The holidays will be gone in the twinkle of an eye. But the clutter from holiday decor? That can live on for months, professional organizers say. If you’ve ever packed holiday decor in a frenzy, only to spend next December untangling lights and guessing which tattered box holds the stockings, you’re doing it all wrong, the pros say. The secret is to plan now for the post-holiday pack-up, before a single ornament goes up.
“Ordering bins ahead of time will ensure that when you take down the decor, it can be easily organized for storage,” says Los Angeles home organizer Tracy McCubbin, a noted fan of storing holiday decorations the moment they come down.
For easy cleanup this year and easy setup next year, we polled McCubbin and other organization experts for the holiday storage solutions they keep on hand for a stress-free takedown. Here are the solutions they swear by, for ornaments, china, gift wrap, wreaths, trees, lights, and more.
“I see a lot of families still wrestling the tree back into the original cardboard box, which is usually torn, dusty, and hard to pull down from the attic,” says Gillian Economou, founder of Sort It Out in Washington, D.C. A better solution is a tree storage bag with wheels, the pros say.
“It lets you keep the tree partially assembled, and wheel it right into a closet or garage corner, saving time and preserving the shape of branches,” according to Amy Bergman with Amyzing Spaces in Wellington, Fla.
And since most tree bags are bigger than the trees themselves, Los Angeles organizer Robyn Reynolds takes advantage of that extra space by stashing wreaths and garlands alongside the tree.
The pros know: Never underestimate the value of no-frills stackable totes. “These weathertight storage bins are my go-to for holiday decorations,” according to Tracy McCubbin, founder of dClutterfly. “They are large enough to accommodate any size pumpkin or nutcracker, and stack neatly to fit perfectly in your garage. The clasps on the side ensure a tight seal, which makes them perfect to keep your decorations in perfect condition for the following year, plus the bins being clear allows you to see which holiday you're pulling down from the shelf.”
If you’ve ever opened boxes of decor to find your keepsakes shattered, you know why Economou says a good ornament bin is worth its weight in gold. “I've been around many clients who will open their ornaments when it's time to decorate, only to see some of their favorites have been damaged or cracked,” she says. “I recommend an ornament bin with adjustable dividers to protect each piece and stack neatly, so next year’s unpack is simple.”
This zippered bin cradles 128 ornaments in removable trays to protect each bauble from dust, moisture, and damage during off-season storage. “Not only is it waterproof, but the cardboard inserts can [also] be removed or manipulated to fit larger ornaments,” Reynolds adds.
Wreaths often start the holiday season dusty and crumpled after a year of storage in soft bins or stacked under other stuff. For a wreath you can pull out ready to hang, try a sturdier solution. “A hard-sided, latching wreath box keeps the shape intact, and they stack safely,” says Economou.
Another wreath-wrangling option, courtesy of Bergman, is to hang yours from a simple hook on the inside of any closet door in your home. “This is a great idea, especially if you’re short on space,” she says, noting “guest room closets are perfect for this.”
A little preparation this season can save you a headache next year, and that’s no truer than in the case of holiday lights. “I prefer to use these string light holders to wrap Christmas lights, since I've found that the wheels tend to break more often,” says McCubbin. “They'll keep your cords intact and will save you the headache of untangling next year when you're already in the holiday frenzy.”
Holiday china is the centerpiece of so many year-end celebrations, but bulky boxes of delicate dinnerware can be a challenge to store without damage. Instead of wrapping dishes in newspaper and socking them away in random boxes, Bergman suggests using padded dish and glass storage sets. “They protect fragile items and let you stack them neatly,” Bergman says. “You can even store them separately throughout the house, where space allows. Just keep a quick map of where everything lives.”
Holiday prep goes so much more smoothly when supplies are all in one place and easy to find. “This tried-and-true wrapping paper organizer is a great get for fall ahead of holiday wrapping madness,” McCubbin says. Her favorite is this Rubbermaid Wrap ‘N Craft bin that’s slim, sturdy, and slips easily into a closet. It keeps rolls contained and crease-free, with a separate flip-top compartment for bows, tape, ribbon, gift tags, and more.
You might also consider an under-bed wrapping paper storage container like this one on Amazon that Bergman loves for bows, bags, and gift wrap that can take over closets. “It keeps all your wrapping paper, ribbons, scissors, and tape organized and dust-free while taking advantage of often-wasted space,” she says. “This is perfect for those without extra closets or storage rooms. Just roll it under a guest bed, and pull it out when the holidays roll around.”
Source: Walls, M. (2025, November 6). You’re storing your holiday decor all Wrong—Here’s how professional organizers do it. Real Simple. https://www.realsimple.com/amazon-professional-organizer-recommended-holiday-decor-storage-november-2025-11843721