Can I store ornaments in the attic?

It's not ideal. Summer heat can damage glued and painted ornaments. If the attic is the only option, use sealed hard bins.

How do I store very large ornaments?

Give them their own box, padded with tissue so they can't roll.

What about ornaments with lights or batteries?

Remove the batteries before storing to prevent corrosion.

How to Store Christmas Ornaments So They Survive Every Year

How to store Christmas ornaments safely: sorting, wrapping glass and handmade pieces, choosing ornament storage, and where to keep the boxes.

Most broken ornaments break in storage, not on the tree. A little care when you pack them away saves a lot of disappointment next December.

Step 1: Sort before you pack

Take ornaments off the tree and group them on a table: glass, shatterproof, handmade or sentimental, and oversized pieces. Packing by type keeps heavy ornaments from crushing delicate ones and makes decorating faster next year.

Step 2: Remove hooks and clean

Take off metal hooks — they scratch neighboring ornaments and can rust in damp storage. Dust each piece with a soft dry cloth.

Step 3: Wrap the fragile pieces

Glass ornaments: wrap in acid-free tissue paper, then nest in a divided compartment.
Handmade and paper ornaments: tissue plus a small box of their own.
Shatterproof ornaments: can go into dividers unwrapped.

Avoid newspaper, which can transfer ink, and avoid sealing ornaments in plastic bags where moisture can collect.

Step 4: Choose the right ornament storage

Ornament storage boxes with cardboard or fabric dividers are the simplest way to keep pieces separated. A hard-sided plastic bin with a lid protects best against crushing, pests, and moisture. Egg cartons and plastic cups glued into a shallow box work well as a free option for small ornaments.

Label each container by contents and room — "glass, tree top layer" is more helpful than "Christmas."

Step 5: Store them in the right place

Pick a spot that stays cool, dry, and stable in temperature: a hall closet or under a bed is better than an attic or garage, where heat can soften glue, warp plastic, and fade paint. Keep boxes off concrete floors and stack the lightest containers on top.