How to store Halloween Decorations

Last Updated on October 9, 2024

The Halloween magic is fading, and it’s time to send your spooky home decor into hibernation. But before it retreats into the shadows, check out these storage tips to keep everything in top haunting form for their next seasonal debut. Smart storage solutions will help you organize Halloween decorations, ensuring they stay in great shape to make next year’s setup a total scream.

Clear Out the Cobwebs

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Before you stash away your witch hats and cauldrons, it’s time to declutter and ditch any Halloween horrors that have outlived their spook. An annual check helps you free up storage space for new finds.

  • Toss Perishables: Anyone who has kept a jack-o-lantern beyond its ‘best by’ date knows they’ll be dealing with a squishy, fuzzy-lined pumpkin. Despite the best efforts of conservation artists, pumpkin preservation techniques are all about prolonging its use for the current season. Since food items attract pests, they belong nowhere near your Halloween storage! Salvage what candles you can, and then chuck any pumpkins, gourds, and other potential critter food sources in the compost bin. 
  • Repair or ditch damaged holiday decorations: Give your gear a thorough once over. If all it requires is a little hot glue, a replacement bulb, or a couple of stitches, take the time to mend your items before storing them. And, if something is broken beyond repair, toss it!
  • Upcycle, donate or trade: Before discarding outgrown or worn out Halloween costumes, repurpose parts for spooky accessories, DIY decor or future costumes. And,if your holiday style has evolved, donate gently used goods to local thrift stores or swap with friends who may want to add to their collection.

Pro Tip: Instead of waiting to replace items you know you’ll need, hit up those post-Halloween sales! Save money and time by grabbing lights, webs and costumes at a deep discount. 

Container Craze

Next up, choose the right storage containers for the job! It’s a crucial step in preserving your holiday decorations, keeping them organized, and making future decorating a breeze. And, luckily there are storage bins for every purpose.

  • Plastic storage bins: Durable and moisture-resistant, these storage boxes are perfect for most Halloween decorations. Plastic storage bins are ideal for storing decor that’s not too delicate, but needs protection from dust and sun damage. Don’t want to fuss with lids? Try stackable, zip-topped boxes instead. 
  • Storage boxes with compartments: If you have loads of small ceramic black cats, leering glass eyeballs, or another eerie, yet fragile, collection, a storage box with compartments can help keep it all safe and organized. Don’t want to invest in a specialized bin? Repurposed packaging, like egg cartons, along with makeshift foam dividers can do the same thing on the cheap! 
  • Round storage bags: Though a bit of a specialty item, round storage bags or wreath bags are perfect for protecting Halloween wreaths and circular inflatables. They offer protection while helping them maintain their original shape.
  • Garment bags: To protect fabric Halloween costumes from moth damage, use garment or vacuum-sealed bags. Hanging garment bags ensure that bulky costumes will hold their shape and avoid deep creasing. Use zip-loc plastic bags to keep smaller accessories and wigs together with the costumes.
  • Cord reels: Decorative string lights can be wound onto cord reels so that they stay tangle free and ready for quick-and-easy set up next year!

Pro Tip: Before it goes into the perfect storage container, make sure it’s clean! Launder Halloween costumes to remove sweat and stains, dust indoor decor, and hose off outdoor decorations, letting them dry completely before packing it all away.

Handle With Scare

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Fragile Halloween decorations, like delicate ceramic pumpkins, vintage blow molds, or intricate masks, require special care to ensure they remain intact for seasons to come. Proper handling and storage are essential to prevent breakage and preserve their charm.

  • Bubble wrap and packing paper: Fragile items should be wrapped in bubble wrap or packing paper, and paper decorations should be stored in archival boxes to prevent yellowing and fading. Wrapping each individual item offers extra cushioning and protection from scratching. 
  • Fabrics and textiles: Fabrics and other soft materials are a major part of Halloween decorations. Make sure they’re thoroughly cleaned before storing in garment bags or bins, and consider winding tangle-prone stringy cotton webbing around a tube roller to make storing and redecorating a cinch.
  • Tuck small into big: Smaller figurines, plastic bugs, decorative eyeballs and the ghoulish like should be bagged and tucked inside larger items, like trick-or-treat buckets. Maximize your space, and make sure these little treasures don’t get lost in storage.

