Putting the decorations up is the fun part. Getting them all back into a small flat in January is a different story. There’s no loft, no garage, and often no spare cupboard, so the boxes end up in the bedroom for another six months.
This guide shows how to store a tree, baubles, lights and everything else when you’re short on space. It also covers a few renter-friendly tricks and mistakes that can damage your decorations before next year.
Start by Sorting Before You Pack
It’s tempting to throw everything into a box at the end of the festive season. But the best time to cut down on clutter is while it’s all out.
Go through your decorations and put each item into one of three piles:
- Keep: things you love or that mean something to you.
- Fix or replace: broken lights, cracked baubles, a tree with missing branches.
- Let go: things you haven’t used for years or that you only kept out of habit.
A small flat can’t hold a full family collection. Keeping only what you actually put up makes everything afterwards easier, and it’s the cheapest storage upgrade there is.
Choose Boxes That Fit Your Space
In a small flat, the container matters as much as where it goes.
- Plastic boxes with lids. They protect against dust and spills, stack well and let you see what’s inside if they’re clear. This is the best option for most things.
- Slim boxes under the bed. A flat box that slides under the bed is ideal for wrapping paper, garlands and flat decorations. Measure the gap first.
- Fabric bags or zip covers. These suit soft items like tree skirts, stockings and textiles. They’re also light enough to put high up.
- Original packaging. If you still have the box your tree came in, it’s usually the best fit for that tree. Keep it only if you have room, as it takes up space.
Avoid cardboard boxes in damp places such as a cold outside-wall cupboard, because they soak up moisture and can go mouldy.
How to Store Each Type of Decoration
The Tree
- Artificial trees: take it apart in sections and, if it came with a bag, use that. A tall, narrow storage bag can stand behind a wardrobe or lie flat on top of it. Don’t stack heavy things on it.
- Slim or pencil trees take much less room, and a half tree that sits flat against the wall is simpler still.
- Real trees: you can’t store these, so plan ahead. Many local councils offer a collection or recycling point for real trees in January, so check your council’s website.
A quick tip: take a photo of the tree when it’s fully lit and decorated. Next year you’ll remember how you arranged it.
Baubles and Fragile Ornaments
- Wrap each piece in tissue paper, kitchen roll or a clean sock. Newspaper can leave ink on delicate items, so avoid it for anything special.
- Use a box with dividers, such as an egg box for small items or a proper ornament box with compartments.
- Put heavier decorations at the bottom and fragile ones at the top, and never pack them so tightly that they press together.
- Label the box “Fragile” and keep it somewhere it won’t get knocked.
Fairy Lights
Tangled lights are the most common complaint, so this one is worth doing carefully.
- Test them first. Plug them in before packing. If a string doesn’t work, you’ll know now rather than in December.
- Wind them around a piece of stiff cardboard, a coat hanger or an old cable reel, leaving the plug end free and tucked in.
- Store each string separately in a small bag or box.
- Take the batteries out of battery-powered lights, as they can leak over a year in storage.
Wreaths and Garlands
A wreath can be stored in a flat box or a large bag, and it can lie under a bed or on top of a wardrobe. Garlands can be loosely coiled and kept in a slim box. Don’t crush them, as artificial greenery loses its shape.
Wrapping Paper, Cards and Bags
- Roll wrapping paper and hold it with an elastic band.
- Keep rolls upright in a tall bin or lying flat in an under-bed box.
- Flatten gift bags and tissue paper and keep them in a single folder or box.
Where to Put the Boxes in a Small Flat
You usually have to be creative. These spots tend to work:
- Under the bed. Use flat, lidded boxes and pick the items you won’t need for months.
- On top of a wardrobe. Good for light, bulky things like the tree bag. Don’t put anything heavy up high.
- Behind the sofa or a door, if the gap is wide enough for a slim box.
- Inside a spare suitcase. A suitcase you only use for holidays is a convenient container.
- A shelf in a hallway cupboard, if you have one.
One important safety point: if you live in a block of flats, don’t leave boxes in the communal hallway, stairwell or landing, even for a short time. Those areas need to stay clear for fire safety, and your landlord or building manager may have rules about it.
Renting? Here's a guide to no-drill shelves that actually hold weight.
If you rent, also check your tenancy agreement before using any storage that is shared or outside your own flat.
Make Next Year Easier
A few habits save time later:
- Label every box on the end that faces out, so you can read it without moving anything.
- Keep a list on your phone of what’s in each box.
- Pack by room or use, such as “tree”, “table” and “front door”, rather than by item type.
- Put the tree box last so it’s easy to reach in December.
- Buy flat when you can. If you add new decorations, paper or fabric ones and flat-pack items take less space than bulky ones.
Quick Checklist
- Sort into keep, fix and let go
- Test the lights before packing
- Wrap fragile baubles individually
- Use lidded boxes, not damp cardboard
- Label each box
- Take the batteries out
- Keep communal areas clear
- Note where everything is stored
FAQ
Where can I store Christmas decorations in a small flat?
Under the bed, on top of a wardrobe, behind a door or in a spare suitcase all work. Use lidded boxes and keep heavy items low.
How do I stop fairy lights from tangling?
Wind each string around stiff cardboard or a coat hanger, tuck the plug in and store it separately.
What’s the best way to store baubles?
Wrap each one in tissue or a clean sock and use a divided box, with heavier pieces at the bottom.
What do I do with a real tree in a small flat?
You can’t store it, so check your local council for a collection or recycling point in January.
Can I keep decorations in a cupboard on an outside wall?
Only if it stays dry. Cold outside walls can get damp, so use plastic boxes rather than cardboard.
Final Thoughts
Good Christmas storage starts before you pack: sort, protect the fragile items and give every box a home. In a small flat, a bit of planning in January makes the following December much easier.
