Halloween is over for another year, but what do you do with your over-sized hanging skeletons, spooky signs, costumes and other decor items?
It's tempting to chuck it all into a few boxes and bags, but fast forward to next October and future-you might wish you had spent a few worthwhile hours packing it all away carefully and categorizing.
We've asked professional organizers and experts for their top tips on how to store Halloween decorations so your favorite, key items stay in pristine condition for next year.
1. Stackable plastic bins
Stackable boxes aren't the most beautiful item to look at, however, they are your best friend when it comes to the smaller Halloween decor pieces – think table settings, napkins, mini-ghosts, faux gourds and tea lights.
We asked Eliana Coca, owner of E.C House Cleaning for her expert advice. She says, 'For Halloween decorations, I recommend utilizing clear, stackable plastic bins. These containers not only protect decorations from dust and damage but also allow you to see what’s inside without needing to open them, making retrieval effortless.'
At the same time as taking down your decor and storing it away well, Eliana recommends keeping similar pieces together.
'Group similar items, such as lights, inflatables, and smaller decor, and label each bin accordingly. This method saves time and frustration when setting up or packing away decorations, ensuring everything is in its place.'
You can use Amazon's bestselling label maker, or hand-write the box's list of content and stick it on your box with an Amazon plastic filing sleeve to make it easy to find what you need next year.
All prices correct at time of publication.
Perfect for larger pieces like table linen, candlesticks and lanterns, these boxes are lightweight and stackable. The lid is white, which means you can write what the contents are with a permanent marker or stick a label on and it will show up clearly. The lid snaps on firmly and will keep the contents clean and dry if you store in a basement, attic or garage.
What's really great about these clear containers are the wheels, making them easier to move which is essential due to them holding up to 200 qts each. They are also stackable so if floor storage space is tight, make use of vertical space.
These clear plastic storage drawers are idea for napkins, table placings and small decorations. They are stackable which is always a bonus, and the pull out handles make it easy to open them without un-stacking. They come with silicone pads so they don't move once you've placed them.
2. Costume storage
For those who love to dress up during the spooky season and you want to keep your costume for the following year, storing it well will ensure it remains in tip top condition – basements aren't always the ideal storage space for clothing.
'If you have delicate fabric decor like cloth pumpkins or costumes, consider vacuum-sealing (we like these vacuum compression zipper storage bags with hand pump, from Amazon Basics),' advises Sven Wang, certified professional organizer and CEO of Clafbebe.
'This reduces exposure to dust and moisture while saving space. Just ensure you set the vacuum to a gentle mode to avoid crushing fragile details.'
Another option if you don't fancy vacuum packing, is to wrap them up, Tina Priestly, home organization expert, owner and CEO at Ready, Set, REFRESH offers this advice, 'For things like tablecloths or costumes, fold them neatly and store them in breathable cotton bags to prevent mustiness.'
Walmart's Wovilon storage trunk storage bags made from thickened cotton are a good buy if you have a few costumes to store.
If you have the space and prefer to hang up your costumes then consider garment bags. You can pair them with moth deterrent scent bags available on Amazon, or use a moth-proof garment bag, also available on Amazon. Moths can eat away fabric, and they'll do a lot of damage quietly stuck in your garment back for a year!
Perfect for scary ghoulish costumes, this garment bag is made from 100% linen and has an easy-pull zipper. It fits any hanger size and closet – keep on a rail in the garage or basement if there's no room inside the house.
3. Electrical Halloween decor storage
We've all experienced it – that moment when we unpack the fairy lights from their last outing and although you remember neatly storing them, they are now a tangled, stressful mess.
'Halloween lights always get tangled if not stored properly. One hack which I suggest is to cut out a small disposable piece of cardboard and carefully wrap your lights around it and then place them in a box,' says Ryan Fitzgerald, owner of Raleigh Realty.
With another holiday coming up that will involve plenty of fairy lights, we've scoured the internet and have found this amazing storage organizer custom made for lighting, below.
This clear container isn't just an ordinary box, it has 5 inner reels to store up to 625 ft of mini lights, or 375 ft of C7-type lights. You could use it for all your festive events including birthdays and Christmas. The lid is hinged for easy access, and you can stack them too.
