How to Store Christmas Decorations in Garage: A Complete Guide

Storing Christmas decorations in the garage is a practical solution for people who don’t have enough indoor storage space. The problem is that garages are not climate-controlled, and they’re subject to temperature swings, humidity, dust, and pests. If you just throw your decorations in a cardboard box and put them in the garage, you’ll open the box next year and find broken ornaments, faded colors, and possibly pest damage. The right approach is to use the right containers, organize them properly, and protect them from garage conditions. This guide covers how to store Christmas decorations in the garage, what to buy, and what to skip.

How to store Christmas decorations in garage covers the methods and supplies for safely storing holiday decor in a non-climate-controlled space, including containers, organization systems, and protection from temperature, humidity, dust, and pests. The best garage storage is organized, protected, and durable. The worst is haphazard, unprotected, and leads to damage.

The right garage storage for Christmas decorations keeps them safe and organized. Here’s how to do it, what to buy, and what to skip.

What You Need to Store Christmas Decorations in the Garage

Storage Containers

Storage containers are the most important part of garage storage. They’re the boxes and bins that protect your decorations.

What to buy:

• A set of heavy-duty plastic bins (not cardboard, which attracts pests and absorbs moisture)
• Bins with tight-fitting lids (to keep out dust, moisture, and pests)
• Bins with latches (for a secure closure)
• Bins with handles (for easy carrying)
• Bins that are stackable (to save space)
• Clear bins (so you can see what’s inside) or colored bins (red and green for Christmas, for easy identification)
• Bins in a standard size (so they stack neatly)

What to skip:

• Cardboard boxes (they attract pests, absorb moisture, and crush when stacked)
• Bins without tight lids (dust and moisture get in)
• Bins that are too large (they’re hard to carry and too heavy when full)
• Bins that aren’t stackable (they waste space)

Price range: $10 to $25 per bin.

Ornament Storage

Ornament storage is the way to protect fragile ornaments. It’s the system that keeps them from breaking.

What to buy:

• An ornament storage box (with individual compartments for each ornament)
• An ornament storage bag (with dividers, for smaller ornaments)
• A quality material (sturdy canvas or thick plastic)
• A box or bag with a handle (for easy carrying)
• A box or bag that’s stackable

What to skip:

• Storing ornaments loose in a bin (they’ll break)
• Storing ornaments in cardboard (they’ll crush)
• An ornament box that’s too flimsy (it won’t protect)

Price range: $15 to $40.

Wreath Storage

Wreath storage is the way to protect wreaths and garlands. It’s the container that keeps them from getting crushed.

What to buy:

• A wreath storage container (in the right size for your wreath)
• A wreath storage bag (in a quality material, with a zipper and a handle)
• A container that’s hard-sided (for the best protection)
• A container that’s stackable

What to skip:

• Storing a wreath loose (it will get crushed)
• Storing a wreath in a trash bag (it offers no protection)
• A wreath container that’s too small (it will crush the wreath)

Price range: $15 to $40.

Light Storage

Light storage is the way to protect string lights. It’s the system that keeps them from tangling.

What to buy:

• A light storage reel (to wrap lights around, for tangle-free storage)
• A light storage box (with individual slots for each string)
• A light storage bag (with dividers)
• A quality material (sturdy plastic or canvas)

What to skip:

• Storing lights loose in a bin (they’ll tangle)
• Storing lights in the original box (the box will crush)
• A light storage system that’s too complicated (you won’t use it)

Price range: $10 to $30.

Tree Storage

Tree storage is the way to protect an artificial tree. It’s the bag or box that keeps it clean and dust-free.

What to buy:

• A tree storage bag (in a quality material, with a zipper and handles)
• A tree storage box (if you prefer a hard-sided container)
• A bag that’s the right size for your tree (check the tree height and diameter)
• A bag with wheels (for easy moving)

What to skip:

• Storing the tree in the original box (the box will crush and degrade)
• Storing the tree loose (it will get dusty and damaged)
• A tree bag that’s too small (it won’t fit the tree)

Price range: $20 to $60.

How to Organize Christmas Decorations in the Garage

Step 1: Sort and Declutter

Before you store, sort through your decorations. Keep what you love, donate what you don’t, and throw away what’s broken.

Step 2: Choose the Right Containers

Choose heavy-duty plastic bins for most decorations. Choose specialized containers for ornaments, wreaths, lights, and the tree.

Step 3: Pack Carefully

Pack ornaments in individual compartments. Wrap fragile items in tissue paper or bubble wrap. Pack lights on reels or in dividers. Pack the tree in a tree bag.

Step 4: Label Everything

Label each bin with the contents and the room it goes in. Use a label maker or a permanent marker. Color-code by room or category.

