How to Store Christmas Decorations: A Brisbane Guide
Published
Packing Christmas away is the job everyone rushes on the first quiet weekend of January. Ten minutes of care then decides whether next December starts with working lights or a tangle in a soggy box. Here is how to store Christmas decorations so they survive a Brisbane summer, and what to do when they outgrow the cupboard.
Why Brisbane is hard on Christmas decorations
Decorations come down at the hottest, wettest time of our year. Garages, sheds and roof spaces get very hot through January and February, and the humidity rarely lets up. That combination softens cardboard, rusts hooks and wire, fades fabric and invites mould and silverfish. So the two rules are simple: keep things dry and sealed, and keep anything heat-sensitive out of the hottest parts of the house.
How to store Christmas lights
- Test every string before it goes away, so you are not storing a dud for eleven months.
- Take the batteries out of battery-powered lights. A leaking battery ruins the pack.
- Wrap each string around a piece of stiff card or an empty reel, plug end first, and tape the end down.
- Label it: "tree, warm white, 20m" saves an hour next year.
How to store baubles and fragile ornaments
- Use a tub with dividers, or egg cartons and cupcake trays for small baubles.
- Wrap glass ornaments individually in tissue paper. Newspaper ink can rub off.
- Heaviest items go at the bottom, glass on top, and never pack a tub so full the lid presses down.
How to store an artificial Christmas tree
The original box rarely survives a second year. A zip-up tree bag or a long tub stops branches getting crushed and keeps the dust off. Fluff the branches flat before packing, store the tree lying flat or upright with nothing stacked on it, and keep the stand and screws in a zip-lock bag taped to the trunk section.
Stockings, tree skirts and table runners
Wash or air them first, because food marks attract pests. Then pack them into vacuum bags or sealed tubs. Do not leave them in open cardboard in a humid garage.
Candles, wax and anything with chocolate
These stay inside the house, in the coolest cupboard you have. Not the garage, not the roof space, not the shed, and not a steel storage container either. Brisbane summer heat will melt them wherever the sun can reach.
Inflatables and outdoor displays
Make sure they are bone dry before folding, or they will grow mould in the tub. Pack the fan unit separately so its plastic housing does not crack, and keep stakes and cable ties together in one bag.
Use plastic tubs, not cardboard
Cardboard absorbs moisture and is what cockroaches and silverfish look for. Clear lidded tubs keep the damp out, stack safely and let you see what is inside. Number each tub and keep a list on your phone. If the tubs live in a garage, keep them off the floor so a wet-season puddle cannot reach them.
Where to keep Christmas decorations
An inside cupboard is best for anything delicate. A garage shelf is fine for the tree, inflatables and lights in sealed tubs. The roof space is the worst spot: it is the hottest part of most Brisbane homes. For more on heat and humidity, see is container storage safe in summer and how to prevent mould in container storage.
When the decorations take over the garage
A whole 20ft container just for Christmas is more than most homes need. It makes sense when Christmas is part of a bigger overflow: a big outdoor display, a garage you want back for the car, or a move or renovation that runs through the holidays.
At Storage Land in Archerfield you rent a whole private 20ft container from $349 a month. You drive up to the door and unload straight from the car or trailer. Access is 24/7 through a gated PIN entry, the yard is sealed bitumen with CCTV, and each container has a 12-vent ventilation system. It is month-to-month with no lock-in, no bond and no admin fees. The same heat rule applies there as at home: candles and wax stay inside the house. See how to pack a storage unit for loading tips.
Check availability - from $349/mo
Running a shop or market stall with a Christmas buy to hold? That is a different problem. See seasonal stock storage in Brisbane.
Christmas decoration storage FAQs
Can I store Christmas decorations in the garage in Brisbane?
Yes, for the tree, lights and inflatables, in sealed plastic tubs kept off the floor. Keep candles, wax, chocolate and delicate fabric inside the house.
Can you store a Christmas tree in a storage unit?
Yes. Bag or tub it so the branches are not crushed, and do not stack heavy items on top.
How long can Christmas decorations stay in storage?
Year after year, if they go in clean, dry and sealed. Check the tubs once before the wet season for any sign of damp.