Holidays & Entertaining Holidays How to Organize and Store Your Holiday Decor When it's time to untrim the tree and take down the stockings, Simply host Haley Cairo has the perfect system for storing all your holiday decorations safely. By Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 10, 2023 Decorating the house for the holidays is fun, but "undecorating" everything and storing it away for another season? Not exactly on top of anyone's to-do list. Fortunately, Simply host Haley Cairo has some smart solutions to make stashing all your holiday decor easier. Whether you need to stow away your wreath or want a better way to store wrapping paper, Haley's clever holiday organization tips and storage solution will make "undecorating" a breeze. Haley Cairo is a Delaware native who grew up designing floor plans, making mood boards, and reading her mother's design magazines instead of playing with toys. Over the past 10 years, Haley has shared her journey, healthy living tips, DIYs, productivity hacks, and personal life on her YouTube channel. 01 of 05 How to Store Christmas Ornaments Amazon.com $25, amazon.com Sure, you could toss your ornaments in a bag or shoebox, but chances are they'll end up in a tangled mess. That's why we recommend using a dedicated ornament storage box or a pullout drawer for a hassle-free organization system. In order to protect delicate or fragile decorations, use soft holiday decor (think towels, pillow covers, and more) to surround breakable items to help avoid chips and breakage. (You can also reuse and recycle bubble wrap, peanuts, and other wrappings from any shipped gifts to help protect your valuables.) We recommend this red pullout drawer, which can fit in the back of a coat closet or garage. This design not only makes it easy to see what you have, but each drawer is also removable which will come in handy when you're decorating (or undecorating). Plus, the velcro-attached storage can be shifted to accommodate larger or oddly shaped ornaments. 02 of 05 How to Store Wreaths Amazon.com $11, amazon.com In addition to making your decorations easier to put away, having an organizer for your wreath will keep it protected from potential heat or water damage since many holiday decor storage solutions are made of water-resistant materials like polypropylene. And while you could leave your wreaths up on a door all year round, the smarter choice would be to use this red storage box. Not only will it keep the dust off, but it's waterproof, so it'll protect your wreath from any leaks or water spills. This round, water-resistant container is generously sized to keep your favorite wreaths safe and ready for the next holiday season. 03 of 05 How to Store Wrapping Paper Amazon.com $20, amazon.com While storing wrapping paper under the bed or in a closet is convenient, it can topple over or get damaged. To prevent this, use tall baskets to secure it in place or opt for an over-the-door rack for a tidy and damage-free solution. You could also use a dedicated wrapping paper storage bin—this one is sleek and has pockets to keep ribbons, bags, and bows neatly stashed. It stows easily under a bed, and has a carry handle so you can tote it wherever you need. Consider this a must-have for your gift-wrapping collection. 04 of 05 How to Store Christmas Lights Wayfair.com $29, wayfair.com Minimize your set-up time next season by properly storing your lights now. Instead of tossing them into a plastic bag, use colorful red and green bins or boxes to make it easier to pick out your holiday decor in a crowded storage area. This storage system has three reels that you can wrap your strings of lights around to keep them tangle-free and ready to go. As an added bonus, this storage container has two handles for when you're on-the-go. 05 of 05 How to Store Christmas Trees Wayfair.com $80, wayfair.com So, you've bought that artificial Christmas tree, but every year, you find yourself struggling to stuff it back into its old, falling-apart cardboard box. Not only is this inconvenient, but chances are the pine needles spill everywhere. The most efficient solution to this problem is to use a zip-up Christmas tree bag or box for storage. Luckily, we've got the perfect solution for you! Make your artificial tree easier to lug in and out of storage with a moisture-resistant, heavy-duty bag with wheels that let you roll it where you need it. The Best Holiday Storage for Storing Ornaments, Wrapping Paper, and More Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit