Posted on Tuesday, 9th December 2025
The mince pies are gone, the wrapping paper is (finally) cleared away, and the last bottle of bubbly is empty. Now comes the biggest challenge of all: packing away the festive magic.
If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably spent far too long shoving fragile baubles into any box that fits and wrestling with tangled lights. But don’t worry: getting your festive bits and pieces packed away properly doesn't have to be a chore.
This guide is here to help with some tips for how to store your Christmas lights and decorations stress-free and safely. Realised you’re running out of loft space? Check out our flexible, short- and long-term storage options.
Tackling the post-Christmas pack-up is a lot easier with the right tools, so here are a few things we recommend grabbing before you get started:
Then if you have them:
Putting your decorations away properly will make your future self very grateful next December when everything is pristine and easy to find. Here are our expert, no-fuss tips for easy Christmas decoration storage.
Before you put anything away, wipe away any dust or candle wax that might’ve splashed onto your decorations. This way, all your decorations are ready to go for next year.
As you start to pack things up, sort out anything broken, worn-out or no longer wanted. Then recycle or get rid of the broken decorations and think about donating the things you didn’t use. This way, you’ll be saving yourself space and making sure your decoration collection is only filled with the things you love.
Tangled lights really take the festive joy out of decorating for Christmas, so doing this one simple step will help bring the magic back for next year. To keep your lights straight and untangled, wrap each strand individually around a piece of sturdy cardboard. This keeps them flat and ready to unspool straight away next time you need them.
Bonus tip: If you have lots of different indoor and outdoor lights, write a label onto your cardboard so you know exactly what you’re grabbing without having to plug each one in.
Whether they’re delicate glass or your kids’ handmade treasures, your baubles and ornaments need some added protection. Special storage boxes with individual compartments for baubles will help prevent any smashes. You can also just as easily use things around the house, like wine glass boxes with dividers or egg boxes for smaller baubles.
Instead of mixing everything up, group and pack by where the items belong, like “Hallway” or “Living room tree”. Trust us, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and stress.
Wreaths and thick garlands take up a lot of space and can be easily crushed if they’re put straight into a box. The best way to store them is to hang them up in a way that protects their shape. Use bin bags or even garment bags with a coat hanger to store them in a wardrobe or on a clothing rack.
The cardboard box your artificial tree came in will break down quickly. So, if you have an artificial tree, move it into a heavy-duty zipped storage bag or a plastic tree box. This will protect it much better against dust, moisture (and spiders), especially if you’re storing it in a loft or garage.
Once everything is all packed up, the last step is finding the right home for your decorations. The best location is one that’s safe, dry, and easily accessible.
For those with a bit of extra space, lofts and cellars can be handy, but only if they stay nice and dry. If you’re a bit tighter on space, you could try flat boxes that could tuck neatly under a bed or at the top of a wardrobe.
Need somewhere else safe, dry, and easily accessible to keep your perfectly packed decorations? Our self-storage units are temperature-monitored and humidity-controlled and built to protect everything from sentimental ornaments to your artificial tree.
If you need help with other storage conundrums, our content hub is packed with advice to help you through the Christmas holidays, including tips on storing prized red wine.
Yes, but since lofts and garages can get very hot, very cold, and damp throughout the year, we’d recommend using fully sealed, plastic, durable bags and boxes to keep your decorations protected.
To save a bit of space when packing up your Christmas decorations, de-clutter as you go. Flatten anything that’s collapsible and use plastic boxes that can stack together neatly.
Festive decorations can come in all crazy shapes and sizes, but whatever shape the key to safe storage is protection. Use tissue or bubble wrap, and storage containers that are deep enough to fit them snugly. If you don’t have any designated storage holders, try wine bottle carriers to keep them separated and safe.
If you need any extra packing materials, we have plenty on-site. Simply pop in or buy online and collect at your local store.
