How to Pack Christmas Ornaments

Packing your ornaments efficiently is the key to a happy Christmas set-up next year. To save yourself from the headache and heartache of finding broken, disorganized ornaments in your dusty attic boxes when Christmas rolls around again, follow this guide for storing your ornaments.

Turn up the first non-holiday music you’ve heard since Halloween ended and start your undecorating routine. It’s time to put the Christmas ornaments back into their dark corner.

As you are taking ornaments off the tree, do inventory. Are there ornaments that are damaged or no longer usable? Did some of your ornaments stay in the box for the duration of the holiday season? It might be time to consider letting these particular ornaments go.

Some damaged ornaments might hold sentimental value, which could make you reluctant to part with them. If the ornament is not fixable, ask yourself if it’s possible to preserve the memories you associate with the ornament by taking a picture of the ornament or upcycling pieces of the ornament into a new creation.

Put like-ornaments with like-ornaments and wrap them in bubble wrap, tissue paper, or packing paper. Extra-fragile ornaments will need special care and possibly more packing material. 

Garlands can be wound around a piece of cardboard and held in place with rubber bands to avoid tangling in storage.

Put hooks for ornaments in a small box or durable plastic baggie.

Once your ornaments are wrapped, they’re ready to go into their home for hibernation. But where should your ornaments hibernate? You’ve got a couple of great options available to you for storing ornaments, here are a few that we recommend:

• Use the Original Ornament Box: If you have saved the ornament’s original container, that is the best-case scenario. This box is designed to hold the ornament for transport and storage. Keeping the original box is especially recommended if your ornament is a collector’s item or oddly shaped.

• Purchase an Ornament Organizer: Your favorite big-box retailer or small eCommerce business probably sells special ornament organizers for your Christmas ornaments to hide in for the off-season. Check out the after-Christmas sale or do a search online for ornament organizers. 

• Use a Glassware Box: Special boxes designed for moving glassware can make the perfect cozy container for your Christmas ornaments. Simply put the wrapped ornaments in the divided compartments and pack any extra space with tissue paper or packing paper. 

• Build Your Own Ornament Box: No need to spend any money, simply grab the last boxes you received deliveries in and assemble your own square dividers. All you need is some extra cardboard and a pair of scissors. Put the cardboard slots in another box and you can pack your ornaments the DIY way.

Once the ornaments are in their own container, make sure to fill any empty space with bubble wrap, tissue paper, packing paper, or even some soft Christmas items like special holiday towels, fabric ornaments, or stockings.

For cardboard boxes, use a permanent marker to write labels on your boxes. If you are using plastic containers, add some paper tape or a sticky label to each box. 

Here are some tips for labeling your boxes to make getting the decorations out next year a breeze:

• Use Colored Tape: Designate a specific color for certain items and use colored tape to seal your boxes so that you know which boxes are which on sight. For example, your living room decorations could go in a blue-taped box while your Christmas tree ornaments could go in a green-taped box.

• Create a Holiday Decorations Inventory: In addition to labeling your boxes, create a separate inventory of your holiday decorations to keep on your computer, your phone, or in a binder. This will come in handy when you are searching for specific decorations. You can write in your inventory which box it is packed in and which area of the box it can be found in.

• Add Fragile Labels to Delicate Items: You should label boxes with a ‘Fragile’ label to remind yourself to handle certain boxes with care. When these boxes are properly labeled, you’ll be able to give them the attention they deserve when you’re opening, closing, or moving them.

When the boxes are labeled and packed well, then it’s time to find a storage space for them. 

If you have space in the back of your closet then you can store your holiday decorations here. Other spaces you might be able to find storage in a house include the basement, under the stairs, the attic, and the garage. If you do not have space in your home to store your holiday decorations, consider renting storage space at a nearby storage facility. 

Whatever space you choose, you want to be sure your decorations are well-insulated for their hibernation. Ideally, this would be a space indoors that is not subject to extreme temperature changes.

Now that you’ve taken back your living room, you can enjoy the coming year with peace of mind that your ornaments will be ready for you next Christmas. Smell the flowers of spring, soak up the summer heat, and enjoy the falling of the autumn leaves before you break out your Christmas ornaments at the first hint of winter chill.

Are you planning a holiday move? Get your move booked with the professional movers at All My Sons Moving & Storage and make this your best relocation yet. You can even skip out on the headache of packing all your Christmas items with professional packing services. Our company has been helping businesses and families move for almost 30 years, and we bring our customer-focused care to every move no matter what season it is. Give your local All My Sons a call or get started with an online quote.