The holidays should be a time of fun and joy, helping your kids with Halloween costumes, anticipating a mouth-watering Thanksgiving spread, and connecting with family and friends. It should not be a time for dreading finding your decorations, tableware, and other holiday supplies through mismatched, unlabeled boxes in your garage, attic, or closets.

If your holiday organization is non-existent, don’t just resign yourself to a mad scramble the week before Halloween. Take charge of your holiday storage now before the holiday rush!

Why Early Holiday Decoration Storage Is a Game Changer

At the end of a busy holiday season, it’s oh-so-tempting to take down your decorations, stuff all your supplies into the nearest available box, and shove them all into the back corner of your garage or attic as quickly as possible. But failing to organize in the moment only makes your life more complicated the next year. Worse, poor storage methods could damage fragile decorations or lead to a shorter lifespan of the holiday supplies you paid good money for. 

That’s why it’s time to roll up your sleeves and perform your holiday prep now before the season catches you by surprise. Read on for your full holiday storage checklist:

Your Holiday Prep Checklist

If you want to do holiday storage right, that means facing your past mistakes. Begin by giving yourself a dedicated window of time for this project. Grab a few hours on the weekend or free up an afternoon during the week and follow this holiday prep checklist.

• Gather all your holiday supplies. You need to know what you’re working with, so dig through your garage, attic, crawl space, closet, and storage unit to bring all your holiday supplies into one place.

• Test all your supplies. Plug in all your Christmas lights, check that your scary witch still cackles, and make sure none of your snowglobes are leaking. If anything is broken or damaged beyond repair, toss it.

• Pare down. Review every holiday item and make sure it’s still something you want to keep. Are those old costumes too small for your kids? Are you over your huge, blow-up lawn decorations? Give away or sell anything you don’t regularly use. Otherwise, it’ll just take up space.

• Make an inventory. You can’t optimize your holiday prep game if you don’t know what you have. Create a simple spreadsheet that lists all of your holiday gear so you’ll know exactly what to look for next season. Categorize by holiday and type of item (ex. decorations, costumes, dishware, etc.)

• Sort by holiday. Before you begin storing your holiday items, sort them by holiday. This will make it easy for you to pack same-holiday items together, so you can quickly grab all your Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Hanukkah gear at once when it’s time to put everything out. 

Mastering Halloween Storage: Tips for Costumes, Props, and Spooky Decor

Now that you’ve sorted all your holiday supplies, it’s time to master the art of storage, starting with storage for Halloween decorations. 

Costume Care

Unsure what to do with your costumes? Here’s a few ideas:

• Store your costumes on padded hangers in garment bags or breathable cotton covers to prevent wrinkles and fabric damage. 
• For bulky items, like mascot heads or foam pieces, use acid-free tissue paper. 
• Pack accessories like masks, wigs, and jewelry in clear plastic containers with dividers so you can easily see what’s inside.
• Label each box and garment bag so you don’t have to go digging for the costumes and accessories you need for this year’s amazing Halloween ensemble. 

Halloween Props

Your moving skeletons and fog machines need special care so they can keep scaring the neighbors for years to come. 

• Clean all your electronic props thoroughly, remove batteries to prevent corrosion, and store them in their original boxes if possible. 
• For larger props without boxes, wrap them in bubble wrap and store them in sturdy (labeled) containers. Keep all instructions and spare parts together in a labeled envelope.

Spooky Decorations

The right storage for Halloween decorations will depend on what you’re working with. 

• Wrap your fragile items, like ceramic pumpkins or glass ornaments, individually in tissue paper or bubble wrap. 
• Store artificial spider webs in sealed bags. 
• Make sure outdoor decorations are completely dry before you put them into boxes to prevent mold and mildew. Don’t forget to label each container clearly.

Thanksgiving Storage Solutions: Preserving Tableware, Linens, and Centerpieces

Thanksgiving storage requires a different approach than Halloween, since you’re dealing with more delicate items like fine china and fabric linens. 

Tableware and Serving Pieces

• Stack plates with felt or paper plate protectors between each piece to prevent scratching. You can also find dedicated bubble sleeves designed for specific dishware. 
• Store crystal glasses upright in divided boxes or wrap them individually in bubble wrap. 
• Store serving platters and dishes in original boxes, if possible, or wrap them individually in thick towels. 
• Store all pieces from the same set together in well-labeled containers. 
• Write or print off a quick inventory list and tape it inside the storage container for easier packing in the future.

Linens and Fabrics

• Clean all tablecloths, napkins, and runners before storing them to prevent all those well-earned stains from setting. 
• Fold items with acid-free tissue paper at the creases to prevent permanent lines. 
• Store your linens in breathable cotton bags rather than plastic containers, which can trap moisture and cause mildew. 

Centerpieces and Decorative Items

• Disassemble any artificial Thanksgiving arrangements.
• Pack smaller pieces together in individual labeled bags.
• Store the entire arrangement in a single bag or container.
• Wrap ceramic or glass pieces individually.
• Fill empty spaces in containers with packing materials to prevent contact.
• Place natural elements (e.g., pinecones, dried leaves) in airtight containers.
• Add a few silica gel packs to help keep out pests.

How Self Storage Can Support Your Holiday Prep

One of the reasons you might find it difficult to keep your holiday items organized is that, well, they just take up so much space. It can be hard to keep all your Halloween lawn ornaments together when you only have a small corner available in your garage or a few shelves in a spare closet. 

If space is at a premium in your home, consider renting a storage unit for your holiday items. Self storage will give you plenty of space to hold your large lawn decorations, all your wrapping supplies, and your full containers of Thanksgiving dishware. You can even bring in standing shelves to better utilize the vertical space of your storage unit and keep your unit more organized.

At Price Self Storage, we are your holiday storage destination. We offer small, medium, and large storage units at all our facilities located throughout California. Our month-to-month leases also give you the flexibility you need if you’re only looking for seasonal storage. Take a look online to get our best storage rates. 

With a little organization and holiday prep, you can enjoy a smoother, happier holiday season with all the trimmings.

Find your nearest Price Self Storage today.