How to Prep Your Home for Holiday Guests in One Weekend

Make Room for the Holidays: How Self Storage Helps You Host, Decorate, and Declutter

Self storage gives you extra storage space during the busiest time of the year. Before guests arrive, you can move extra furniture, sports gear, and everyday clutter into a storage unit to open up your home. During the season, a unit is a handy place to keep gifts out of sight. After the holidays, it is the perfect spot to store decorations until next year. Here is how to make the most of it.

Before the holidays: clear the clutter

A few weeks before guests arrive, walk through your home and look for anything you will not need until spring:

• Patio furniture, grills, and pool or yard equipment
• Bikes, golf clubs, and sports gear
• Off-season clothing and shoes
• Extra furniture that makes rooms feel crowded
• Boxes in the guest room or garage

Moving these items into storage frees up room for a guest bed, a bigger dining table, or a holiday tree, and makes your home feel more open when friends and family visit.

Make room for holiday guests

If the guest room has been doubling as an office or storage room, a storage unit lets you turn it back into a comfortable space. Store the desk, filing boxes, or exercise equipment for a few weeks, then bring them back after your guests leave. A garage that is cleared out can also become extra parking for visitors.

Keep gifts out of sight

Running out of hiding spots? A storage unit keeps gifts away from curious kids and nosy relatives. It is especially helpful for large gifts like bikes, furniture, or toys that are hard to hide at home. Wrap gifts as you go and keep a simple list of what you have so nothing gets forgotten.

Bring out the decorations

If you already store your decorations, pick them up early so you have time to decorate without rushing. Keep the boxes you will need first, like the tree stand, lights, and ornaments, near the front of your unit so they are easy to grab.

After the holidays: pack decorations the right way

Taking a little extra time when you pack up makes next year easier:

• Use clear plastic bins with lids so you can see what is inside and keep dust out.
• Label every bin by room or category, like "tree lights" or "outdoor decor."
• Wrap lights around cardboard or a hanger to prevent tangles.
• Store ornaments in divided containers or egg cartons to protect fragile pieces.
• Pack your artificial tree in its original box or a tree storage bag.
• Toss broken items and burned-out lights so you only store what you will use.
• Keep a "first out" box with your tree stand, extension cords, and tools so you can start decorating right away next year.

Store items that need extra care

Wreaths, candles, keepsake ornaments, and holiday linens can be damaged by extreme heat. Storage3 Manteca offers temperature-controlled interior units that stay between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, a good fit for delicate decorations and family heirlooms.

Holiday storage checklist

• Move off-season and bulky items into storage before guests arrive
• Clear the guest room and garage
• Pick up decorations early
• Store large gifts out of sight
• Pack decorations in labeled bins after the holidays
• Put next year's "first out" box near the door of your unit

Why Store with Storage3

Storage3 is a locally owned self storage company serving Manteca and Delhi, California, built on more than two decades of industry experience. Formerly known as Arco's Storage, we offer secure, affordable storage for households, businesses, and vehicle owners across the Central Valley.

At both locations, you will find:

• 24-hour security cameras and gated entry
• On-site management
• Drive-up units with roll-up doors, plus interior hallway units
• RV, car, and boat storage
• Commercial storage
• Online storage rentals, rent by phone, and online bill pay
• Boxes, supplies, carts, and dollies to make moving day easier

Storage3 Manteca at 1654 N Main St offers temperature-controlled interior units, an elevator to the second floor, extra-tall drive-up storage doors, and enclosed RV storage.

Storage3 Delhi at 9251 Stephens St offers indoor vehicle storage, an RV dump station, and uncovered parking spaces up to 12x50 for RVs, boats, trailers, and commercial vehicles. It is a convenient stop off Highway 99 for customers in Turlock, Livingston, and Atwater.

Both locations offer secure gated access, and is typically available from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, 7 days a week, and office hours are typically 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday and 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday. Hours can vary by location, so check your facility's page before you visit. Not sure what size you need? See our storage unit size guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I rent a storage unit just for the holidays? Many storage facilities offer month-to-month rentals, so you can store items for a few weeks or a few months. Check with your local Storage3 facility for current rental terms.

What size storage unit do I need for holiday decorations? A 5x5 or 5x10 unit holds the decorations for most homes. If you are also storing furniture or patio items, a 10x10 or larger may be a better fit.

How should I store Christmas lights so they do not tangle? Wrap them around a piece of cardboard, a hanger, or a reel, then store them in a labeled bin.

Find a Storage3 location near you

Give yourself more room to celebrate this season. Visit our Storage Locations page to find the Storage3 facility closest to you and reserve your unit online.