Holiday decorations can quickly take over a garage. Between Christmas trees, lights, wreaths, jack-o’-lanterns, ornaments, outdoor decorations, inflatables, wrapping supplies, and seasonal storage bins, you may struggle to find what you need when the holidays arrive.
Fortunately, with the right garage organization, you can keep decorations accessible while leaving plenty of room for vehicles, tools, equipment, and everyday storage. Here are some practical ways to organize your holiday decorations and make seasonal decorating easier.
Start by Sorting Your Holiday Decorations
Before investing in storage containers or rearranging your garage, take everything out and sort your decorations. Take note of what you have, such as
- Christmas trees and tree stands
- Ornaments
- Holiday lights
- Wreaths and garlands
- Outdoor decorations
- Indoor decorations
- Holiday dishes and serving items
- Wrapping paper and gift supplies
- Seasonal linens
- Halloween, Thanksgiving, and other seasonal decorations
During this step, you also have a chance to get rid of broken, damaged, outdated, or no longer wanted decorations and light strands. Storing fewer items makes the entire garage easier to organize.
Use Clear, Labeled Storage Bins
Plastic bins are one of the easiest ways to keep holiday decorations organized. Clear containers allow you to see what is inside without opening every box.
Label each bin according to its contents. Instead of a general label such as “Christmas,” use specific labels like “Christmas Lights,” “Tree Ornaments,” or “Outdoor Decorations.”
Consider using different containers for each holiday or season. This makes it easier to find the decorations you need without disturbing everything else in storage.
Store Frequently Used Decorations Within Reach
Not every holiday decoration needs to be stored in the same location. Consider which items you use most often and place them within easy reach, typically between waist and shoulder height whenever possible. Store less frequently used items higher up or farther toward the back of the garage.
Take Advantage of Vertical Space
Garage floors can become crowded quickly, especially with vehicles, lawn equipment, tools, and storage containers all competing for space.
Take advantage of the vertical space in your garage when organizing holiday decorations, especially for lightweight items that don’t need to occupy valuable floor space. Invest in wall-mounted shelving, overhead storage, and tall cabinets.
Create a Dedicated Holiday Storage Area
Instead of scattering holiday decorations wherever they will fit in your garage, create a designated seasonal storage zone. This makes it easier to keep similar items together and prevent decorations from slowly spreading to other parts of the garage.
Depending on the size of your collection, you might need to designate a section of garage shelving, a row of cabinets, or a specific wall for holiday storage.
Keep Holiday Lights Organized
Holiday lights often get tangled in storage. Instead of throwing the strands in a box, wrap each one around a piece of cardboard, a dedicated light-storage reel, or another appropriate organizer. Secure the end of the strand so it doesn’t unravel.
Label each set of lights according to where it is used, such as “Front Porch,” “Tree,” or “Backyard.” This can save significant time when decorating.
Protect Fragile Decorations
Holiday decorations often include fragile ornaments, glass decorations, ceramic pieces, and other delicate items that need additional protection.
Use divided containers, ornament storage boxes, bubble wrap, tissue paper, or other protective materials to cushion pieces and keep them from breaking. Store fragile containers where they won’t be crushed by heavier items.
Store Artificial Trees Properly
Artificial Christmas trees can take up considerable garage space. Consider storing the tree in a protective storage bag or container designated for its size and placing it in a location where it won’t get crushed or damaged by other garage items.
If the tree comes in multiple pieces, store them together to prevent parts from getting separated throughout the year.
Use Garage Cabinets for Smaller Decorations
Garage cabinets work well for ornaments, extension cords, wrapping supplies, batteries, and small decorations. They protect them from dust and give your garage a cleaner appearance.
Adjustable shelving inside the cabinets can make it easier to accommodate containers of different sizes.
Make Holiday Storage Part of Your Garage Organization Plan
Organizing holiday decorations is easier when your entire garage has a functional storage system. Cabinets, shelving, wall storage, and overhead storage can help you safely store seasonal items without sacrificing valuable floor space.
A well-organized garage makes it easier to decorate for the holidays, put everything away afterward, and find what you need throughout the year