How to Pack Seasonal Decorations for a Move

Seasonal decorations are some of the easiest things to break in a move: thin glass ornaments, ceramic pumpkins, wax candles and string lights that tangle the moment you lift them. Most of them are also impossible to replace, because they were handed down or collected over years. This guide explains how to pack seasonal decorations for a move one holiday at a time, from Christmas ornaments and candles to Halloween props and Fourth of July flags, whether you pack them yourself or hand the job to Spyder Moving and Storage CO. The tips work for any move, local or long-distance.

What supplies do you need to pack seasonal decorations?

Gather everything before you open the first storage bin, so you are not tempted to throw ornaments into whatever box is nearby. You will need:

• Sturdy boxes in several sizes, plus a dish pack or a box with cardboard cell dividers for ornaments and glassware
• Acid-free tissue paper or plain packing paper (newspaper ink can rub off on light-colored items)
• Bubble wrap and packing peanuts or crumpled paper to fill gaps
• Egg cartons and plastic cups for small ornaments and decorative eggs
• Cardboard pieces or cord reels for lights and garland
• Zip-top bags for hooks, small parts and spare bulbs
• Packing tape, a marker and labels

If you would rather not wrap a few hundred pieces yourself, Spyder’s packing and unpacking services cover holiday decorations along with the rest of the house, and Spyder’s Denver movers bring the boxes and materials with them.

The table below is a quick reference for the decorations people ask about most.

General packing tips for all seasonal decorations

A few rules apply to every holiday. First, clean and dry everything before it goes in a box, so dust, glitter and damp spots do not spread to other items. Second, sort as you go: anything broken, faded or no longer used can be donated or thrown out instead of moved. Third, pick boxes that fit the contents – a small box filled with padding protects fragile pieces far better than a big box with items sliding around. Heavy items go on the bottom, light and fragile ones on top, and every gap gets filled so nothing shifts when the box is lifted.

If you are moving to Arvada and short on time, Spyder’s Arvada movers can pack decorations as part of a full-house job. If you are moving light and plan to bring only a few favorites, our packing tips for partial moves explain how to decide what to keep.

How do you pack Christmas ornaments for moving?

Christmas usually means the largest and most fragile box collection in the house, so it deserves its own plan. Start by taking the hooks off every ornament and putting them in a zip-top bag, because metal hooks scratch glass and tangle in tissue paper.

Glass and heirloom ornaments

Wrap each ornament individually in tissue paper, and add a layer of bubble wrap for glass, hand-painted and heirloom pieces. If you still have the original ornament boxes with their compartments, use them – they were made for exactly this. If not, use one of these alternatives:

• Egg cartons for small round ornaments, one per cup
• Plastic or paper cups hot-glued or taped into a shallow box, one ornament per cup
• A dish pack with cardboard cell dividers for larger pieces

Put the heaviest ornaments in the bottom layer, place a piece of cardboard over them, and keep the lightest ones on top. Fill any remaining space with crumpled paper so nothing rattles when you gently shake the box, then mark it “Fragile – Christmas ornaments – this side up.”

Lights, garland and the tree

Wrap string lights around a piece of cardboard or a cord reel so they do not tangle, and tuck the plug end into the wrap. Garland can be loosely coiled and placed on top of the lights. For an artificial tree, take it apart by section, bundle the branches with string or stretch wrap and pack it back into its original box or a tree storage bag. Wreaths travel best in a wreath box or a large flat box, with paper around them so the frame cannot slide.

How to pack holiday decorations for each season

Every holiday brings a different mix of materials, so the right packing method changes through the year.

Halloween decorations

Halloween props often have odd shapes and thin plastic or ceramic parts. Wrap ceramic jack-o’-lanterns in bubble wrap and set them in a box with packing peanuts around them. Put big, light items like fake spider webs, foam tombstones and inflatables in large boxes, and never stack heavy boxes on top of them. Remove batteries from animated and lighted props before packing, since a leaking battery can ruin a decoration. Families moving to Aurora can let Spyder’s Aurora movers handle the awkward pieces.

Thanksgiving and fall decorations

Thanksgiving and fall decor mixes natural materials with fragile centerpieces. Wrap cornucopias, artificial leaves and wreaths in tissue paper and lay them in flat boxes so they keep their shape. Glass or ceramic centerpieces and decorative pumpkins need bubble wrap and enough cushioning on all sides that they cannot touch the box walls. Baskets can be nested with paper in between. Throw away real gourds, corn and dried flowers before the move rather than packing them, because they can mold or attract pests in a closed box. For moves to Lakewood or Englewood, Spyder’s Lakewood movers and Spyder’s Englewood movers can pack these bulky pieces for you.

