Holiday Organizing Tips

A segmented cardboard box -- whether store-bought or a wine box -- is great for sturdier ornaments. Our editors recommend cardboard boxes, which don’t trap moisture as plastic bins do. If possible, avoid storing decorations in the basement or attic, where humidity and temperature fluctuate throughout the year. Instead, opt for a closet or under a bed.

Archival ornament-storage boxes (similar to shown), from $25 each, containerstore.com

1. Test each strand before putting it away. (Replace dead bulbs, and discard strands that don’t work.)

2. Keep all extra bulbs and fuses together in a kit.

3. Make a loop with each strand and wrap the ends around the loop, as shown.

4. Store each strand in its own sealed one-gallon freezer bag to prevent tangling. Leave some air in the bag to act as a cushion that will protect the bulbs.

5. Stack the sealed bags in a large storage container.

Untying a bow or ironing out creases can damage some ribbon (especially older pieces). Avoid both by storing bows intact: To make sure the loops don’t crimp in storage, cut cardboard tubes and wrap them with paper towels so that they fit snugly inside. Store flat in a shallow box, either plastic or cardboard.

Editor in chief Eric Pike uses tissue paper to individually wrap each vintage ornament in his collection. Here’s his process:

1. Center the ornament on a short side of a rectangle of tissue paper (acid-free is best because it has no chemicals that can harm delicate pieces).

2. Roll the ornament in the tissue, creating a tube with a bump in the center. Fold one side over.

3. Flip the ornament over, and fold the remaining side over in the opposite direction (like a Z), creating thick padding on the sides.

Crafts director Marcie McGoldrick likes plastic storage boxes for wreaths made from pinecones or artificial greenery: Embellishments stay intact and attached. If your wreath is made with organic materials, poke small holes in the plastic to allow proper ventilation.

Snaplock wreath-storage box, 24", $15, containerstore.com