Every January I stand in my bedroom with a tree in one hand and a tangle of lights in the other, and I have no idea where any of it goes. My closet is tiny, my bed has a gap underneath, and the Christmas boxes always win the fight for space.
So here is how I would pack it all away in about 30 minutes. The first three ideas cost nothing and decide whether the rest fits. After that come seven pieces that use dead space under a bed, on a shelf or behind a door, and I noted where each one has limits.
If you decorate small too, my apartment Christmas decor ideas help you buy less to store. For more room in general, see my space saving solutions for small apartments and bedroom storage ideas.
This post is about 10 Christmas storage ideas for small spaces: 3 free tricks and 7 easy pieces, from light reels to under-bed bins.
New for 2026: Fresh Storage Pieces That Only Just Showed Up
Packing away Christmas in a small place is always the hardest part for me, since the lights, the garland and the ornaments all want the same shelf. These pieces only showed up on Amazon this season, so they are worth a look next to the picks below, and each one is built for a different kind of holiday clutter.
Stop the Light Strands From Turning Into a Knot
Every January I toss my lights in a box, and the next December I spend an evening untangling them.
This Christmas light storage reels set with organizer bag is a set of reels in a red bag. I would wind each strand around a reel and zip them all into the one bag so they sit on a shelf in a neat bundle.
Coil the Garland Instead of Folding It
My garland is long and bulky, and it never goes back into a box without a few broken pieces.
The Christmas striped 24 inch garland and wreath storage bag is a round zip bag about 24 inches across and 7 inches deep with two handles. I would coil the garland inside, then stand it flat behind a door or slide it under the bed.
Fold the Ornament Box Flat in the Off Season
A big ornament box takes space even when it is empty, and my storage spot is already tight.
This Christmas 64 grid zippered ornament storage box with handle has 64 slots with dividers and a handle, and the listing says it folds flat. I would fill it in January and tuck the empty box into a drawer next year.
Free Idea: Do a 10-Minute Space Check Before You Buy Anything
I used to order a storage box first and then find out it did not fit under my bed. Now I take a tape measure and check three spots before I buy anything: the gap under the bed, the free height on one closet shelf, and the space behind a door.
I write the three numbers on my phone, and that list decides everything. A bin that is 8 inches tall will not slide into a 7 inch gap, so the numbers save me a return, and they cost nothing.
Free Idea: Pack the Big Pieces First, Then the Small Ones
The hardest part of my January is that everything feels urgent at once, so I end up stuffing small things into the first box I see. The tree gets the leftover space, and it never fits.
Now I pack in a set order: wreath first, then ornaments and lights, then soft things and wrap. The big pieces claim their spot while the shelf is still empty, and the small pieces fill the gaps around them.
Free Idea: Label the End of Every Box and Note What Is Inside
One December I spent a whole afternoon opening identical boxes looking for the lights. It was cold, I was annoyed, and the lights were in the very last box.
Now I stick a strip of masking tape on the end of each box and write what is inside with a marker. I use the end, not the top, because the box is stacked or under a bed when I need it. I also snap a quick photo of the open box on my phone. Next year I find things in a minute.
Stop Tangled String Lights With Metal Reels and a Bag
Last January I shoved my string lights into a bag in one big knot, and it took me an hour to untangle them in November.
This light storage reel set has three metal reels and a red zip-up bag. The listing says each reel is 10.6 inches across and 4 inches wide, and the bag is 14.5 by 13 inches. Winding each string around a reel keeps the lights tangle-free. I would start at the plug end and wind loosely, so the bulbs do not bend against the metal. Each reel holds a limited length of lights, so count your strands before you buy.
Cradle 128 Ornaments in One Box With Dividers
I used to wrap ornaments in tissue and toss them in a shoebox, and I always found one or two cracked the next year. It is a small heartbreak that happens every December.
This ornament storage box with dividers is 25.4 inches long, 12.9 inches wide and 13.5 inches tall, and the listing says the adjustable cardboard dividers hold up to 128 ornaments that are 3 inches across. It has a zipper, side handles and a front pocket, and it folds flat when empty. I would put heavy glass ornaments on the bottom layer and light ones on top. Bigger ornaments need the dividers removed.
Keep Wreaths Crush-Free With a Flat Clear Bag
My wreath came out of storage squashed flat one year, and I had to steam the poor thing back into shape. I almost threw it away.
