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Before You Start: What You Need
Takedown goes faster when the containers are ready before the first ornament comes off. Here is the full supplies list, with our guide for each category:
- Ornament boxes with individual cells for every ornament on the tree. See best Christmas ornament storage boxes.
- Light reels or flat cord wraps, one per strand or two strands per reel. See best Christmas light storage.
- A tree storage bag sized to your assembled tree height. See best Christmas tree storage bags.
- Wreath containers or bags sized to each wreath's full diameter. See best wreath storage.
- Lidded plastic totes for stockings, tree skirts, table decor, and figurines. Clear or color-coded totes like the HOMZ holiday totes make the holiday bins easy to spot.
- Acid-free tissue paper for glass and heirloom ornaments.
- Zip bags, a marker, and labels for hooks, hardware, spare bulbs, and fuses.
- A small trash bag and a donation box for anything broken or unused.
Step 1: Pick the Right Day and Time
Most people take decorations down between the day after Christmas and the first or second week of January. Choose a dry day if you have outdoor decorations so lights, wreaths, and inflatables go into storage dry. Plan two to three hours for an average tree and living room, and do the outdoor display on a separate day if it is large.
Step 2: Take Photos Before Anything Comes Down
Take a few quick photos of the mantel, the tree, the front porch, and any arrangement you liked. Next year you can recreate it in minutes instead of guessing. Save them in a phone album named "Christmas setup."
Step 3: Ornaments First
Ornaments are the most fragile items, so they come off first, while lights and garland are still holding the tree's shape. Work from the top down.
- Remove hooks and store them together in a zip bag.
- Wrap glass, heirloom, and handmade pieces in acid-free tissue.
- Place heavy ornaments in the bottom tray and light ones on top.
- Count as you go, and note any broken pieces so you know what to replace.
- Label each box by tray: "Tray 1: glass balls" and so on.
Step 4: Lights, Wound Directly Onto Reels
Unplug the lights and let them cool. Then wind each strand onto a reel or wrap as it comes off the tree, starting with the plug end. Do not pile strands on the floor first; that is how tangles start. Test any strand you suspect is faulty and throw away strands with frayed wires or cracked sockets. Label each reel with its location and length.
Step 5: Garland, Ribbon, and Tree Skirt
Coil garland in loose circles instead of folding it, and keep pre-lit garland separate. Roll ribbon around a paper towel tube so it does not crease. Wash or spot-clean the tree skirt and stockings, let them dry completely, and fold them into a tote with a sachet of cedar or lavender to discourage moths.
Step 6: Break Down the Tree
For an artificial tree, separate the sections, fold branches up toward the pole, and wrap each section loosely with a strip of fabric or a strap before sliding it into the tree bag, heaviest section first. Bag the stand screws and hardware together. For a real tree, check your local collection or recycling program for dates and drop-off points.
Step 7: Wreaths and Outdoor Decorations
Bring outdoor wreaths and garland inside and let them dry for a day before storing them. Remove batteries from any battery-powered lights or candles to prevent corrosion. Store wreaths flat in hard containers, or hang them in bags. Let inflatables run or air out until completely dry, then fold them loosely into a bag or tote.
Step 8: Sort Into Category Bins
Store by category, not by room. A bin that holds ornaments, a tree skirt, and extension cords has to be fully unpacked to find one item. Use this layout instead:
| Container | What goes in it |
|---|
| Ornament boxes | Tree ornaments only, plus a bag of hooks |
| Light bag | Reels and wraps, spare bulbs, fuses, timers, extension cords |
| Tree bag | Tree sections and the stand hardware |
| Wreath containers | Wreaths and garland |
| Tote 1: Textiles | Tree skirt, stockings, table runners, pillow covers |
| Tote 2: Decor | Figurines, candles, village pieces, nativity, wrapped individually |
| Tote 3: First-night box | Tree stand, extension cord, scissors, hooks, and the first decorations you put up |
The first-night box is the most useful habit in this guide. Next December, it is the only bin you need to start decorating.
Step 9: Label Everything on Two Sides
Label each container on the end and on one long side, so you can read it whether it is stacked or on a shelf. Be specific: "Textiles: tree skirt, 6 stockings" is more useful than "Christmas." A simple numbered inventory on your phone ("Bin 4: village pieces") makes it even faster.
Step 10: Choose the Right Storage Spot
Decorations last longest in a dry place with stable temperatures. A basement shelf or closet is usually better than an unfinished attic, which can get very hot in summer and soften glue, paint, and plastic over the years. If the basement has ever flooded, use the attic and hard-sided bins instead. In any space:
- Keep containers off bare concrete. A shelf or a couple of boards underneath is enough.
- Put the heaviest totes on the bottom and ornament boxes on top.
- Keep the first-night box and the tree bag at the front.
- Store fragile and heirloom items inside the living space when you can.
Step 11: Make a Replace and Buy List
Before you close the last bin, write down what broke, which strands failed, and what you ran short on. January is also when holiday storage often goes on clearance, so it is a good time to replace a crushed box or add an ornament container. Check current prices rather than assuming a discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to store Christmas decorations?
Store decorations by category in containers designed for each type: divided boxes for ornaments, reels for lights, a sized bag for the tree, round containers for wreaths, and labeled totes for everything else. Keep them dry, off concrete, and out of the hottest part of the attic.
In what order should you take down Christmas decorations?
Ornaments first, then lights, then garland and ribbon, then the tree itself. Outdoor decorations can wait for a dry day. Taking ornaments off first protects them while the tree still holds its shape.
Should I store Christmas decorations in the attic or basement?
A dry basement is usually better because temperatures are more stable. Use the attic if the basement is damp or has flooded, with hard plastic bins kept on boards or shelving rather than loose insulation.
How do I keep Christmas lights from tangling?
Wind each strand onto a reel or flat wrap directly from the tree, starting at the plug end, and store the reels in a bag. Never pile lights loosely before winding.
When should I take down Christmas decorations?
Most households take them down between December 26 and early January. Pick a dry day for outdoor items so nothing goes into storage damp.
