My best tips and tricks for Christmas tree storage, ornament storage, wreath and Christmas decoration storage. The most efficient way to organize holiday decor using a combination of storage totes, Christmas tree bags, and bins.
I am asked pretty frequently about how I store my (hoard of) Christmas trees, Christmas ribbon, ornaments and decorations so I compiled all of my favorite storage tips and product recommendations for you! It may seem like I am very particular about storing and organizing my Christmas ornaments and decorations, but I find it is actually a huge time saver and money saver in the long run!
I have always loved decorating for Christmas, but sometimes storing all of the items and supplies can be a hassle. These are my time-tested, tried and true organization and storage tips for Christmas ornaments, trees, ribbon, branches and berries, and wreaths.
Christmas Tree Storage
Supplies:
- Christmas Tree bags (buy here).
- I have bought a few of these over the years for my many Christmas trees and they are very durable!
- if you prefer to store your tree upright, this bag has great reviews
- optional- garage hooks (here)
Christmas Tree Storage Box or Bag?
When we purchase artificial Christmas trees, I always throw away the big boxes that they come in. I just haven't had good luck storing my trees in boxes. They always seem to flatten and smash some of the branches beyond repair. With flocked trees, they also seem to be hard on (and remove some of) the flocking.
Artificial Christmas trees are really an investment, so I like to ensure they will last me for many years. For this reason, we always store our Christmas trees in tree bags. We have ordered several of these ones and they have held up very well over the years. We have a couple that we bought probably 10 years ago and they're still going strong.
Ideally, I like to hang them from huge hooks in the garage, but since we have 5 trees, I end up carefully stacking some of them as well.
Ornament Storage
I break down ornament storage into 3 different types and store each type a bit differently. I will share how I store each type below.
Tips to remember for all ornament storage:
- I start by removing all of the ornaments from my tree and lay them all out on my counter or table, organizing somewhat from largest to smallest.
- With any of the following boxes, I always use a label, or write directly on the tote with a permanent marker and make a detailed list of what ornaments are included in the tote. This helps tremendously next year when I can't remember what I put in which tote.
- If I plan on decorating my trees the same next year, I usually do separate totes for each tree. I can get away with just one tote for each of my smaller trees if I pack them well.
- If I don't plan to decorate the same next year, I store like-ornaments together. For example, all glass ornaments together, felt together, etc.
- Line the bottom of storage totes for glass ornaments with any old cotton (not down) bed pillow for extra cushion.
- Reuse bubble wrap and ziploc bags over and over each year.
Ornament Storage Supplies:
- perforated bubble wrap
- storage totes
- any old cotton-filled pillows
- labels
- permanent markers
- 3" hard-sided ornament cases
- Resealable Freezer Bags
Oversized, Large, Medium, and Uniquely Shaped Ornament Storage
Each year I add to my collection of large, heavy mercury glass ornaments and it is important to me that they are stored carefully so they will last me forever. They are generally as small as 4 inches and as big as 8-10 inches. For these medium, large, and oversized glass ornaments, I don't even try to buy ornament carriers. They don't usually have the ability to hold a large quantity and in my opinion, they don't offer the protection that I prefer.
Here is how I tackle glass ornament storage:
- Start with heavy duty storage totes that will protect the ornaments and last for many years.
- Line the bottom of them with any old cotton (not down) bed pillow. Note- depending on the size of the storage tote you pick, you may need a king size or standard pillow. You will want to pick the one that fits the most snugly.
- Start with the most large, heavy duty ornaments
- Wrap each ornament individually in bubble wrap, layering the ornaments in each tote from heavy duty on bottom, all the way up to the more fragile ones toward the top.
- Don't fill up my totes all the way to the top since there is always some give in the lid when you stack other totes on top of it. I give it a couple inches of breathing room. I still want it to be snug in the tote to prevent too much shifting, so I add a layer of tissue, newspaper or bubble wrap on very top in between the stacks of ornaments and the lid.
- Label tote in detail.
Tip: Store ornament hooks in a ziploc bag on top of your ornaments, ready to go for next year.
Small and Fragile Ornament Storage
I like to layer smaller ornaments in with my big ones when decorating my Christmas trees. The smaller ones tend to be more fragile, however, so I sometimes store them differently than my large ornaments.
- For small but thicker, non-fragile ornaments, store the same way as the large ones above, layering them on top or filling the spaces in between the large ones.
- For the more fragile ornaments, I usually use the kind of hard plastic totes that store them separately. I have used these totes for more than a decade and they are still very sturdy and still look almost brand new. They are an investment, but they will last decades.
- Be sure to layer a piece of tissue over the top of the ornaments before closing.
- Add a label on top with all details.
Non-glass ornament Storage
Tips for storing these ornaments:
- wrap them in white tissue paper and stack them in totes
- to save space, layer them in the top of some of my large ornament totes to distribute the weight a little more evenly
- Use resealable bags to collect all like ornaments together
- Tip: Store these non-breakable ornaments in any of your reusable gift boxes
- Store in large totes and label tote in detail.
Note- My vintage toy tree would fall in this category and for that one, I just carefully pack all of the toys, bells etc. into a tote only wrapping the more fragile/breakable items.
Christmas Tree Branches, Twigs, and Berries Storage
Supplies:
- tissue paper or newspaper
- kitchen garbage bags (white, preferably)
- permanent marker
I use a lot of floral picks, twigs, and berries in my Christmas tree decor. They are just as important as ornament storage. To ensure that they last from year to year, I always wrap them and store them in a very specific way.
