The best way to store holiday decorations is in sturdy plastic bins with tight lids, wrapped and labeled by category, in a place with a steady temperature and low moisture. Avoid attics, damp basements, and garages, where heat, cold, and humidity can crack ornaments, fray lights, and warp artificial trees.

Decorations tend to be expensive, sentimental, or both. A little planning when you pack them up means you will unpack them next season in the same shape they went in. Here is how to do it.

Why do holiday decorations get damaged in storage?

Most damage comes from four things: temperature swings, moisture, pests, and crushing weight. Glass ornaments can crack when temperatures change quickly. Cords and plastic become brittle in extreme cold or heat. Fabric, paper, and wood can mildew in damp spaces. Cardboard boxes attract pests and collapse when stacked.

What is the best container for holiday decorations?

Plastic bins with latching lids are the best choice for most decorations. They stack well, keep out moisture and pests, and hold up for years.

• Use bins in a few standard sizes so they stack evenly.
• Choose clear bins or add a label to each side so you can see what is inside.
• Wrap fragile ornaments in tissue or soft paper, and use dividers or egg cartons to keep them from touching.
• Wind string lights around a piece of cardboard or a spool to prevent tangles.
• Keep artificial trees in their original box or a dedicated tree bag.
• Skip cardboard for anything you want to keep long term.

How should you label and organize decorations?

Label every bin by holiday and by room, such as "Christmas, Living Room" or "Halloween, Porch." Number the bins and take a quick photo of each one packed. Pack the items you put up first, such as lights and tree stands, on top or in the most accessible bin, so setup goes faster next year.

Where is the best place to store decorations at home?

Interior closets, spaces under beds, and finished rooms with stable temperatures are the best places at home. Attics get hot in summer and cold in winter. Garages and basements can be damp. If you must use one of these spaces, keep bins off the floor and reserve them for sturdy items such as plastic yard decorations and outdoor lighting.

When does a storage unit make sense for holiday decorations?

A storage unit makes sense when your decorations take up space you need, when you want to protect fragile or sentimental pieces, or when your garage needs to fit a car for the winter. Many families also use a unit to store large artificial trees and outdoor displays.

Climate controlled or drive up?

Climate controlled units hold a steadier temperature through the year. They are a good fit for glass ornaments, ceramic villages, candles, fabric, wreaths, and anything wooden or electronic. Drive up units let you pull right up to the door and are a good fit for sturdy items in plastic bins, such as yard displays and outdoor lights.

My Storage offers climate controlled units at select locations, including Ripley, Tennessee, Dadeville, Alabama, and Lowell, Michigan, along with Bolivar North, Tennessee, Auburn and Clare McEwan, Michigan, and Greenville, Indiana. Drive up units are available at many more locations across the Midwest and South.

Quick checklist before you pack

1. Test your lights and replace burned out bulbs before storing them.
2. Remove batteries from battery powered decorations.
3. Clean and dry everything completely, especially fabric items.
4. Wrap fragile pieces individually.
5. Pack by holiday and room, and label every bin.
6. Store bins off the floor and away from walls with moisture.

Frequently asked questions

Can I store Christmas decorations in the garage?

You can store sturdy decorations in a garage, but fragile items, fabric, candles, and electronics are better kept in a space with steady temperatures. Garages can swing from very hot to very cold depending on the season.

Do I need a climate controlled unit for holiday decorations?

Not always. Sturdy plastic items are fine in a standard unit. Climate control is worth considering for glass, ceramic, wood, fabric, and sentimental pieces you cannot replace.

How big of a storage unit do I need for holiday decorations?

A small unit is often enough for a household's decorations. Contact your local My Storage location to ask about the sizes available.

Are your units month to month?

Yes. My Storage units are month to month with no long term contract, so you can keep your decorations in a unit as long as you need.

Find a storage unit near you

My Storage has clean, affordable, secure storage units across the Midwest and South. Visit Great Lakes Land Holdings to find the location closest to you and reserve a unit online.