10 Tips for Storing Christmas Presents

Got storing Christmas presents on the brain? This post is for you, seeing as though we’re almost in November already. Seriously though, they seem to get bigger each year and are even harder to hide. Trust us, kids and excitable spouses are always on the hunt. With these super-organised hacks, you’ll breeze through yuletide and make the New Year less stressful too. Tis the season to hide presents, you get the gist; read on for our 10 Christmas gift storage tips.

1. Make some room for them (including the gifts that you’ll get)
2. Wrap Christmas gifts straight away
3. Get them out of the house
4. Hide presents where they’re scared to go
5. Or somewhere they would never look
6. The car boot also works
7. Utilise your garden, or someone’s house
8. If you’re feeling extra sneaky, leave false trails
9. Keep chocolates somewhere dark and cool
10. Hide Christmas presents with Ready Steady Store
11. Rent a storage unit to keep a surprise a surprise!

Tip #1 – Make some room for them (including the gifts that you’ll get)

Are you the type of person that collects clutter? We’re all guilty of this sometimes. If you’re dreading the ‘New Year’ sort out, why not get it done now? This way, you can start 2023 clutter-free. So, before the festivities start, have a tidy, especially any wardrobes that are bulging out. It’s only inevitable you’ll receive some Christmas gifts too, and they’ll need a new home. Otherwise, they’ll only sit in your bedroom for weeks.

Have your kids got room for those exciting new things? Make sure to declutter their rooms and these other spaces too:

• Playroom – or your children’s wardrobes, and under their bed.
• Home office – why not offload some items with our office storage?
• Spare room – often known as the ‘dumping ground’.
• Loft – make more space with our personal storage.
• Bathroom cabinets – because you’re bound to receive some nice smellies.

Tip #2 – Wrap Christmas gifts straight away

When you’re feeling more organised, the fun bit can start – Christmas shopping and actually buying the gifts! Don’t forget to buy the paper as well, and wrap them pronto; they might be easier to spot, but at least they’re disguised.

Tip #3 – Get them out of the house

No, we don’t mean the presents; we’re talking the kids and anyone else you’ve bought presents for. There’s no point in sneaking about if they’re going to catch you mid-stash, so find an excuse to get them out of the house. Gym club, anyone?

Tip #4 – Hide presents where kids are scared to go

Are your kids afraid of the loft, or do you have a creepy cellar? Perhaps the understairs cupboard really freaks them out? These are the places you should be hiding your gifts – any existing items can then be stored elsewhere. For example, we touched on organising the attic to make some more space, but we also know some things are hard to let go.  Our units are available in a range of sizes to best suit your personal needs.

Tip #5 – Or somewhere they would never look

This is a clever gift hack and super sneaky, especially if you have pets. Simply collect some empty pet food boxes and store your gifts here; your kids will literally never know! Likewise, you could find a few cardboard boxes instead and label them up with things like ‘Cables’, ‘Receipts’ and ‘Wires’. Can you get any more boring than this? We think not. Check out this post to get your boxes for free.

Tip #6 – The car boot also works

Another one for the savvy, the car boot is great; who looks under the false bottom? Certainly not kids anyway, so it’s a really great place to hide presents from little prying eyes. If you also have a false-bottomed drawer that will do the same job, or you could make a DIY version yourself. In the same way, suitcases are also handy; whoever checks these? Just make sure to tuck them away somewhere low-key.

Tip #7 – Utilise your garden, or someone’s house

Do you have a storage unit outside or even a shed? These can be a backup if you’re out of ideas. The only risk is that presents could get stolen or damaged, which would be a great shame. We’re not sure insurers would cover that loss either. Alternatively, grandma’s door is always open, or perhaps you have a helpful neighbour nearby. You could even order your Christmas presents to arrive directly with them to avoid back-and-forth trips; even the most relentless kiddos won’t have a clue.

Tip #8 – If you’re feeling extra sneaky, leave false trails

Nothing will discourage your recipient more than a red herring, and if you’re lucky, they might even stop looking. So if you have a few empty boxes around, make sure to wrap them up nice and place them in the usual places, like under the bed. Ottomans and pouffes are also great for fake gifts; in fact, any furniture with built-in storage will do. It’s not the most obvious place to check out, but if they do, they’ll be shocked, and your real spot will remain protected as well.

Here are some other fun places you can leave a decoy (or your actual presents, it’s up to you):

• Your pyjama drawer
• Behind books
• Under the stairs
• The top of your wardrobe
• In their room (imagine their little faces light up)

Tip #9 – Keep chocolate somewhere dark and cool

Although an obvious point, it’s worth a mention if you plan to buy selection boxes as stocking fillers. Chocolate should be stored at around 16-18°C in a cool, dry place; we don’t want any tears on Christmas morning, do we?

Tip #10 – Hide Christmas presents with Ready Steady Store

If you’ve tried and tested the methods above, but your kids are always especially sharp, have you thought about self storage? Renting a unit for a short period of time will get you out of a pickle, especially if their wish lists are always XL. Not only that but it’ll also free up some space, leaving you room to store gifts for other people elsewhere. Here’s a prediction of this year’s best-selling toys, so you know what to expect; even our smallest 9 ft sq storage unit will do:

• NERF Elite 2.0 Ranger PD-5 Blaster
• Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Ultimate Ice Cream Truck Playset
• LEGO Creator Expert: Santa’s Visit
• Wooden DIY Work Bench
• Hot Wheels City Ultimate Garage Track Set Bundle
• Barbie Dreamhouse (yep, it’s still going strong from last year)
• Scalextric Batman vs Joker set

Tip #11 – Rent a storage unit to keep a surprise a surprise!

Give yourself the gift of self storage this Christmas, and keep surprises hidden until the big day. With 19 different-sized units on offer, you’ll be spoilt for choice to keep your presents safe and sound.

At Ready Steady Store, we have locations across the UK from Great Yarmouth to Wokingham, Manchester, Doncaster and Leeds. We take the stress out of hiding presents, so you can enjoy the Christmas build up some more. Check out our Size Estimator and quick reference guide below to find the perfect storage unit size for you, or get in touch with us for a free quote.

Storage Unit Size Guide

Quick Reference

9–15

sq ft

Small Storage Unit

Secure storage for documents, boxes and smaller items you need to access occasionally.

Archive boxes Suitcases Seasonal items

25

sq ft

Studio / Small 1-bed

Conveniently fits the contents of a studio or small 1-bedroom flat, without bulky furniture.

Single bed Wardrobe items Desk & chair

⭐ Most popular

50

sq ft

1–2 Bedroom Flat

Reliably fits a sofa, double bed, wardrobe and around 20 boxes - our most-booked size.

Double bed Sofa Wardrobe ~20 boxes

75

sq ft

2–3 Bedroom House

Accessible storage for most contents of a family home, including larger furniture pieces.

King bed Dining set Multiple wardrobes

100

sq ft

3–4 Bedroom House

Friendly, flexible storage for larger homes - white goods, garden furniture and full room sets.

White goods Garden furniture Full house contents

Helpful tip: Most of our storage units are at least 8ft high - stack your items and furniture to make the most of the height and keep your costs down.

Not sure which size is right for you?

Use the Size Estimator