Article takeaways
- Off-site storage units are ideal for hiding Christmas presents from savvy gift recipients who can easily discover gifts in traditional hiding spots like closets, attics, or garages.
- Look for climate-controlled units with security features, including video surveillance, electronic gate access, and on-site managers, to protect valuable gifts from theft, extreme temperatures, and humidity-related damage.
- Set up a permanent gift-wrapping station in your storage unit and use organizational strategies like pyramid stacking, interlocking box arrangements, and shelving units to maximize space and protect presents until Christmas.
Let’s face it. The days of sneaking out on Christmas Eve and crossing off your gift list in one night are long gone.
Even if you somehow found the time and resources to venture out and pay more than the full retail price — or check your secret clearance rack gift idea source, all the good stuff is bought by then, waiting patiently in their gift bags until the next morning.
And that’s not to mention all the gift-wrapping supplies you’d need to pray are still available that late in the game.
No, these days you start your gift list shopping at least a month ahead of time, wrapping as you go.
But where do you store the Christmas presents until the big day, and how do you set up a gift wrap organizer station so far in advance without your gift recipients finding your gift stash?
Today’s kids are smart. And, through the various avenues of information their screens give them access to, they’re crafty. Closets won’t cut it. Attics are reachable. Garages are never safe.
So, unless you’re buying everyone a stack of gift cards you can keep in a safe, or a virtual gift card you can store on your phone, you need a large enough place for a gift stash you know your loved ones aren’t able to find.
Thankfully, an off-site storage unit provides you with a place to keep your hidden items safe and sound.
This helpful guide to storing presents explains how to store presents, so you can knock out that Christmas gift list early.
We’ll explore some preparation tips, storage hacks, and organizing processes that’ll keep your gifts safe from pests and moisture–and from kiddos trying to steal a sneak peek.
We’ll also reveal how Storage.com can help you find a storage unit with features like climate control and security solutions in your zip code.
Where to Store Christmas Gifts: Find the Ideal Self Storage Unit for Your Gift Stash
Again, we realize that you’re likely scratching items off your Christmas gift list a few at a time, while the kids are at school or your partner is at work, etc. That’s why we suggest securing your self storage unit first.
We suggest keeping all your gift-wrapping supplies in the storage so no one gets any hints. In fact, go ahead and make a gift wrap organizer station in the unit and leave it permanently set up. That way, you can wrap your presents on the fly as you go.
For starters, you need a self storage unit size large enough for all your gifts plus your wrapping station. Check out our size guide for some different layout options.
You may only need a short-term storage unit lease to get you through the Christmas season, so find a facility that offers short-term or even month-to-month lease agreements if your only concern is storing Christmas presents.
That said, you can always keep your storage unit year-round and rotate out your seasonal clothing and holiday decorations.
You know that Christmas tree bag and wreath organizer you keep in the attic next to the Christmas storage bin filled with ornament containers, twinkle lights, and blinking Christmas snowflakes?
Well, you can keep your Christmas decor in your storage unit with your skis and swap them out for Halloween decorations and hiking gear by creating a seasonal storage rotation.
If you do lots of online shopping, you may also want to look at storage facilities that cater to business storage needs or double as office or workshop rentals. Some of these facilities actually let you get packages delivered to the front office.
Here are other key features to look for when deciding how to store Christmas gifts in a storage unit:
- Security features are a must to protect valuable items. To protect your Christmas gifts for friends, family, or loved ones, find a storage facility with security enhancements like video surveillance, on-site managers or security service, and an electronic gate requiring a keycode to enter the facility.
- Climate control is another must to protect your items, especially if you live in an area that experiences extreme seasonal cold or high/low humidity levels. Climate controlled storage uses temperature and humidity monitoring and control technology to maintain ideal storage conditions all year round.
- Extreme cold puts your Christmas gifts at risk of freezing. If any of your items retain moisture, they are liable to contract, expand, and crack in cold temperatures.
- Extreme humidity can turn your storage unit into a breeding ground for mold, mildew, bacteria, and unwanted small pests. Fortunately, climate-controlled storage units maintain a clean, dry environment, so even your gift baskets full of wine and whiskey stay fresh.
- 24-hour access might be helpful for those who may be forgetful or just want to wait until the last minute to help Santa get those gifts out. This feature allows you to get to your items whenever you need them, regardless of traditional business hours or Christmas Eve parties that run late.
Prepare Your Gifts for Storage
Unless you’re going homemade, most of your items should be in their original packaging. Keep it that way. Whether it’s a cardboard box, plastic bag, or plastic container, the packaging has been designed to protect and preserve the specific item in transit or storage.
However, if you are going homemade, it may be good to pre-wrap or at least pre-package your gifts. Make sure the items are free of debris, dirt, or other contaminants before storage.
This is also a good point to inventory all the gifts that are going into storage. If using a pen and paper, make sure you hide the list and check it twice.
How To Store Christmas Presents in a Storage Unit
Many folks think placing items in a storage unit is as simple as setting the boxes down in a room, but there are still many important things you can do to protect your items in storage. For instance, you can place a plastic sheet or wooden pallets down to keep your items from directly touching the floor, safe from pests or any condensation.
Another helpful tip is lining the walls with your items rather than stacking them in a large pile. Not only will this prevent any falls or crumpling of packaging, it will also allow you to quickly and easily access all items in storage.
Here are a few of our favorite storage unit organizing process tips you can use to store Christmas presents:
- Pyramid stacking for stability: Pyramid stacking is when each box on the stack is slightly smaller than the one below it, forming a stack of wrapped gifts resembling a pyramid and distributing weight for extra stability.
- Interlocking box arrangements: With an interlocking box arrangement, you’re positioning multiple stacks of gift boxes together so that their edges support one another, preventing sliding and shifting while also saving space.
You can maximize your Christmas gift stash storage space even more by installing shelves against the walls, especially if you plan to use it for seasonal storage afterward. We suggest either metal-framed wire shelving or sturdy, adjustable plastic shelves.
Shelving units also give you more leeway with how you wrap your gifts, as you don’t have to worry about them cracking or caving in from the weight on top of each other. You can organize smaller gifts and stocking stuffers into plastic bins of shipping boxes and keep them on the top shelf to save space.
Where To Store Christmas Presents Using Storage.com
The holiday season is supposed to be a time of fun, family, and friends—don’t let the stress of hiding presents get in the way. With the right storage features and proper steps, even storing your items can be a breeze.
But how do you find the right storage unit that has everything you need to store Christmas gifts that’s close enough to your house for a quick dash, reindeer-back and forth on Christmas Eve?
Don’t fret – Storage.com is here to help.
Storage.com lets you browse and compare self-storage units using amenity filters that isolate the storage facilities in your area with all the ideal storage features for storing Christmas presents.
Just punch your zip code into our handy Storage.com search tool, and you’ll see what we mean.
We’ll filter through the thousands of local storage facilities for you, making it easy to find the storage unit that resonates with your wish list.
Whether you’re looking for a climate-controlled storage unit with climate control, electricity, alarms, 24-hour access, drive-up access, or security cameras, Storage.com makes the process quick and painless.
All you have to do is choose a storage unit and your move-in date, and we’ll take care of the rest. Let us do the storage unit search so you can focus on crossing items off your Christmas gift list and wrapping as you go!
