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The gifts are opened, the cookies are eaten, and the eggnog is long gone. All those tchotchkes that filled you with glee last fall are now just a reminder of how much work it will be to put them all away. We wouldn’t blame you if you crammed everything into the nearest plastic bin and called it a day.

But don’t do that! Check out these tips for storing your holiday treasures.

1. Carefully choose a destination.

Having a dedicated area for holiday decorations is the first step to making this process less stressful. Depending on the size of your space, climate of your location, and extent of your stuff, a garage, basement, shed, or attic is ideal to house it all. This keeps items that you need access to just one month of the year out of your way for the rest of it.

If your home lacks these bonus spaces, or the temperature isn’t ideal, consider using a guest bedroom or storage closet, such as one under a staircase.

2. Take care of your artificial tree.

If you put up a faux tree each year, it’s likely the largest thing you’ll have to store. Invest in a zippered cover. Once you’ve removed all the decor, fold the branches and place the tree in the bag. Then keep it upright in a storage closet to maintain its condition. While you can also lay it horizontally, it can get crushed over time. Additionally, avoid using the original box, which can deteriorate, especially in humid conditions.

For a DIY solution to storing a Christmas tree, stick an extra large trash bag over the tree and tie it at the bottom or use a roll of plastic to shrink-wrap it, then carefully cut it open the following year.

3. Organize ornaments safely.

Ornaments are some of the most fragile and sentimental decor items, so it’s important to treat them as such. The original boxes that they come in will protect them, however, they’re not great at saving space. Consider using an ornament box with dividers or build your own using cardboard boxes.

A craft box with compartments can hold tiny ornaments. For exceptionally delicate ornaments, use its original box or roll it in tissue paper or bubble wrap before placing it into a divider.

4. Wrangle wreaths and garland.

Safely tuck a wreath into a canvas bag or a plastic case with latches. This is a particularly good idea if it has fragile embellishments. For multiple wreaths, install sturdy hooks to create a wall display or use large S hooks to hang them from the rod in a closet.

Similar to faux trees, artificial wreaths can be placed in garbage bags or plastic wrap for further protection prior to hanging them in storage.

What about garland? A simple solution is to corral garland in a wreath organizer or a garland keeper, which usually comes with a hook. You can also loop a garland around itself (like you would with a hose), use a piece of hook-and-loop tape to hold it together, and store it in a tote.

5. Sort string lights

Similar to garland, strings of Christmas lights can quickly become a cluttered mess without a suitable storage solution. Consider a plastic wind-up wheel or holder, especially for extra-long or jumbo sets of lights.

For shorter or smaller sets, try two inexpensive DIY methods: One requires a rectangular piece of cardboard and the other a thick hanger. Starting at one end of the strand, begin wrapping the lights around either the cardboard or the hanger until it’s fully coiled. The cardboard can fit upright in a storage bin and the hanger can sit on a rod in the closet or on a garment rack. The other method to prevent tangles is to wind light strands into long ovals, then cinch with cable ties and hang.

For fairy lights, save paper towel rolls, wind the tiny lights around them, and tuck the plug into the tube.

6. Give gift wrap a proper home

While you might use gift wrap year-round for birthdays or showers, holiday supplies don’t necessarily need to be accessible at all times. Sort out your seasonal wrapping paper, gift bags, boxes, bows, and tags to stay with the rest of your holiday decor. An all-in-one organizer bag, in a festive color if you prefer, is likely all you need to contain gift-wrapping materials. An underbed bin can easily hold smaller containers tucked among rolls of wrapping paper to keep ribbon, scissors, and bows orderly.

Another option is a back-of-the-door rack with customizable compartments, which can maximize space in a small storage closet.

7. Protect holiday dishware

Whether you host during the holidays and have settings for thirty or more, or only own a cookie plate and milk glass for Santa Claus, breakable items should be stored separately. It’s also better to tuck them out of the way rather than clutter up your kitchen all year round.

Use quilted boxes to store holiday plates alongside salad and soup bowls. Use boxes with dividers for wine glasses and mugs. Large serving platters should be carefully wrapped and placed on a shelf or in a bin to stay dust-free and prevent damage.

If you own Christmas cookie cutters, cookbooks, candles, or napkins, keep these together in a storage tote with a label so you can find them quickly when next year’s first holiday party sneaks up.

(Better Homes and Gardens is a magazine and website devoted to ideas and improvement projects for your home and garden, plus recipes and entertaining ideas. Online at www.bhg.com.)

©2024 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.