Step 5: Stack Smart

Stack bins by weight, with the heaviest on the bottom and the lightest on top. Stack bins in a corner or on a shelf, not on the floor (to protect from moisture and pests).

Step 6: Protect from Garage Conditions

Keep bins off the floor (on a shelf or a pallet). Keep bins away from the garage door (to avoid temperature swings). Keep bins away from chemicals and tools (to avoid damage).

How to Protect Decorations from Garage Conditions

Temperature Swings

Garages can get very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. These temperature swings can damage decorations.

How to protect:

• Use insulated bins (for the most fragile items)
• Keep bins away from the garage door (where temperature swings are most extreme)
• Keep bins in the most temperature-stable part of the garage (usually the back or the center)
• Don’t store candles, chocolate, or other heat-sensitive items in the garage

Humidity

Garages can be humid, which can cause mold, mildew, and rust.

How to protect:

• Use bins with tight-fitting lids (to keep out moisture)
• Add silica gel packets to bins (to absorb moisture)
• Keep bins off the floor (to avoid condensation)
• Don’t store metal decorations in the garage (they may rust)

Dust

Garages are dusty, and dust can get into bins and damage decorations.

How to protect:

• Use bins with tight-fitting lids (to keep out dust)
• Label bins clearly (so you don’t have to open them to see what’s inside)
• Clean bins before you open them (to avoid getting dust on the decorations)

Pests

Garages can attract pests, including mice, spiders, and insects, which can damage decorations.

How to protect:

• Use plastic bins (not cardboard, which attracts pests)
• Use bins with tight-fitting lids (to keep out pests)
• Keep bins off the floor (to make it harder for pests to access)
• Use natural pest deterrents (peppermint oil, cedar chips) near the bins

What to Skip Entirely

Cardboard boxes. They attract pests, absorb moisture, and crush when stacked. Choose plastic bins.

Storing on the floor. The floor is damp, dusty, and accessible to pests. Store on a shelf or a pallet.

Storing near the garage door. The garage door area has the most temperature swings. Store in the back or the center.

Storing heat-sensitive items. Candles, chocolate, and wax decorations can melt in a hot garage. Store them indoors.

Storing metal decorations. Metal decorations can rust in a humid garage. Store them indoors or in an airtight bin with silica gel.

Overpacking bins. Overpacking can crush decorations. Pack loosely, with padding.

FAQ

How do I store Christmas decorations in the garage? Sort and declutter. Choose heavy-duty plastic bins with tight lids. Pack ornaments in individual compartments, lights on reels, and the tree in a tree bag. Label each bin. Stack bins by weight (heaviest on the bottom). Store on a shelf or pallet, away from the garage door.

Can I store Christmas decorations in the garage? Yes, but you need the right containers and the right approach. Use heavy-duty plastic bins with tight lids, not cardboard. Keep bins off the floor, away from the garage door, and away from chemicals. Don’t store heat-sensitive items (candles, chocolate) or metal decorations (they may rust) in the garage.

What containers should I use to store Christmas decorations in the garage? Use heavy-duty plastic bins with tight-fitting lids, latches, and handles. Choose clear bins (to see what’s inside) or colored bins (red and green for Christmas). Use specialized containers for ornaments (with individual compartments), wreaths (hard-sided), lights (with reels or dividers), and the tree (a tree bag with a zipper).

How do I protect Christmas decorations from garage conditions? To protect from temperature swings: use insulated bins, keep bins away from the garage door, and don’t store heat-sensitive items. To protect from humidity: use bins with tight lids, add silica gel packets, and keep bins off the floor. To protect from dust: use bins with tight lids and label them clearly. To protect from pests: use plastic bins (not cardboard), keep bins off the floor, and use natural pest deterrents.

What should I not store in the garage? Don’t store candles, chocolate, or wax decorations (they can melt), metal decorations (they can rust), valuable or sentimental items (store them indoors), and anything in cardboard boxes (they attract pests and absorb moisture).

How much does it cost to store Christmas decorations in the garage? Heavy-duty plastic bins cost $10 to $25 each. An ornament storage box costs $15 to $40. A wreath storage container costs $15 to $40. A light storage system costs $10 to $30. A tree storage bag costs $20 to $60. You can outfit your garage storage for $50 to $200.

References

• The Spruce. “Garage Storage for Christmas Decorations.” https://www.thespruce.com/garage-storage-for-christmas-decorations
• Better Homes and Gardens. “Christmas Decoration Storage.” https://www.bhg.com/christmas/decor/christmas-decoration-storage/
• Container Store. “Holiday Storage.” https://www.containerstore.com/holiday-storage