If you are keen to finalize your Halloween decor storage ideas and keep your seasonal collection in tip-top condition without filling every available space with bins, our expert inspiration is just the ticket.
After all, you don’t want to be digging through a cluttered graveyard come next October or have items ruined in the melee.
Here, home organizing and storage experts have shared their seven best storage ideas for Halloween decorations to get spooky next season a breeze.
Halloween decor storage ideas
Before you start packing everything away, declutteri your Halloween decorations.
As Barbara Brock, expert home organizer and owner of Barbara Brock Inc., points out, ‘Organizing or reviewing items helps with all categories, including special holiday items. After a holiday, we tend to put away items fast and don’t take the time to see if there is any one thing that needs to be tossed.
'Organizing doesn’t necessarily mean getting rid of things, but it does mean reviewing what you have so you will be clear about what you need to store.’
With that out of the way, you can start packing stuff away.
1. Use clear, stackable bins
Neatly stacked bins can make the best use of shelving units in attics, garages, and basements.
So far as home organizing ideas go, clear, stackable totes such as the Premier Stacking Totes from the Container Store, are the gold standard for seasonal decor.
Elena Navarro, a professional organizer at Sparkly Maid Austin, explains, ‘It seems simple enough, but using the same-sized bins makes storing your items seem much more organized. You will feel more confident about using your decorations year after year.
‘Clear plastic bins allow you to easily see what items are stored inside, and shallow bins are great for your smaller items like mini figurines, garlands, and faux spiderwebs. I also store my Halloween decorations by theme or room, and this way, you can decorate just your entryway without needing to dig through all of your other decorations.
‘If you are limited on space, use bins that you can store under the bed or on your closet shelves without being too bulky.’
We like the Sterilite Large Storage Bins from Walmart, as they have built-in wheels for easy access.
Elena adds, ‘Make sure to label all the bins. To go digital, use QR code smart stickers [available at Walmart], or keep it simple with masking tape and use a Sharpie! The road to success is to have an easy way to pull out exactly what you need next Halloween without being overwhelmed or unpacking a lot of stored stuff just to find a skeleton hand.’
2. Wrap lights
These storage reels also work well for thin garlands.
You can’t have Halloween without some spooky lighting but it's no good if it ends up a jumbled eyesore whilst stored. Elena says, ‘To keep Halloween lights from becoming a tangled mess, wrap them around something sturdy.
'Cardboard, an old magazine, or even the insert from a roll of paper towels will do just fine. You can also buy dedicated light reels from Amazon or reuse a wine box with dividers to keep the different strands separate. It will make testing them next year much easier and a lot less frustrating.'
3. Costumes and linens
Keep your porch ornaments in top condition and safe form pests with appropriate Halloween storage ideas in the interim
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 fabric elements or 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 bag for a year.
Alternatively, to save space and protect from pests, pack fabric items into vacuum-sealed storage bags from Target to minimize their storage footprint.
4. Use contractor bags for XL pieces
Like to go big for the holiday? Wrap them in secure bags to prevent damage.
Laurie Hise, lifestyle blogger and founder of Passionate Penny Pincher, suggests, ‘Got a giant skeleton or inflatable witch? Don’t wrestle them into bins. Give them their own space by using contractor bags [from Lowe’s] to wrap XL pieces, then label with duct tape and a Sharpie. For bendable items like tombstones or foam props, slide in a pool noodle to prevent them from warping.
‘Hang lightweight pieces like banners or ghosts on pegboards [such as the Elfa Utility pegboard, from The Container Store] or wall hooks in the garage – using vertical storage to save space without the shelf space.’
5. Pad out fragile decor
Protect delicate items form damage between seasons.
For more fragile indoor Halloween decorations, pack out storage boxes and bags with padding to prevent breakage in storage.
Elena says, ‘For breakable or awkwardly shaped pieces, soft padding goes a long way. I always keep fabric scraps, tissue paper, or even old pillowcases for lining bins for things like glass pumpkins, ceramic décor, or other breakable items. I try to put breakable things in the bins upright instead of flat, to avoid pressure and cracking.’
Foam cushioning rolls, from Walmart, are ideal for the job and can be reused year after year. Alternatively, to organize your home without buying anything, pad out boxes with Halloween linens and costumes to kill two birds with one stone.
6. Use Christmas supplies for wreaths
Wreath bags help to keep decorations in shape between uses.
Good storage is for life, not just for Christmas. Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden, reminds us, ‘Christmas wreath bags, from Amazon, work just as well for Halloween wreaths, as do garland duffels, also available at Amazon. Both help to keep your faux foliage in shape between uses. Just be sure to store them on top of any boxes or shelving units to avoid them being squashed between now and next October.’
The same applies to smaller ornaments and subtle Halloween decor. Gerrit Jan Reinders, storage expert and owner of BOXIE24, adds, ‘Small, fragile items such as figurines, ceramic pumpkins, or snow globes are a great fit for sectioned ornament boxes, from Amazon. Each section stores items safely and eliminates rattling in storage.
7. Label Ziploc bags for smaller pieces
Ziploc bags can keep tiny finishing touches together ready for distribution next year.
XL Ziploc bags, available at Walmart, are ideal for storing those tiny Halloween bits and that make your spooky scenes look a little more put together.
Gerrit suggests, ‘Sort small items such as artificial spider webs, fabric, LED candles, or pumpkin-carving accessories, into Ziploc bags labeled with their contents and store them inside a larger container. This organizes everything inside the bin so that you won't be wasting your time rummaging in there next year.’
Ziploc bags are also perfect for storing practical decorating essentials such as tape, twine, and Command Hooks, from Walmart, so hanging decor next year is quick, easy, and damage-free.
What to shop
Black permanent markers are best for labelling storage bags and boxes as they do not risk rubbing off.
White duct tape is best for labelling, helping labels to stick out in bust storage areas with little risk of it peeling off.
Keep moisture absorbing packs in storage totes left in attics, basements, or garages, to prevent items being damaged by mold or attracting pests between uses.
Bubble wrap can prevent items from breaking in storage, or moisture-proof fabric items.
Cleverstore Clear 71 Quart clear bins with latching lids have a straight wall design that maximizes storage space holding up to 14 percent more than other storage boxes in the same space.
This storage tote uses heavier, stronger construction to stand up to bigger, heavier items. At the same time, its wheels and carry handle make it highly mobile.
Meet the experts
With a background in interior design, Barbara began professionally organizing in 2001, and now impressively holds two patents for award-winning makeup organizing products. Her motto? 'Be organized. Be beautiful.'
Tina Priestly is a sought-after home organization expert who specializes in transforming cluttered spaces into streamlined, functional sanctuaries.
Since starting on blogspot back in 2009, Laurie has used Passionate Penny Pincher to helped millions of folks save money all over their homes.
As the CEO and Founder of BOXIE24, a global leader in on-demand storage and logistics.
Your chores don’t stop when the Halloween decor is packed away. Look ahead to decluttering and storing fall decor, too, to keep your home storage orderly before winter.
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