By Emily VanSchmus and Jessica Bennett | BHG.Com

Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden

Stop tossing everything into the same box! Store and protect ornaments, gift wrap, holiday lights, wreaths, and more with these clever containers.

As much as I love decorating for Christmas, storing holiday decorations is a pain—especially since they’re usually only on display for a couple of months of the year. I got a new Christmas tree this season, and of course, I threw out the box without considering what I’ll do with the tree come January.

So, what’s the best way to store those pricey Christmas wreaths, ornaments, and lights during the non-Christmas months? If your answer involves throwing everything into a box and calling it a day, you might want to rethink your storage strategy.

Instead, you can protect your treasured decorations inside storage boxes, bags, and containers that were specifically made for holiday items. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite storage hacks that will help keep your holiday decorations safe and intact until you’re ready to pull them out next Christmas.

Gift Wrap Storage

If you have an extensive collection of holiday wrapping paper, make your gift-wrapping process easier with a designated storage container. This organizer is extra long (40 inches) to fit most roll sizes and has a divider and additional pockets for gift bags, bows, and tissue paper. Store it upright, hang it in a closet, or slide it under the bed for safekeeping until next winter. Plus, it’s not limited to just Christmas! Store all your birthday cards, bows, and gift wrap in here as well.

Stackable Ornament Storage

Decorating a Christmas tree is fun until it’s time to pack everything away just a few weeks later. Save yourself the headache of finding each ornament’s original box and buy a container with individual slots for each bauble and star. These vinyl trays hold up to 128 ornaments and stack easily inside a bag with handles, making storage simple within a closet or on shelving. The 3-inch slots are big enough to fit most ornaments.

Artificial Christmas Tree Storage Bag

The last thing you want is to pull your faux Christmas tree out of storage and find it misshapen, worn, or full of spiderwebs (eek!). Keep your artificial tree safe in storage with a Christmas tree storage bag or box. This one from Amazon is made from breathable, lightweight fabric and has durable handles for easy carrying.

Stackable Wreath Storage

Throwing a wreath in a garbage bag might do the job, but a storage container made specifically for wreaths will better protect your decor. This 24-inch wreath storage bin from The Home Depot is wide enough for even decorated wreaths with all the bells and whistles. The hard plastic shell ensures your wreath keeps its shape year after year. The transparent cover lets you easily see what’s inside, while a handle allows for convenient carrying. Plus, it can easily be stored upright or stacked.

Christmas Light Storage Box

Prevent tangled lights and cords with this string-light storage box. The plastic container comes with removable light wraps that hold your wires like a spool of thread. The lights sit upright in the box so they’re not stacked on top of each other, which means no lights get squished or broken at the bottom of the box. Use this to store your tinsel garland without tangles, too!

Plastic Storage Bins

What to do with miscellaneous holiday decorations? Basic plastic storage bins to the rescue. These flat totes let you store garlands, gift wrap, extra cardboard boxes, small Christmas trinkets, deflated yard decorations, and more. Make sure to get a clear tote so you always know what’s inside, and take it a step further by labeling its contents on the lid.

Christmas Card Storage Container

Preserve holiday cards and letters from loved ones as keepsakes for years to come. Once the season is over, keep your Christmas cards safe and sorted with a handy organizer. This compact box comes with dividers to sort your cards by holiday, date, or recipient. The sturdy sides prevent cards from getting torn or bent in storage, and you can easily label the front of the box with the year or occasion.