4. Fragile halloween decor storage
Breakable Halloween items take a special kind of storage much like storing anything made from glass, ceramic or other delicate items you want to preserve for next year. These are often the more expensive of our decor items, too.
'For storing fragile items like ceramic pumpkins or glass ornaments, I suggest using specialty bins with dividers (check out Target's HOMZ 31 qt medium clear plastic holiday storage bins with removable ornament dividers) or adding extra cushioning with bubble wrap or fabric pieces,' says Eliana. 'From my experience, these extra precautions prevent breakage even when bins are stacked, maintaining the longevity and quality of your decorations.'
If you have more time, then consider wrapping each piece individually, it will take longer, but is worth it if your decor is delicate.
says Jonathan Ayala, interior designer and CEO of Hudson Condos says, 'Acid free tissue paper – American Greetings bulk white tissue paper is good value – is a good tool to use in wrapping breakable items such as ceramic pumpkins and glass lanterns as it prevents them from discoloring and suffering from damage. To maximize the protection of bins, always pack heavier items in the base of a bin and pack lightweight and fragile goods on the top side.'
5. Skeletons, ghosts and signs
For those larger pieces like wall climbing spiders, witches, ghosts and skeletons you need larger storage solutions. Sven explains, 'If you use outdoor Halloween items store them in bins with UV-blocking lids. Even stored away, items can fade if exposed to ambient sunlight in a garage (a decluttered garage is a great storage spot) or attic, so UV protection will keep colors vibrant.'
The other issue with larger pieces like skeletons for example, is that they can bend and get damaged in storage.
Sven adds, 'For items prone to tipping or bending, like foam tombstones or skeletons, use pool noodles (such as Amazon's floating pool noodles foam tube, 52 inches long) or pipe insulation as buffers inside storage bins. This keeps heavy decor from shifting and cracking, ensuring everything stays intact.'
6. Wreaths and garlands
If you don't want to make your own Halloween wreath then a great option is to invest in a fake one as a lovely-looking faux fall decor idea. There are some fabulous wreaths to choose from these days in all sizes, but how do you store them ready for next year?
'Avoid stuffing wreaths in bins,' says Andrii Gurskyi, interior designer and founder of Mr. Glazier. 'Dowels, large pegs or door hooks can be used to hang the wreaths out of the contact to reduce intermingling of the wreaths and prevent them from becoming misshapen.'
If you have space in your garage then hang them in there, or, if you want to keep them in a dust free environment then consider as a flat box like Sterilite's 74 qt ultra clear under bed latch box with lid from Target, you could easily get two wreaths side by side in it.
You can also pop them in a wreath storage bag from Amazon, and pop a nail into the rafters in your attic or a wall in the basement. That way there won't be much risk of them getting squashed by something heavy, and it's a smart use of vertical space, too.
7. Be organized
Although it takes time initially, you'll reap the benefits, because if you already are on top of your home organizing rules your Halloween storage will slot right in, but labeling everything is key.
There are several ways you can do it, and Ryan Fitzgerald offers his top advice, 'Make an itemized list of all of your decorations so you can keep an inventory. Quick tip, rather than keeping a paper list which could get easily lost, you can always make a digital list on your phone, laptop or tablet.'
Jonathan agrees, adding, 'Labels especially for decoration boxes with the respected theme or holiday are helpful in not only using the specific decoration set but also aid in the ease of removing the items without a lot of struggle. If you want to have a fancier appearance, chalkboard or erasable labels can easily update the decoration containers.'
Our top three labeling ideas below will help to keep your Halloween decor organized.
This label maker supports continuous and fixed length label tapes making it a versatile choice. It's lightweight and easy to take around with you, the printing is smooth and fast. There are multiple label styles too which includes numerous patterns, fonts and borders meaning you can change it up for each item.
For a stylish retro style label check these out, they slide right over the edge of your storage bin and you can write the contents of each box on the label. If you change your items simply slot in another label.
For those of you who love great tech ideas, these smart labels with QR codes will transform your storage labeling system. You download the accompanying app and use it to scan each label, it lets you add photos, names and description of contents for each box and lets you know where it is. There are 4 color coded options, too.
Meet our experts
It's definitely possible to keep your Halloween decor in great shape for the following year. All you need is a little time and some great storage ideas that suit the various decorations – from skeletons to glass pumpkins, we've got you covered!
