Holiday Storage for Every Season: Preparing for Year-Round Festivities
From inviting December décor to frightening October furnishing, it can be tempting to purchase lots of seasonal decorations without a plan for where to store them as the holidays come and go. Whether it’s Christmas trees or lawn decorations, knowing how to store your seasonal belongings properly is vital to keeping your home uncluttered and preventing extreme heat from damaging stored items. Glacier West Self Storage is here to help with expertly compiled tips for practical holiday storage solutions.
Tips for Holiday Storage
Staying organized is the name of the game for holiday decorations. Here are some overarching rules to follow when packing up:
1. Store Inside Clear Bins
You don’t want to be confused about which container holds ornaments versus Easter eggs in six months. Clear, plastic bins make it easy to find precisely what you need in the depths of your seasonal storage. Label everything clearly and keep an inventory of what has been put away to prevent scrambling.
2. Decide What You No Longer Need
Did a set of decorative pillows never make it onto the couches, or was a string of lights too broken to light Santa’s way? Save yourself time and space next holiday season by getting rid of decorations you won’t be using in the future, tossing out what’s broken, and donating what someone else could find a use for.
3. Clean Yard Décor
The last thing you want when stowing away decorations is to have dirt and debris scattered throughout your basement, attic, or storage unit. Before packing them away, thoroughly clean and dry all decorations to help keep mold and mildew from setting in.
Christmas Storage Tips
The most holiday decoration collecting happens when Santa comes to town—the average American spends about $269 on Christmas decorations annually! Knowing how to efficiently and responsibly store your Christmas decorations is essential, especially if you want to reuse ornaments, trees, and other decorations for years to come. See below for how you can tuck away your Christmas decorations this January:
Christmas Tree Storage
- Remove decorations. Take off all ornaments and lights if your tree isn’t pre-lit to help prevent damage when packing.
- Clean the tree. Dust branches using a vacuum brush attachment or a damp cloth to remove dirt.
- Disassemble carefully. Unplug the tree and check that it’s dry if you cleaned it with water or disinfectant spray. Small trees often fold like an umbrella, while larger ones may require disassembling. Check the instruction manual for guidance.
- Choose a tree bag. Avoid squeezing your tree into its original box, as it may damage branches. Opt for a durable, water-resistant storage bag, bearing in mind that upright bags keep trees intact, while wheeled or sectional bags offer convenience.
- Store safely. Place your bagged tree in a cool, dry location, as heat can discolor or melt the materials. Avoid storing in attics or garages if prone to temperature extremes.
Christmas Ornament Storage
- Keep original boxes. Original packaging often offers the best fit for ornaments. Place these boxes in large, labeled plastic containers for easy identification and organization. Label individual ornament boxes for quick access to your favorites.
- Try ornament storage boxes. If the original boxes are unavailable, choose specialized ornament storage containers. These secure your décor from damage like breaking or scratching. Choose a box based on your storage location, available space, and the level of protection needed.
- Use protective wrapping. Bubble Wrap, tissue paper, or soft fabric can shield fragile ornaments. Wrap each piece and secure it with removable tape, avoiding overly bulky wrapping.
- Prevent mold and mildew. Store ornaments in a cool, dry space to avoid moisture damage. Use airtight containers and store in spaces that are temperature-regulated, such as closets, attics, basements, or under the bed. Avoid garages, as shifting temperatures can harm your ornaments.
Christmas Present Storage
Before the big night arrives, you’ll need to find a secret place to stash away presents from prying eyes. Here are some of our recommendations for the best places to hide Christmas presents:
- In suitcases. If you’re not traveling soon, use your luggage to store gifts discreetly.
- At the backs of bookshelves. Create a hidden spot by tucking smaller presents behind books on your shelf.
- Amid undergarments. Your underwear drawers make ideal hiding places, as no one else is likely to search there.
- At work. Keep gifts away from curious family members by securing them in your office or cubicle.
- Self storage unit. Use a storage unit to hide larger items like toy sets or appliances safely and out of sight.
- With neighbors. Have your gifts delivered to a trusted neighbor’s home to avoid spoiling surprises.
- Holiday decoration bins. Empty decoration boxes and bags are perfect for concealing presents until Dec. 25.
Best Places To Store Holiday Decorations
You’ll need to find an ideal space to shut away your décor until the next season rolls around. For new homeowners especially, you may not have accounted for the influx of holiday decorations you’ve yet to purchase. Whether you’re decorating a home for the first time or years of collecting décor has caught up with you, here are our tips for where to store holiday decorations:
Holiday Storage in Garages
While it may be tempting, garages are often not temperature-regulated. If extreme heat seeps into the garage, it can cause your belongings to warp, curl, discolor, and crack. If you need to store decorations made from wood, paper, linen, vinyl, or leather, seek a consistently air-conditioned location.
Holiday Storage in Closets
With some decluttering, you can use the space beneath and above hanging items and store items on shelves and doors in your closets. If you need to hide holiday presents, keeping them in your clothing is a sneaky way to put them out of sight. Remember that the more holiday decorations you store in your closet, the less room you have for your clothes and accessories.
Holiday Storage in Seasonal Storage Units
If you don’t have room to spare, a personal storage unit is a great way to offload extra decorations without saying goodbye forever. These affordable spaces can even function as additional closet space to help you declutter your wardrobe if you prefer to keep holiday decorations at home. You can also rest easy by storing your décor in climate-controlled storage to prevent extreme temperatures from damaging them.
Stash Away Your Decorations With Glacier West Self Storage
When you need a spot to store gifts for an extended time, lack room for your Halloween decorations, or require a secure space for Christmas lights, Glacier West Self Storage has you covered. We offer spacious holiday and Christmas storage options in a range of unit sizes and varieties, including climate-controlled units ideal for preserving seasonal décor, tools, and other items sensitive to temperature changes.
Contact us today and find more room for the holidays with a Glacier West Self Storage facility near you!