- I usually have multiples of different kinds of floral picks, so when I pull them off of the trees and separate them into separate piles of like-branches.
- Lay the first pick flat, then stack them on top of one another, using a piece of tissue in between each pick. I usually use plain white tissue paper (specifically for the white or flocked picks so they don't get discolored) or newspaper and I do reuse these year after year.
- Carefully slide each stack into a garbage bag.
- Tie the handles into a knot for secure storage.
- Use a permanent marker to write the type of branches on the outside of the bags.
- Repeat this for each of the different types of floral picks.
- Store each bag by laying them on top of the decor/ornament totes, or up and out of the way.
Christmas Ribbon Storage and Organization
Supplies:
- Extra large totes or bags (here or here)
- Resealable Freezer Bags
I have amassed quite a collection of ribbons for my trees and Christmas decor. Since I reuse them from year to year, I try to take good care of them so they will last longer just like my ornament storage.
Here are my tips for Christmas Ribbon Storage and Organization:
- Usually I dispose of most of the cardboard rolls that the ribbon comes packaged around.
- I generally end up using more than one roll of ribbon per tree so having multiples just takes up too much space. Instead, I make one big roll. First, I start by wrapping a piece of ribbon around my hand. Then I layer on all of the rest of the pieces of the same ribbon, continuing to roll them around and around the roll.
- I store all of my ribbon rolls in extra large bags, Ziploc bags or clear zipper totes, placed inside of the large totes.
- For smaller ribbon that I use for wrapping presents, I collect those in ziploc bags as well and pack them away with my wrapping paper.
- Label the outside of the tote.
Christmas Decoration (non-ornament) Storage
Supplies:
- perforated bubble wrap
- storage totes
- labels
- tissue paper
- permanent markers
- 3" hard-sided ornament cases
- Resealable Freezer Bags
I have such a different variety of Christmas decor that, I'll be honest, I usually just wing it when it comes to wrapping it and fitting it into my totes. But, here are some of my best tips:
- Carefully consider what you will want to keep for next year and what you can let go. Donate whatever you no longer need.
- Store all decor in plastic/rubbermaid style totes. They are an investment that is well worth it over the years as they keep everything safe.
- Wrap all of the glass objects and store them surrounded by some of the softer items (ie: stockings, tree skirts, etc)
- I use Ziploc bags to keep small items from getting lost by putting them together in one place. For instance, we have a small nativity that I wrap each piece in tissue and stick in a Ziploc bag altogether.
- I always use a label, or write directly on the tote with a permanent marker and make a detailed list of what is included in the tote. This helps so much the next year when I am trying to find things or when I am disbursing totes into different rooms in the house for setup.
- Tip- take a quick picture of the inside of the totes before putting on their lid and save them in a file on your phone for reference next year.
Wreath Storage
I usually use these wreath boxes for storing my Christmas wreaths. Depending on the size of wreath, I can fit anywhere from 1-2 wreaths in each box. If using multiples, always use a tissue paper or newspaper layer in between each.
Frequently Asked Tree and Ornament Storage Questions
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions. If you have any more, just leave them in the comments below.
- What do you do with all of the Christmas decorations? We stack all of the totes to minimize the footprint. We used to store them in our garage, but with 4 kids and a lot of bikes and other large cars and toys, we moved them over to our storage unit. When we move and have a larger garage, they will go back on the shelves in the garage.
- Why so much plastic? Over the years, I have just figured out what works best to store my decor so that it will last for many years. With that said, I do use and reuse the same tissue, rubber totes, plastic bags, and bubble wrap over and over for many years. If you are careful, they can even last decades.
- Why not use the cardboard boxes for ornament storage? These are a good storage solution for people, especially if all of your ornaments are under 3". Since I have a large amount of larger breakable ornaments, I prefer the way I outlined above. I think it makes a huge difference.
Hopefully that is helpful! It may seem like I am very particular about storing and organizing my Christmas ornaments and decorations, but I find it is actually a huge time saver and money saver in the long run!
Blanca Martinez
Thank you for all of your great ideas for organizing the Christmas decor.
Your tree its beautiful. I love organization but these ideas will take me to the next level.
Cindy B
Thank you for your tips! I use Rubbermaid totes as well - about 30 or so! - that I add as my collections grow. I use a sharpie and index cards to label on the end and side of each bin, so I know what’s inside no matter which way they’re stored. I attach the index cards with package sealing tape, which doesn’t always stick as well as I’s like in the temperature changes of our (unheated/uncooled) third floor. Do you find that the self adhesive labels stick well? Several years ago, I began saving the plastic clamshells that apples come in at Costco - perfect for glass ball and small fragile ornaments! They do take up a bit more space in the totes, but they’re quick, easy and FREE! I have the upright tree storage bag you’ve linked. It’s a bit challenging to get on and off, but I like that the bag simply rolls down and provides great support for a tree skirt. We put up one large live tree and one large artificial tree, plus several smaller artificial trees, and I alternate between tree skirts and collars for the larger trees. I’ve always hated how both skirts and collars look around the thin metal “trunks” of artificial trees, but the tree storage bag provides a nice base under the tree skirt or fills in the empty space in a tree collar, so win-win!
Kristen Whitby
Such smart ideas! I think the labels work well. They can always be taken off and relabeled if things are getting reorganized.