With the holiday season in the rearview, it’s time to unplug and gingerly put away your Christmas lights. But these long and winding strands that offer so much twinkle and merriment during the season can be a pain to store. If you don’t have a system in place, Christmas lights can become a tangled mess when it comes time to stow them away for the off-season.
There are multiple methods for storing your lights so they’re organized and accessible when you retrieve them next year. To help, we spoke to organizing experts who shared the best ways to store Christmas lights. Read on for their favorite methods to keep these delicate decorations neatly and safely stored until the next time Christmas rolls around.
Original Packaging
When opening new lights, keep the original packaging for handy storage. However, don’t just stuff the lights back into their box without rhyme or reason, as this could lead to breakage and tangling. Meaghan Kessman, founder of Meaghan Kessman Home Organization, offers these easy instructions for safely and neatly storing your lights in their original packaging.
- First, check to see if the box is still in good shape, as it needs to hold up in storage.
- Gently coil the lights, following their natural shape. Avoid creating tight loops that could damage the wiring.
- Use twist ties to keep the coil neat and secure.
- Place the lights back into the original box and store in a cool, dry location.
Clear Ornament Storage Boxes
One big advantage to using clear ornament storage boxes is that you can easily see how many lights you have when retrieving your decorations next year. Additionally, the divided compartments keep everything organized and untangled. Kessman recommends following these steps when storing Christmas lights in clear ornament storage boxes.
- Roll each strand into a loose coil and secure it with a twist tie.
- Place each coil in its own section of the storage box. This way, they won’t get tangled.
- Snap the lid shut and label the box to make the lights easy to find later.
Clothing Hangers
A creative solution for storing your Christmas lights is right in your closet—clothing hangers. The big plastic clothes hangers with shirt strap notches on each side are great for neatly storing holiday lights. Michelle Parravani, owner of Designing with Less. recommends these simple steps:
- Hook one end of a strand of lights onto one of the notches on the hanger.
- Wrap the lights around the hanger, continuing until you go from one side of the hanger to the other.
- Hook the other end of the strand of lights onto the opposite notch from where you began.
- Wrap the entire hanger in tissue paper for a bit of added protection.
- Place the lights in a storage bin with hard sides.
Wrapping Paper Tubes
When all the holiday gift wrapping is done, you will likely have some empty cardboard tubes lying around. Before throwing them out, consider saving them as a functional way to store your holiday lights. Here’s how Parravani says to use a wrapping paper tube for storing your lights.
- Cut a small slit on one end of the cardboard tube.
- Slide the end of a strand of lights inside the slit, so the plug sits inside the tube.
- Wrap the lights around the outside of the cardboard tube.
- On the other end of the tube, cut a small slit and tuck the other end of the light strand inside.
Certified professional organizer Sara Bereika suggests cutting the roll to size before wrapping the lights around it. She also recommends storing the rolls on their side or standing them up in an appropriately sized bin, as that will keep them safe from damage and dust-free.
Stackable Drawer Bins
Stackable drawer bins are an excellent way to keep your lights separate and organized. The clear variety is especially helpful in being able to identify your decorations next year. Plus, stackable drawers are great if you’re short on storage space. Kessman offers these handy tips for safe storage:
- Wrap each strand into small loops, and use zip ties or twist ties to secure them.
- Place the loops in individual drawers to avoid tangling.
- Use tape to label each drawer indicating what the lights are for (tree, outdoor bushes, etc.).
- Stack the bins neatly in a closet or on a shelf for easy access next year.
Velcro Straps
Velcro straps are an affordable, tried-and-true method of storing Christmas lights in an organized, space-conscious way. Parravani notes that Velcro straps are reusable and will last longer than some other storage methods. Here’s how she uses them to store holiday lights:
- Hold one end of the strand of lights in your hand.
- Wrap the strand around your elbow and then back into your hand, creating a loop.
- Continue wrapping the lights this way until you reach the end of the strand.
- Secure the loop in a couple of places with Velcro straps. (For longer or wider strands you might need three to four Velcro straps.)
- Place the lights in a storage bin.
Cardboard
Flat pieces of cardboard are an affordable, sustainable option when storing Christmas lights. Kessman offers these instructions on how to make the most of your cardboard boxes when it’s time to take down your lights:
- Cut a sturdy piece of cardboard to a manageable size, about 10 to 12 inches wide.
- Cut small slits at each end of the cardboard to hold the lights in place.
- Slide one end of the strand into a slit, then wrap the lights evenly around the cardboard.
- When you’re done, slide the other end of the strand in the opposite slit.
- Store the wrapped cardboard in a storage bin or on a shelf to keep the lights safe.
If the lights have a large power pack, Bereika says to tape the pack to the cardboard to keep it in place and to prevent it from getting tangled.
Resealable Bags
If nothing else is available, Bereika says you can use resealable plastic bags to store Christmas lights. The bags isolate the strands and prevent tangling, she says. Bonus: you can store the extra bulbs and parts in their corresponding bag.
- Hold one end of the strand of lights in your hand.
- Wrap the strand around your elbow and then back into your hand, creating a loop.
- Continue wrapping the lights this way until you reach the end of the strand.
- Carefully place the loop in a large, resealable bag.
- Store the bagged lights in a storage bin or on a shelf.
Holiday Light Reel
One of the most popular methods for storing Christmas lights is on a holiday light reel, which can be found at home improvement stores or online. Their large size can accommodate multiple strings of connected lights. If you don’t have a holiday light reel, a power cord reel also works. says Kessman, recommends these simple steps:
- Attach one end of the lights to the clip or hook on the light reel.
- Turn the handle to wind the lights neatly around the spool.
- Use a tag or tape to label what the lights are for (tree, outdoor bushes, etc.).
- Place the reel in a storage bin with hard sides to keep the lights protected from damage.
Be careful not to wrap the lights too tightly, which could damage them, says Parravani.
Holiday Light Wrap
For storing one strand of lights at a time, try a holiday light wrap. These smaller storage wraps are flat, durable, and shaped like a large letter “I” with a convenient grip on the end. Here’s how Parravani says to use one for storing your lights.
- Beginning at one end of the lights, wrap the lights around the narrow middle part of the wrap.
- Once the lights are completely wrapped, tuck the end in so they don’t unfurl.
- Place the wrap in a storage bin with hard sides to protect the lights from damage.
