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There's only one reason I don't hate packing up Halloween. Carefully tucking away all my spooky treasures makes me excited about getting to unpack them again next year!
And I have quite the collection of Halloween decor these days. I'm closing in on owning 10 18-gallon (or larger) storage totes full of Halloween decor and supplies for the Spooky Little Apartment and Halloweenie Roast.
It's kind of a lot, and as much as I try to limit what I buy my collection always grows a little each year.
So how the heck do I store it all?
SLH reader Nicole asked that question recently, so today I'm sharing eight tips for storing Halloween decor.
How to store Halloween decorations
Tip #1: Invest in storage totes
I really like these stackable Sterilite totes because they are affordable and durable. I'm totally that person who has to have everything the same so it stacks up neatly. (It's a pain when you have three different kinds of totes, you stack them all up and they looked like they'll topple over any second, isn't it?)
Plus, it's way easier to grab these and go instead of hauling around cardboard boxes, and in my experience cardboard is just an invitation for bugs to invade your goodies.
Tip #2: Label your boxes
Last year I had a heck of a time finding some key decor items for Halloweenie Roast. I was digging through every single box looking for small items because I couldn't remember which box they were stashed in.
And half of them weren't labeled!
I solved that post-Halloween by not only re-organizing all my totes, but by adding some nice, clear labels using duct tape and Sharpies to every single one! Now I have a designated box for all my lights, another for my party supplies (cups, bowls, platters, etc.) and the rest has my general decor divided up — and clearly labeled!
Every single one got a duct tape label popped on it with a description of what was inside. This year when I was looking for my paper skeleton for the bathroom door, I knew exactly where to find him!
Tip #3: Place heavy items on the bottom, light items on top
This is a classic packing tip I usually forget. I recommend gathering up all of your decor first, then packing it away by placing heavy items on the bottom and lighter items on top.
When you're packing, make sure you don't overload one tote with all your heavy stuff so it's impossible to carry. Distribute the weight evenly between boxes.
Tip #4: Group items based on where they're displayed
This will make unpacking and decorating a breeze next year. Group all your living room items in one box, all your bedroom decor in another. I do this so I know all my party supplies is in one spot, all my lights are in another. I make decorating my apartment and my party prep a heck of a lot easier and less stressful.
Don't need more than one box? Group your items together inside the box for quick and easy unpacking.
Tip #5: Reuse store packaging and shopping bags for packing
I buy many of my Halloween goodies at craft stores, so I end up with a lot of that nice blank newsprint packing paper. I hang on to all of it so I can wrap up fragile and delicate items for storage. When everything is unpacked and on display, I stuff all my packaging back into my storage tote for safe keeping — or use it to wrap up home decor that my Halloween decor temporarily replaces.
No paper? No problem — I also use shopping bags the same way by individually wrapping items and twisting the bags around for extra padding.
Tips #6: Utilize your decor for packing materials
I think this is one of the smartest tips on this list, if I do say so. I've acquired a LOT of Halloween hand towels over the years as well as a fair amount of spooky fabric. Both are soft and provide padding and protection to my more delicate items, so I use both for wrapping up items for storage.
Tip #7: Store your goodies in a climate controlled area
If you live in a more moderate climate — i.e. not the third rung of summertime hell that is Houston come March 1 — this might apply to you less. But take into consideration where you're stashing your Halloween goodies for storing: garage attics where the summertime temps reach 120+ degrees are a great spot to melt all your Halloween candles, and garage attics where the winter temps reach well below freezing are a great spot to result in cracked totes. Find a spot somewhere in between the two. (Closets or extra bedrooms are ideal!)
For the time being, my parents allow me to store my Halloween totes in what used to be my bedroom at their home. However, they'll be moving to another state to retire in the next few years, and I'll be relocating my goodies to a climate controlled storage unit. (Living in an apartment building from the 1920s has its charms, but a plethora of storage space is not one of them...)
Don't ruin all those Halloween treasures you've worked so hard to collect!
What's your best tip for storing Halloween decor?
I'd love to hear it in the comments, along with what you think of my tips.
