The 9 Best Tips for Christmas Ornament Storage
Keep your ornaments safe and organized for many years to come with these fast, affordable storage tips.
By Amy Ahlberg
Zoe Johnson/Flickr Commons
Tip 1: Save the original packaging
If you still have the original boxes your ornaments came in, that's best for storage. If
not, store gift boxes or shoe boxes also make great holders for special baubles.
Be sure to first wrap individual ornaments in tissue paper or sheets of paper towel
for protection.
Source: Better Homes and Gardens
tracy ducasse/Flickr Commons
Tip 2: Store like with like
Use divided-tray ornament containers for round ornaments and decorative danglers that are all roughly the same size. Line
each compartment with squares of felt or doubled sheets of paper towel for extra protection. And store similar styles or colors together; it’ll be
easier to decorate next year.
Source: Better Homes and Gardens
Maegan Tintari/Flickr Commons
Tip 3: Keep displays together
If you recreate the same fireplace mantel grouping of garlands, candles, and ornaments, wrap up all the pieces and pack them away in the same box—clearly labeled.
Source: Better Homes and Gardens
Ryan Lackey/Flickr Commons
Tip 4: Recycle a wine container
A divided
cardboard liquor carton or wine box has compartments that are just the right size for organizing ornaments.
Source: Martha Stewart
Ralph Aichinger/Flickr Commons
Tip 5: Re-use kitchen supplies
Use egg cartons as storage for tiny ornaments. Oddly-shaped decorations can go in clean paper takeout containers lined
with tissue paper or paper towel.
Source: Martha Stewart
Photo by Carly Ippolito
Tip 6: Make plastic air cushions
If you’re packing
up your decorations and you run out of compartmentalized storage boxes, store delicate
ornaments in resealable plastic storage bags with lots of air trapped inside. They'll form a protective cushion around your holiday trimmings.
Source: Amazon, Martha Stewart
Digital Game Museum/Flickr Commons
Tip 7: Take special care with antique ornaments
Invest in archival
storage boxes for antique or otherwise precious ornaments. These boxes are available in various sizes at home stores and
mass retailers, and feature acid-free dividers and UV protection to guard
against fading.
Source: Real Simple
Zepfanman.com/Flickr Commons
Tip 8: Choose paper or plastic carefully
Refrain from using plastic ornament containers for
your vintage ornaments; their resealable lids trap moisture, which can damage
older decorations. But plastic is fine for other ornaments and Christmas
decorations such as garlands and lights.
Source: Martha Stewart
Ardyiii/Flickr Commons
Tip 9: Avoid the attic and basement
Although it’s tempting to tuck
ornament storage containers away in your attic or basement, the extreme changes
in humidity and air temperature in these locations are hazardous to fragile
ornaments. Instead, find room in an underused closet, or store ornament boxes under
a guest-room bed.
Source: Martha Stewart
