The best Christmas ornament storage ideas to keep them safe and sparkling

Keepsake Ornament Engineer Kristina says:

“Hallmark always prefers that you store your ornaments in our retail packaging with the original interior packing material. This is really important when it comes to tree toppers because you won’t want to lose track of the support rod, instruction sheets and power adapters that will help ensure a successful experience the next year.

“We design and regard our retail boxes as storage devices. We’re not providing material that is intended to be thrown away. We have used particular packaging materials because it is our way to help you ensure your ornaments last for years and years.”

Storage containers

When it comes to ornament storage containers, there are lots of choices out there. Whether you go with something as general as cardboard boxes or as specific as padded and compartmentalized storage bins, remember:

• The sturdier the better. Consider boxes that are crush-proof and waterproof in case of unexpected shifting or moisture.
• Dividers can keep wrapped ornaments from jostling together. If you don’t have dividers, separate ornaments with bubble wrap or more tissue paper.
• Choose uniform sizes and containers with lids. These will allow easier stacking and fitting into your chosen space.
• Try to keep things dry. Toss a packet of silica gel desiccant in sealed plastic containers to protect ornaments from damage from trapped moisture.
• Prevent odours. Any box would benefit from a scented dryer sheet to keep things from getting musty.

Before busting out the boxes, be sure to consider just where your ornaments will reside when they are not being displayed. A little planning will help you avoid the frustration of carefully packing a box only to discover it’s too tall for the place you would like to keep it.

Some good options for ornament storage are under the bed, in a closet, an unused room or finished basement. If none of those are available to you, here are a few watchouts that might help you find the perfect place to store your ornaments:

• Ornaments should be kept in a climate-controlled area, preferably one without a lot of natural light. Sunlight can cause both ornaments and packaging to fade over time.
• Temperatures between 40°-90°F are best, as extremes of heat and cold can cause stress fractures in common ornament materials like glass or ceramic.
• High humidity and moisture can degrade the finishes on ornaments, so avoid areas like unfinished basements and detached garages. If these are your only option, either avoid placing your ornament storage container on the floor or make sure it’s waterproof.
• For boxes with especially fragile contents, avoid high shelves or stacking containers too high, in case they (or you!) fall during retrieval.

Storing ornaments on the tree

Many folks choose to leave their trees up year-round, ornaments and all, in some out-of-the-way place for the sake of convenience. And that’s just fine!

But before you go hauling that tree down to the basement guestroom, make sure all ornaments are securely attached to the tree branches and any particularly fragile or meaningful ornaments have been removed and stored somewhere safe.

Creating your own ornament storage system allows you to choose just how you want to sort your decorations. And it can be really fun!

• You could make your more collectible ornaments quick and easy to find for showing off to friends.
• You could sort by colour for coordinated trees, by theme for trees that showcase collections, by material (whether delicate or sturdy), by series, by size or by shape.
• If you’re feeling extra creative, you could even decorate lids and sides of storage containers to reflect their contents.

The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

Keepsake Ornament Engineer Kristina says:

“At our house, we have a Harry Potter tree. It’s my daughter’s tree. We have all of our Harry Potter ornaments, including a tree topper and a lighted tree skirt, in one big tote that stores them all.

“We keep it all together so when it’s time to set up our Harry Potter tree, she can grab that tote and everything she wants and needs is right there without having to go look for it. It’s very handy to store things that way.”

Before storing your Christmas ornaments, take the time to do a few housekeeping chores that will make them ready for the tree the next time you put it up:

• Remove the batteries from any powered ornament.
• Unplug ornaments from any removable power cords, such as the Keepsake Ornament Magic Cord or Power Cord, and wrap those cords for storage along with the ornaments that need them.
• Remove metal tree hooks which can scratch painted and polished finishes while resting against them.
• Clean each ornament with a synthetic or feather duster, or a regular or microfiber cloth.
• Do not moisten or immerse an ornament with water to clean it.
• Handle ornaments with care at every opportunity.

Keepsake Ornament Engineer Kristina says:

“Invest in a mini or jeweller’s-size screwdriver that you can keep in the storage box right with your ornaments so you have it when you need it. These are inexpensive and you can pick them up at plenty of places.

“A 4mm Phillips-head screwdriver fits Hallmark’s standard-size screws. When you remove the button batteries, just tape them to the inside of the lid of that ornament’s box. They will be right there when you need them, and you won’t have to go rooting around in the junk drawer for those batteries.”

Now comes the most important part of any Christmas ornament storage strategy: the packing. Without paying some careful attention to how ornaments rest together in storage, your best intentions can come undone.

This bears repeating, so here goes: For Keepsake Ornaments, the easiest way of ensuring the safest storage for any ornament is to keep and reuse its original packing materials. Some ornaments are packaged in specifically designed plastic trays that will cradle them safely within perfectly sized boxes.

For ornaments that are loose or don’t have particularly storage-friendly packaging, here are some helpful packing strategies. (Spoiler alert: Tissue paper is your best friend.)

• Glass and bisque porcelain ornaments should be wrapped individually in a generous amount of tissue paper as they can be scratched by other materials.
• Blown-glass ornaments should be turned upside down so that any condensation will escape rather than damage paint inside the ornament.
• Sterling silver, gold-plated and pewter ornaments should be wrapped in acid-free tissue paper to prevent tarnishing, corrosion and pitting.
• Larger and unusually shaped ornaments or tree toppers will benefit from having lots of space in a container. Avoid crowding them with other ornaments.