Q: Can you share how you store all your Christmas decorations? I rotate ornaments between years, and I have a large tree plus a smaller tabletop tree, along with exterior and mantel decor. I’m curious how much space it takes up. I have an attic like you (I think that’s where you store yours), but I don’t have a system, so it feels chaotic. Any tips for getting mine under control? Thanks! – Meghan
A: You’re not alone—this is a question we get a lot. We store our holiday decorations in about a 6 foot by 5 foot area in our attic. Our attic is bigger, but that footprint is everything you see in the photos. We stack bins carefully, label each one, and organize by type so we always know where things are.
Our core organizing principle is “like with like.” All plugs, cords, and window candles go in one bin. Tabletop and mantel items live together in matching bins. Ornaments that belong on the same tree or in the same display are grouped. That simple approach—keeping related items together and labeling bins—makes it fast to find things and avoids the feeling that everything’s been tossed randomly into storage.
To give more detail, here’s how we pack the ornaments from the big dining-room tree. We take everything off the tree and lay ornaments in long, shallow plastic bins. Another similar bin holds ornaments that are out of rotation for the year—seasonal or themed pieces we might use in future years. Some items are used nearly every season, like white or silver ornaments, while other pieces are saved for specific styles or colorways.
Between those two shallow bins we store almost all of our ornaments, except for the ones on the small tabletop tree. The bins are only about 5 inches deep, so they stack neatly and don’t take much floor space. For very fragile or sentimental ornaments we wrap them in newspaper, but most are simply laid in the bins with care. After using this method for five-plus years, we haven’t had breakage in storage or transport—partly because the bins are handled gently once a year rather than being constantly moved around.
Here’s how we pack the tabletop tree ornaments:
The same principle applies. Mixed and matched ornaments go into a smaller tub sized to the tree. Delicate pieces get newspaper wrapping; the rest just nestle in. Each year we pull that bin out, edit its contents, add new favorites, and remove anything we no longer love. Choosing a storage container that matches the size of the tree helps prevent hoarding ornaments that will never fit—you can either donate, pass along, or repurpose older pieces, or move them into the larger bins if they might suit a full-size tree instead.
For tabletop and mantel decorations, freestanding items like wooden reindeer or feather trees are stored loose when practical. Smaller items that fit into bins are grouped and sealed in large zip-top bags, with a label indicating where they belong. These bags then go into the green bins so all tabletop and mantel gear is kept together and easy to find—cake-stand ornaments, lamp-base decorations, faux wrapped gifts, and other accent pieces.
We keep those labeled bags inside the larger green bins so everything for a given surface or display is grouped logically. That way the cake stand items, mantel accessories, and small tabletop pieces are all organized in one place rather than spread across multiple unlabeled containers.
In short: use shallow stackable bins for ornaments, smaller tubs for tabletop trees, and grouped bags inside larger bins for mantel and tabletop decor. Label everything, store like items together, and edit annually so your collection stays manageable. This keeps holiday decoration storage compact, efficient, and easy to access—especially when you rotate ornaments between years.
How do you store your ornaments and holiday decor? Do you favor plastic bins, original boxes, or individual cardboard dividers? There are lots of methods that can work—share your tips and what’s worked best for you.
Update: We also compile a list of favorite holiday decor finds and budget-friendly options to help you refresh or expand your collection without overspending.