This clear wreath storage bag is round, 30 inches across and 8 inches tall, with a zipper and reinforced handles. The walls are clear so you can see what is inside without opening it, and it is flat enough to slide under a bed or onto a closet shelf. I would lay a sheet of tissue paper over the wreath before zipping. It is a soft bag, not a hard shell, so do not stack heavy boxes on top.
Shrink Stockings, Tree Skirts and Throws With Vacuum Bags
My stockings, tree skirt and holiday throw blankets took up a whole shelf, and I could never squeeze the lid on the box. Soft things are bulky but light, so they waste the most room.
This pack of six jumbo vacuum storage bags has bags that are each 40 by 30 inches, and a hand pump is included. The listing says they have a double-zip seal and a turbo valve and compress bulky textiles by up to 80 percent. I would fold the textiles flat first, then pump. Do not use them for ornaments or anything breakable, and do not leave plush throws compressed for years. For more ideas, see my blanket storage ideas.
Slide Gift Wrap Under the Bed in a Slim Organizer
My wrapping paper used to roll around the bottom of a closet, so I rewrapped half of it every year. The creased paper never looks nice under the tree.
This under-bed wrapping paper organizer measures 40.2 by 14 by 6 inches and holds 18 to 24 rolls of paper up to 40 inches long. It has removable dividers, two pockets for ribbon and bows, and dual zippers. At only 6 inches tall it is made to slide under a bed. Measure your bed clearance first, and lay the rolls side by side so the paper does not crease.
Use Dead Space Under the Bed With Rolling Bins
I have almost no closet space, so the space under my bed has to carry the holiday boxes. Lifting a heavy box out from under a low bed hurts my back, and I put it off.
This set of two rolling under-bed bins has two black bins, each 30 inches long and 16 inches wide, with 66 liters of space per bin. Each has a clear top, a double-zipper cover and four swivel wheels. The listing says it needs at least 7.8 inches of clearance. I would use one bin for decorations and keep the other for off-season clothes.
Stack Small Holiday Pieces in Clear Bins With Lids
I buy a lot of little holiday pieces, like bows, tree hooks and small figurines, and they always end up loose in a bag at the bottom of a box. Finding a single hook takes forever.
This pack of six clear storage bins with lids has bins that are each 11 by 7.5 by 6 inches, made of BPA-free polyethylene, with handles, and they are stackable. I would use one bin per category, like bows, hooks and candles. Each bin is only 6 inches tall, so tall items will not fit.
FREE PACK-AWAY CHECKLIST
The Pack-Away Checklist (PDF)
I put my space check, my 30-minute plan and a label sheet on one printable page, so you can tape it inside a closet door and tick it off.
- Space check for beds, closets and doors
- 30-minute pack-away plan, step by step
- Label sheet and buy-before-the-rush list
✨ Download Checklist
Instant digital download • 100% free • No spam ever
The 30-Minute Pack-Away Plan
1. Minutes 0 to 10, big pieces: I take down the tree, wrap the string lights onto their reels and slide the wreath into its flat bag. These take the most room, so I do them first.
2. Minutes 10 to 20, small and breakable pieces: I wrap ornaments in tissue and set them in the divided box, then wind the lights so they come out tangle-free. This is the slow part, so I put on music.
3. Minutes 20 to 30, wrap-up: I roll up leftover wrap, compress soft textiles, and label the end of every box, so next December takes minutes, not hours.
Final Verdict: Start With the Space Check
If I had one hour this weekend, I would do the free space check first. Then I would add the light reels and the ornament box, because tangled lights and cracked ornaments are the pieces that cause the most trouble.
A tidy January comes from a plan and a few good pieces, not a full cart. Check current details on each Amazon page before you order.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I store Christmas decorations in a small space?
I use the space I already have: under the bed, on one closet shelf and behind a door. A flat under-bed organizer for wrapping paper, a set of light reels and a divided ornament box cover most of what a small home needs.
Q: How do I keep Christmas lights from tangling in storage?
I wind each string around a reel, starting at the plug end, and keep the reels in a bag on one shelf. A reel set takes far less room than a loose bag of lights, and the strings come out ready to hang.
Q: What is the best way to store Christmas ornaments?
I use a box with dividers so each ornament has its own spot, and I wrap fragile ones in tissue first. Heavy ones go on the bottom layer, and I label the end of the box before I shelve it.
Q: When should I buy Christmas storage containers?
I would buy them in November or early December, before the January rush. Then they are ready on the day you take the tree down, and you can follow the 30-minute plan right away.