Easter decorations

Ceramic bunnies and decorative eggs are small and easy to crack. Wrap each bunny in bubble wrap and make sure the pieces do not touch each other in the box. For decorative eggs, use egg cartons just as you would for real eggs, then set the carton in a box with padding around it. If you are moving to Westminster, Spyder’s Westminster movers can take the fragile pieces off your list.

Fourth of July decorations

Fold flags neatly and seal each one in a plastic bag to keep moisture out. Wrap outdoor lights in bubble wrap, tape the wrap in place and pack the lights so they do not press against other items. Banners and bunting fold flat into a document box. Leftover fireworks should not go in the moving truck at all – use them or dispose of them according to your local fire department’s rules before moving day. Planning a move to Golden? Spyder’s Golden movers can help with the rest of the house while you sort the garage.

Valentine’s Day decorations

Valentine’s decor is mostly plush toys, faux flowers and paper. Wrap plush toys in tissue paper and pack them together with other soft items so they support each other and keep their shape. Keep paper decorations flat at the bottom of a box, away from the edges where they can bend or tear.

New Year’s Eve party supplies

New Year’s supplies often include electronics such as speakers or light projectors, plus glassware. Pack electronics in their original boxes if you still have them; otherwise wrap them in bubble wrap and fill the box so they cannot move. Wrap champagne flutes and other glassware one by one and stand them upright in a dish pack. Party hats and paper decorations can go in a light box on top of the load. If you are moving to Broomfield, Spyder’s Broomfield movers can pack the glassware with the rest of your kitchen.

How do you pack candles for moving?

Candles are part of almost every holiday, and wax has two enemies in a move: pressure and heat.

• Wrap each candle on its own in plastic wrap or cellophane so scented candles do not stick together or pick up marks.
• Wrap jar candles and candles in glass holders in bubble wrap rather than paper, and keep lids on.
• Slide taper candles into a paper towel tube or wrap several together in paper so they cannot snap.
• Pack candles in a small box with the heaviest ones at the bottom and a piece of cardboard between layers.
• Keep candle boxes away from clothing, linens and upholstery, which would be ruined if wax softened.

Heat is the bigger risk. A closed moving truck, car trunk or unconditioned storage unit can get hot enough in summer to soften or melt wax. For a summer move or a long-distance drive, carry your favorite candles in the air-conditioned car with you, and unpack them first so they are not left in a hot garage.

How should you label and load decoration boxes?

Good labels and careful loading protect all the packing work you have already done.

Labeling boxes helps you pack seasonal decorations for a move

Write the holiday and the contents on at least two sides of every box, for example “Christmas – glass ornaments – fragile,” and add the room it goes to. Keep a simple inventory list of what is in each numbered box, so you can check that everything arrived and find the Halloween bin in October without opening every box. If you are moving to Boulder and the list is getting long, Spyder’s Boulder movers can pack and label the boxes for you.

Loading decorations into the moving truck

Put heavy boxes on the floor of the truck to create a stable base, and load lighter boxes of decorations on top. Never stack heavy boxes on a box marked fragile, and keep ornament and glassware boxes upright. Tell your movers which boxes hold fragile decorations, or set them aside to travel in your car.

Unpacking and storing seasonal decorations after the move

Unpack decoration boxes one at a time and start with the holiday that is coming up next. Check each piece for damage as it comes out, and photograph anything broken right away if you need to file a claim. Inspect light strings for cracked sockets, frayed wires and loose connections before you plug them in at the new house, and replace damaged sets instead of repairing them. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s holiday decorating safety tips also recommend never stringing together more than three sets of incandescent lights and never leaving candles unattended.

For decorations you will not need for months, choose a cool, dry spot such as a closet shelf or a climate-controlled area of the basement, and keep candles out of hot attics and garages. If your new home is short on space, Spyder’s storage services let you keep off-season bins out of the way until the holiday comes around again.

Get your holiday decorations to your new home in one piece

Whatever holidays your family celebrates, the method is the same: wrap pieces individually, use small, well-padded boxes, protect candles from heat and label every box by holiday. Done that way, your ornaments, candles and decorations arrive ready for the next season in your new home. If you want help to pack seasonal decorations for a move – or the whole house – Spyder Moving and Storage has crews in Denver and Colorado Springs, as well as in Mississippi and Tennessee. Request a free estimate and tell us what you need packed.