Pro Tip: Huge skeletons are one of the most popular and fragile Halloween decor items recently, and since these 12-footers come at a premium, you need them to last for years. Learn to properly disassemble it for safekeeping, or fold it into the fetal position and place it snugly in a large storage bag.

Clear Labels = Less Chaos

Labeling your Halloween storage is essential for maintaining organization and making the decorating process seamless each year. With a clear system in place, you can quickly locate your favorite macabre items and ensure nothing’s left lurking in the shadows.

  • Clear labels: Use large, clear labels that tell you specifically what’s in a given bin. Being as specific as possible will help you avoid confusion. 
  • Color coding: Using color-coded bins for different holidays (orange or purple for Halloween decorations, and red or green for Christmas decorations) can make it easy to find what you’re after. Brightly colored tape on the sides and lids of clear bins can also make your holiday items easy to spot.
  • Create an inventory list: Make an inventory list to detail what’s inside your storage bins. These can be printed out and attached directly to the bins, or kept digitally for quick reference.

Pro Tip: Are you one of those go-all-outers who decorates every nook and cranny of your house? Simplify decorating, undecorating and storing by labeling your bins by room!

No More Melting Skeletons

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Climate-controlled storage units protect your items from extreme temperatures and humidity. Utilizing a storage unit can help free up valuable space in your home, allowing you to keep your living areas and storage spaces clutter-free while ensuring your sinister surprises remain in pristine condition year after year.

  • Protects from temperature extremes: Everything from candles to costumes, can melt or warp in hot, cold, or fluctuating temperatures. Climate-controlled units keep temperatures constant.
  • Prevents mold and mildew: Controlled temperatures inhibit moisture buildup that can damage textiles and paper decorations.
  • Ideal for electronic props: Climate-controlled units can keep expensive electronics and animated props in good working condition.

Pro Tip: Home being haunted by seasonal clutter? A dedicated storage space can be a great idea for all holiday decor and other seasonal storage. Not only will your items be protected from melting, warping, cracking and fading, but you can keep it all organized and easily accessible. 

Broomsticks and Storage Tricks

Safely and efficiently storing your eerie collection not only protects everything from damage but makes it easy to retrieve your hair-raising decor when the season rolls through again.

  • Stack heavier items on the bottom: Always place heavier storage bins at the bottom of your stack to avoid crushing lighter, more fragile items.
  • Leave a clear path: Ensure that your home storage area or climate-controlled storage unit is organized with a clear path, so you have easy access as needed.
  • Use shelving units: If possible, store your Halloween bins on sturdy shelving units to keep them off the floor and protect them from potential water damage or pests.

Pro Tip: Store your most frequently used items, like outdoor decorations or Halloween costumes, in easily accessible locations, while lesser-used items can be placed further back. And, never combine decorations for different holidays in the same containers unless you plan to take them out of storage at the same time.

Properly storing and organizing your Halloween decorations is key to keeping them in great condition. With smart planning and the right storage solutions, your haunted home setup will be stress-free. Start now, organize Halloween decorations this year, and next year’s decorating will be effortless!

Keep your Halloween decorations safe and ready for next year! If you’re running out of space at home, consider renting a climate-controlled storage unit. At Storage.com, we make it easy to find the perfect storage solution near you with filters, a map and comparison pricing. Start protecting your seasonal treasures today—find a storage unit now!

Timothy Paradis is a seasoned writer who spent 5 years exploring the ins and outs of subscription boxes at Cratejoy.com, and writing lifestyle blogs on home organization, plant care, gift giving, and more. Nearly a decade ago, he and his wife sold their home, packed up their earthly possessions and headed overseas. Now a handful of years later with a couple of kids in tow, he and his family have downsized from a house in the country to a seaside apartment where they’re learning to live with less to live with more! His multidisciplinary background, and in-the-trenches moving experience allows him to approach all topics with a fun, fresh, and brutally honest perspective.