The reason so many faux decorations look tired by their third year isn't the plastic — it's the eleven months they spend crushed in a bin bag under the stairs. Store them badly and you'll unbox flattened leaves, dust you can't shift and a tangle of lights. Store them well and the same pieces come out looking showroom-fresh a decade running. It takes an extra twenty minutes in January and pays you back every season.
Want to shop as you go? Our Plants collection has plenty to choose from, all delivered across the UK.
In this guide
- Clean and dry before anything goes in a box
- Protect the shape: never crush a leaf flat
- Choose the right box and the right spot
- Keep sets together and lights tangle-free
- A few of our favourites
- Frequently asked questions
Clean and dry before anything goes in a box
Dust is the enemy of stored faux, because it bonds to the leaves over months and turns matte grey. Before packing anything away, give each piece a proper going-over: a soft brush or a hairdryer on cool blows dust out of dense foliage, and a damp microfibre cloth lifts grime from broad leaves. Let everything dry completely — a garland packed even slightly damp will grow a musty smell and can develop mildew in a cold loft. Five minutes of cleaning now means you unbox a clean plant next year rather than one you have to rescue.
Protect the shape: never crush a leaf flat
Artificial leaves and petals hold a set shape, and prolonged compression is what ruins them permanently. Wrap larger trees loosely in an old sheet or a breathable tree bag rather than cramming them into a tight box. For garlands, coil them gently into wide loops instead of folding sharply at the same point every year — a repeated crease eventually snaps the wire core. Petal-heavy pieces like wreaths and blossom store best flat or hung, never stacked under heavier items. The golden rule: if it's bent when it goes in, it'll be bent when it comes out.
Choose the right box and the right spot
Rigid plastic lidded boxes beat cardboard every time — they keep out damp, dust and the occasional loft mouse, and they stack without collapsing on the layer below. Avoid bin bags entirely: they trap moisture, offer zero crush protection and split. Label each box clearly by season and contents so you're not opening three tubs to find the mantel garland. On location, a cool, dry, dark cupboard is ideal; lofts are workable but watch for extreme heat in summer, which can soften and warp cheaper materials, and garages if they get damp.
Keep sets together and lights tangle-free
Half the January frustration is hunting for the pieces that belong together. Store each display as a kit: the tree with its stand and its lights, the mantel garland with its clips, the wreath with its hook. Wind string lights around a strip of card or a purpose-made reel rather than balling them up, and you'll skip the annual half-hour untangling ritual. A quick photo on your phone of a display you loved is worth taking too — next year you'll recreate it in minutes instead of guessing where everything went.
Keep reading
If you found this useful, you'll enjoy Decorating with Artificial Plants Through the Seasons and Faux Plant Care Through the Seasons: A Quick Calendar.
A few of our favourites
A few pieces from the Botanik range that suit this beautifully:
- 120cm Premium Artificial palm tree with pot
- 120cm Twisted Trunk Artificial Japanese Fruticosa Style Ficus Tree
- 150cm Twisted Trunk Artificial Japanese Fruticosa Style Ficus Tree
Frequently asked questions
How should I store artificial plants and trees between seasons?
Clean and fully dry each piece, then wrap trees loosely in a breathable bag or sheet and pack everything into rigid lidded plastic boxes rather than bags. Keep foliage uncrushed, store in a cool dry spot, and keep each display's parts and lights together.
Can I store faux decorations in the loft?
Yes, provided it stays dry. Lofts work well for most artificial pieces in sealed plastic boxes, but watch summer heat, which can soften and warp cheaper materials over time. Avoid damp garages, and never use bin bags, which trap moisture and crush leaves.
How do I stop artificial garlands and wreaths getting crushed in storage?
Coil garlands into wide loops rather than folding them sharply in the same place each year, which eventually snaps the wire core. Store wreaths and blossom pieces flat or hung, never stacked beneath heavier boxes, so the petals and leaves keep their shape.
Should I clean faux plants before storing them?
Always. Dust bonds to leaves over months and turns them dull and grey, so brush or blow out dense foliage and wipe broad leaves with a damp microfibre cloth first. Crucially, let everything dry fully before boxing it, or you risk a musty smell and mildew.
Ready to get started? Have a look at our Plants and the wider Botanik collection — beautifully realistic, zero upkeep, delivered UK-wide.