DIY

21 Space-Saving Christmas Ornament Storage Ideas & Hacks for 2024

by: Alexandria Taylor

Published on Nov 24th 2024

Most people spend the holiday season thinking about how they’re going to decorate their homes and trees, not the Christmas ornament storage ideas that come in handy after the season ends. About 35% of Americans buy new holiday decor each year, according to Rainbow Restoration. These new pieces of decor can either replace old decor or be added to an existing collection.

Adding new holiday decor can be an exciting way to make your home feel festive and cozy throughout the winter. However, if you don’t have a good organization system, it can make decorating confusing in the coming years. Whether you DIY or buy your storage, there are plenty of options to protect your decor. We’ve rounded up Christmas ornament storage ideas you can use after the holidays.

DIY Christmas Ornament Storage Ideas

How do you store Christmas ornaments efficiently? Air-tight and protective containers are the best option for most containers. It’s important to protect your ornaments while they’re in storage so you can enjoy them for years to come. The right Christmas ornament storage ideas will help protect your ornaments from being broken, scratched, lost or otherwise damaged.

1. Egg Crate Mattress Pad

How do you make Christmas ornaments storage? You can buy an egg crate mattress pad to create an easy DIY Christmas ornament storage idea. The divots in these types of mattress pads allow you to place the ornaments inside, keeping them from rolling around a box while also offering some padded protection. Use scissors to cut the mattress pad to the size of a plastic bin, place ornaments, and then place more padding on top.

2. Bubble Wrap

Another classic DIY Christmas ornament storage idea to keep your decor safe is bubble wrap. Wrap individual or small groups of ornaments in a sheet of bubble wrap. Use masking tape to ensure the bubble wrap stays in place. You can then place them in a sturdy plastic box to keep the ornaments safe. Be sure to place heavier ornaments on the bottom to prevent smashing.

3. Wrap in Old Fabric

What is the best material to wrap ornaments for storage? A nice soft fabric is a great option to wrap some of your ornaments in. If you have old linen like bedsheets or tablecloths, you can repurpose them into Christmas ornament storage ideas. The soft fabric will not only provide some cushioning to prevent breakage but also stop the ornaments from rubbing together or scratching each other.

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4. Cardboard Drink Holders

Now is the time to start keeping cardboard drink holders when you get takeout because they are one of the best Christmas ornament storage ideas. The spaces tend to be large enough to hold a small- or medium-sized ornament. Drink holders can keep the ornaments in place so they aren’t moving around in a storage box and have less chance of breaking or hitting each other. Then, you can focus on all your Christmas tree decorating ideas.

5. Separate with Coffee Filters

Coffee filters make great DIY Christmas ornament storage ideas to keep your ornaments separated from each other. They’re particularly great for ornaments that have glitter or sequins on them. The coffee filters can help catch any excess that falls off and prevent it from getting all over the rest of the decorations. You can use coffee filters in conjunction with other storage methods like boxes and totes to store individual ornaments.

6. Plastic Cups

Plastic cups are another DIY Christmas ornament storage idea. This idea is a great way to help separate ornaments to prevent them from scratching each other or rolling around in a container. Plastic cups can also help catch falling glitter so it doesn’t get everywhere. Use this storage idea with boxes and totes to keep all your ornaments together. It's also great for the environment not to waste single-use plastic items.

7. Egg Cartons

If you have small ornaments, egg cartons are a great storage method. The compartments in egg contents will perfectly hold small, round ornaments in place while also offering protection. If you keep the lid on the egg carton, you can close and stack them to keep all your ornaments together. Egg cartons are also great for small DIY Christmas decorations to keep them from breaking.

Large Christmas Ornament Storage Ideas

8. Holiday Tins

How to store ornaments without a box? If you have large ornaments, holiday tins are a great way to protect them. Place the ornament inside the tin and put the lid back on top. This large Christmas ornament storage idea is also great for irregularly shaped ornaments that might not fit in traditional storage spaces. The tin will help protect them and will also stack well so you can store them all together. Decorating a blank tin can also be one of the most fun Christmas painting ideas.

9. Hang in a Plastic Bin

If you’re looking for large Christmas ornament storage ideas, you can add dowel rods to a plastic bin. Use a drill to cut slits into the top of a plastic bin and cut dowel rods to a length that’s a little bit larger than the length of the bin. This will allow you to lift the rod out of the bin. Then, you can slide on your large or irregularly shaped ornaments so they can hang in the box. Placing the lid back on top will keep them protected like any other storage bin.

10. Telescoping Storage Box

If you’re looking for a Christmas ornament storage idea to hold a lot of ornaments, a telescoping storage box is a great idea. These will expand, allowing each tray to lift up so you can see your entire ornament collection without moving the layers individually. These types of storage boxes can hold over a hundred ornaments, so they’re a great option for keeping large collections together.

