.
• Remove metal hooks and store them in a bag so they don't scratch finishes.

Some sets make this part easy. The 16-Piece Shatterproof Hand-Painted Christmas Ball Ornament Set comes with a reusable storage box with separate compartments, and it's available in several colors, including gold, red, champagne and blue.

If you display ornaments beyond the tree, the 3 ft Gold Wrought Iron Christmas Ornament Display Tree folds for storage and sets up without tools.

Inflatables

Inflatables pack down small, but they need to be completely dry and clean first.

1. Let it run to dry. After rain or snow, let the inflatable run for a while on a dry day.
2. Brush off debris. Leaves, grass and dirt can stain or scratch the fabric.
3. Deflate completely and press out the remaining air.
4. Fold loosely rather than rolling tightly.
5. Keep the parts together. Store stakes, tethers and sandbags with the inflatable.

The 7 ft Inflatable Gingerbread House includes a storage bag, along with 6 stakes and 2 tethers. The 8 ft Inflatable Snowman deflates for storage when you unplug it, and it comes with 5 stakes, 3 drawstrings and a sandbag, so keep them all in one bag. For window pieces like the 3.4 ft Hanging Santa with Wreath Window Inflatable, bag the 3 suction cups and drawstring so they don't get lost.

For more on keeping inflatables in good shape during the season, see our guide on how to secure inflatables in wind.

A Gingerbread Family Moved Onto Your Lawn

7 ft Inflatable Gingerbread House with Built-In White LED Lights

$80.99MSRP $96.80

Eight Feet of Frosty Fun, Inflated in a Flash

8 ft Inflatable Snowman with Built-In LED Lights

$52.99MSRP $62.48

Santa Drops By With a Wreath in Hand

3.4 ft Hanging Santa with Wreath Window Inflatable with LED Lights

$64.99MSRP $103.78

Lighted Yard Figures and Collapsible Decor

Metal-frame figures can take up a lot of room if you store them as-is. Luckily, many are designed to fold, collapse or stack.

• The 5.7 ft Pre-Lit Pull-Up Snowman with Tree has 200 warm white LEDs and collapses compactly.
• The Set of 2 Lighted Top Hat Snowmen have 80 warm white LEDs and collapse for storage.
• The 4 ft Pre-Lit Collapsible Christmas Tree Yard Decoration folds flat.
• The Pre-Lit White Beaded Cone Christmas Trees come in 32, 28 and 24.5 in sizes and stack together.
• The 3-Piece Pre-Lit Pop-Up Christmas Ball Set collapses flat.
• The 24 in Pre-Lit Metal Christmas Wreath with Gold Bow collapses too.

Before packing, wipe each figure down, let it dry, and wrap its cord loosely. Stand collapsed pieces upright against a wall or slide them flat under a shelf.

Frosty Pops Up and Brings His Own Tree

5.7 ft Pre-Lit Pull-Up Snowman with Tree and 200 Warm White LEDs

$89.99MSRP $144.66

Two Waving Snowmen to Greet Your Guests

Set of 2 Lighted Top Hat Snowmen with 80 Warm White LEDs

$71.99MSRP $114.22

A Shimmering Tree That Pops Up in Minutes

4 ft Pre-Lit Collapsible Christmas Tree Yard Decoration with 110 LEDs

$47.99MSRP $74.54

Three Twinkly Cones With Swaying Star Strings

Pre-Lit White Beaded Cone Christmas Trees with 90 LEDs, Set of 3

$103.99MSRP $166.46

Pillows, Throws and Textiles

Fabric decor is easy to store but easy to forget. Wash or spot clean anything that needs it, and make sure it's fully dry. Pillow covers like the Set of 4 Double-Sided Christmas Pillow Covers can be stored flat, so they take up almost no room in a bin.

Build a Labeling System

A good labeling system is the secret to a stress-free next season.

1. Label by room or zone, like "Living Room Tree," "Front Porch" or "Kitchen."
2. List the contents on the side of each bin, not just the lid, so you can read it when bins are stacked.
3. Number your bins and keep a simple list on your phone of what's in each one.
4. Mark "open first" on the bin with lights, extension cords and tools.
5. Note what needs replacing, like a dead light strand or a broken hook, so you can plan ahead.

Choose the Right Storage Spot

Look for a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and big temperature swings. A closet, basement shelf or garage shelf can all work. Keep bins off the floor where possible, and keep heavy boxes low so they're easy and safe to lift.

Plan Ahead for Next Year

While it's all fresh in your mind, jot down what worked and what you'd like to add. Next fall, browse our Christmas collection to fill the gaps, and check out our guides on Christmas tree color themes and when to start decorating for Christmas.

Orders ship from US warehouses and usually arrive in 5-10 business days, with free shipping on orders over $75 in the lower 48 and 30-day returns. Here's to an easy unpacking day next December!