How to Pack Seasonal Decor So It’s Easy to Unpack for the Holidays

From Thanksgiving centerpieces to twinkling lights, a little organization now makes the whole season easier.

Moving in the fall means your holiday decorations are going on a trip before their big debut. And if you’re settling into a new NYC apartment this October or November, the holidays will be here sooner than you think.

Maybe you’re picturing hosting Thanksgiving in your new place for the first time, setting up the menorah for Hanukkah, decorating the tree with a Manhattan skyline outside your window, or simply enjoying a quiet holiday season without moving boxes still piled in the corner. A little organization now can make all of that much easier later.

When you’re packing holiday decorations, the goal is to make decorating later easy, not a scavenger hunt through 30 unlabeled boxes. Here’s how to do it.

Why Seasonal Decor Gets Messy During a Move

Holiday decorations tend to live in the hardest-to-reach places: the top shelf of the closet, under the bed, or the back of a storage unit. As Move Day gets closer, they often end up tossed into whatever box is left over.

Add delicate ornaments, menorahs and tapered candles, tangled lights, and oddly shaped wreaths, and it’s easy to end up with broken glass and a garland wrapped around your Halloween skeleton.

Step 1: Sort by Holiday (and Fragility)

Start by pulling everything out and grouping it by holiday: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, and anything else you celebrate. Then split each group into fragile items (glass ornaments, ceramic pumpkins, menorahs) and sturdy ones (tablecloths, stockings, dreidels, plastic decor).

This is also a good time to declutter. Toss burnt-out light strands and anything broken, and donate decorations you haven’t used in years. Less to pack means less to unpack.

Shleppers Tip: If you’re packing a delicate menorah or tree topper, wrap it carefully and give it plenty of cushioning so it doesn’t shift during the move.

Step 2: Use Labeled Bins or Boxes

When you’re organizing seasonal bins, clear plastic containers with lids are your best friend. They protect against dust and moisture and let you see what’s inside. Sturdy moving boxes work well, too.

Label each bin on the top and at least one side with the holiday, the contents, and “FRAGILE” if needed. Color-coding helps even more: orange tape for Halloween, brown for Thanksgiving, blue for Hanukkah, red or green for Christmas, and blue for winter. Before you seal anything, take the batteries out of light-up decor to prevent corrosion.

Step 3: Pack Lights, Ornaments, Wreaths, and Garlands Separately

These are the items most likely to tangle, crush, or break, so give each one its own space.

• Lights: Wrap strands around a piece of cardboard or an empty paper towel tube, and tape down the plug end.
• Ornaments: Wrap each one in packing paper or tissue. Use divided ornament boxes or egg cartons for small pieces, with heavier ornaments on the bottom.
• Wreaths: Use a wreath box or a large box with room to spare, and don’t stack anything on top.
• Garlands: Coil them loosely and wrap them in paper or plastic to keep shedding to a minimum.

Shleppers Tip: Moving Christmas decor like an artificial tree? Take it apart and pack it in its original box or a tree storage bag.

Step 4: Keep One “First Holiday” Box Easy to Access

Pack one box with everything you’ll need for the next holiday on your calendar. That might mean your menorah, candles, and dreidels for Hanukkah; a few favorite Christmas decorations and stockings; or Thanksgiving table decor. Don’t forget the practical extras like extension cords, hooks, removable adhesive strips, scissors, and tape.

Label it clearly and ask your movers to load it last, so it’s one of the first boxes off the truck.

Step 5: Plan for Storage in Your New Place

Storing Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Christmas and other seasonal items can be tricky in a smaller NYC apartment. Stack bins so the next holiday is always on top. If your new closet can’t fit it all, secure storage can keep off-season decor safe until you need it.

Let Shleppers Handle the Rest

Preparing for holiday decorating after a move is much easier when the rest of your move is taken care of. Shleppers offers complete packing services, box and supply delivery, and secure storage, so your decorations — and everything else — arrive safely and ready for the season.

Think of it as one big thing checked off your holiday to-do list. Instead of spending November still recovering from Move Day, you can focus on hosting that first Thanksgiving in your new home, getting ready for Hanukkah, decorating for Christmas, or simply settling in before the end-of-year rush begins.

Let Shleppers do the heavy lifting so you can unpack, decorate, and get to the festivities.

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