11. Rolling Storage Chest

A rolling storage chest is one of the most convenient Christmas ornament storage ideas. These tend to have dividers to keep ornaments in place and allow you to stack layers without breaking the decorations below. The wheels on this kind of storage chest also help you move all your ornaments and decor around with ease, so you don’t have to lug them from one room to the other. So, when you’re considering front porch Christmas decorating ideas, a rolling storage chest can help them come to life.

Small Christmas Ornament Storage Ideas

12. Use Drawer Dividers

An easy small Christmas ornament storage idea anyone can use is drawer dividers. The benefit of dividers is that you can use them in any kind of storage bin. Place the divider in a bin and place one ornament in each compartment. Then, if you put cardboard on top, you can stack a few layers of ornaments to keep them all together. Drawer dividers will help keep ornaments in place, so they’re secure.

13. Under the Bed Ornament Organizer

Decorating the tree is one of the many favorite Christmas activities of the holiday season. But keeping your ornament organized will make decorating much easier. However, if you don’t have a ton of space to spare for storage, you can use under-the-bed ornament organizers. These are smaller and can more easily fit in tight spaces, making them great for apartment living or storage in areas like attics.

14. Storage Box with Pull-Out Trays

A storage box will always be a great small Christmas ornament storage idea. Opting for one with pull-out trays will make accessing the ornaments easier, especially in small spaces. You can keep the storage box where it is and pull out the individual trays to access the ornaments. These tend to be smaller boxes, so you can place them under furniture or in small areas of storage.

15. Stackable Storage Boxes

When it comes to storage in small spaces, utilizing vertical space is essential. That’s why stackable storage boxes are one of the best Christmas ornament storage ideas. They’ll take up a small portion of floor space but still allow you to organize all of your decor. Stackable storage boxes are great for small homes, apartments and storage lockers. Look for stackable boxes that can lock into place when stacked, so there’s less of a chance of them slipping off and falling.

IKEA Christmas Ornament Storage Ideas

16. SKUBB Storage Case

If you’ve been searching for IKEA Christmas ornament storage ideas, you should consider the SKUBB storage case. These large boxes aren’t very tall, so they’ll easily fit under beds or sofas. You can also use the SKUBB boxes to further organize your ornaments when keeping them in one place. Plus, this IKEA storage case is an inexpensive option to store your ornaments and decor.

17. VINTERFINT Storage Bag

Another IKEA Christmas ornament storage idea is the VINTERFINT storage bag. You can use dividers to help keep the ornaments in place and add cardboard to get multiple layers or ornament storage. Plus, it has handles to make carrying it from storage to the tree easier. However, because this isn’t a structured storage option, you won’t want to stack multiple bags on top of each other. Another option is to store less breakable ornaments or ornament boxes in the storage bag.

Christmas Ornament Storage Hacks

18. Save the Original Boxes

If you purchase new ornaments, try this Christmas ornament storage hack. The original boxes often have the packaging to keep the ornaments safe in all kinds of conditions. Plus, they’re made to hold the exact shape of an ornament. You may want to consider saving the original boxes to store your most precious ornaments or figures and shapes that are harder to store. You can stack the boxes in a larger tote for further protection.

19. Segmented Storage Boxes

Segmented storage boxes aren’t only great for storage but also for organizing. No one wants to dig through a bunch of ornaments trying to find the exact one you’re looking for. This Christmas ornament storage idea is ideal for keeping ornaments in their place so they don’t move around when you’re putting the box in and out of storage. If a storage box doesn’t have segments, you can add your own with drawer organizers or cardboard.

20. Organize by Shape, Size and Color

It’s tempting to want to throw all the ornaments in one box so undecorating is done as quickly as possible. But having an organization system is one of the best Christmas ornament storage hacks. Organize and store your ornaments by shape, size and color. Taking the time to do this in advance will help make decorating much easier the next holiday season and help you keep track of your ornaments better.

21. Use Air Tight Containers

When it comes to Christmas ornament storage ideas, many people want to prevent their ornaments from being broken or scratched. And while that is important, you also want to protect them from mold and mildew. This can be a sneaky way for your ornaments to get ruined, especially when you forget about them for a few months out of the year. Using air-tight containers can help keep the moisture that leads to mold and mildew away from your holiday treasures. It’s also a good idea to store the boxes in a cool, dry place, so there is less of a chance of mold and mildew growth.

No matter how you decorate your tree, these Christmas ornament storage ideas will make it easier to store your decor after the holiday season. Proper storage will help protect all your ornaments and decorations throughout the year, whether you keep the decor in an attic, basement or storage locker. Choose the Christmas ornament storage ideas that work best for you, your decor and your home.

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