• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Categories
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Media & Press

Smallish Home

Organization

WHERE DO YOU HIDE PRESENTS IN A SMALL HOUSE?

December 5, 2020
christmas presents

It’s December and the Christmas season is in full swing at our house.  The tree is up, the eggnog is in the fridge and the packages from online shopping are accumulating quickly.  

But what do you do with all the shipping boxes full of presents that need to be kept a secret??

Let me tell you, hiding presents in a small house is HARD! 

I try to keep gifts a secret, but it can be challenging to find places to hide items, especially big items, when you feel like your house has no storage space. 

We don’t have an extra bedroom, closet, or attic to hide presents.  I can’t set up a dedicated wrapping station devoted to wrapping presents as they come in.  What I need is quick, easy locations to store both wrapped and unwrapped gifts out of my family’s sight. 

So what do I do? I get creative and a bit sneaky.

Before the holiday season, I brainstorm locations in my house that aren’t being used as frequently as others.  This is difficult when you use every.square.inch of your house.  However, I can usually think of a few places that my kids aren’t currently digging into daily that can discreetly hide a few items.  Sometimes this is a box in the garage, under the bed, or even the trunk of the car.

If you are looking around your house wondering where you are going to hide that new Lego set or dollhouse, here are my road-tested, elf-approved, small space hiding spots:

In a closet…but not how you think

Closets are a classic hiding spot for Christmas gifts, however, the goal should be to make it look like there isn’t anything unusual in there.  Wrapped or unwrapped presents on a closet shelf are a dead give away. Especially if they are completely visible! 

If you’re trying to be discrete, mix the gifts in with the normal closet contents.  For example, store in a non-clear bin in the top of the closet, a laundry hamper, or a basket.  Even an unassuming Amazon box can work as a temporary solution.

wrapped gifts in a box

I’ve stored them in a box on the floor, in a bin on the top shelf, and my personal favorite, behind the hanging clothes.  

Last year, the only thing my son wanted for his December birthday was the giant stuffed bear from Costco.  The really, really big one.  We had many conversations about how big he was and how small our house was.  This bear was literally the size of a small adult. 

We tried to persuade him to find another toy.  Wouldn’t a Lego set be nice? Or a basketball?  But all he wanted was that bear.  In the end, we caved and decided we would just have to figure out how to make room for it. 

My daughter and I picked up the bear at Costco one morning when my son was in school.  I don’t think I realized exactly how big he was until we got him home.

costco bear

I had 4 hours to figure out where to hide the bear before my son came home.

While my daughter napped, I raced around my house looking for a place – any place – large enough to stuff the bear.  The only location I found was my husband’s closet.  I was able to sit him on top of the shoe rack and pull the clothes in front to disguise him.  I covered his legs with a towel and made sure his brown fur wasn’t visible through the clothes. 

costco bear

closet

It was crazy, but it worked.  He was completely surprised when we pulled out the giant bear on his birthday. 

In an unassuming bin in the garage

Opaque bins are your friends, people.  These unassuming bins in your garage can be repurposed to hold presents, stocking stuffers, or anything else you may need to quickly stash on your way home from the store.  No one is going to look in the bin marked “Summer” in December.  I usually have one or two empty, unlabeled bins that I keep for this purpose.  It’s been a real lifesaver to have a dedicated place to quickly toss whatever items I’m carrying in the house before my kids come bounding out the door.  

My dark grey garage bins are from Target and are a nice, big size.  They hold quite a lot and I like that I can have one for wrapped and another for unwrapped presents.

In the attic/basement/shed

Are you lucky enough to have an attic, basement, or shed? Then you are golden!  These locations are out of the way and not frequented by small children (or even some adults).  

shed inside

I use our shed when I need to store large presents that are sometimes impossible to wrap.  Last year my kids were lucky enough to receive a red Power Wheels Dune Buggy that came in a giant box.  The box CLEARLY showed what was inside and was way too big to wrap.  I was so thankful we were able to keep it tucked in the shed with a large table cloth covering the box.  

Under the bed

Yes, under the bed.  Push aside those dust bunnies and find a box that you can’t see through.  I use a large, flat Target shipping box, but any box will do.  I actually use this year-round when I pick up little gifts, toys, books, or other items I may need to keep secret from the kids. My kids have climbed under my bed a few times during a game of hide and seek, but have never pulled the box out to look inside.  

under the bed

In plain sight (but know your audience!)

For this, you really, really need to know the person you are hiding the gift from.  My husband isn’t one to go poking around looking for things and doesn’t always notice when something is new or out of place.  This has worked to my advantage when it comes to hiding his presents. 

One year, when we lived in Los Angeles I was able to “hide” a new bicycle in broad daylight on our deck for two weeks without him noticing.  It wasn’t covered or wrapped.  It was just slightly out of sight from the sliding door.  He was completely shocked when I rolled it in on his birthday and wanted to know where I had been hiding it.  Ha!  Obvious places work, just make sure you know the person isn’t the nosy type.   

And most importantly – keep track of the hidden items!

Yes, write this down somewhere!  The holidays are a busy time and you are juggling a lot of information, dates, and to-do lists. There’s nothing worse than hiding a present and then not remembering where it is.  Or even worse, finding it still hidden in the back of the closet in June! 

I keep a detailed record of gift ideas as well as what has been purchased and where it is hidden.  This used to be a lot easier when my son wasn’t able to read and I could just write it down in a notebook (I’m old school and love a good notebook).   But now I have to be more discrete.

I’ve since switched to just using the notes app on my phone to track gift lists as well as wrapped status and location for each present.  It’s nice because I always have it on me and can refer back quickly.  

In the end, the best tip I have is to think OUTSIDE and INSIDE the box.

Be creative!  Think about your house and the locations that kids don’t frequently go or look in.  Try to figure out how to incorporate larger boxes or bins that can then hold gifts or items until the big day.  Look for areas that are already fairly full of items to discreetly squeeze in one or two gifts that no one will notice.  Take items out of boxes so they will store more easily.  Put items in boxes so you can’t see what’s in there. 

And write it all down so you don’t forget. You got this!

For more holiday tips and tricks, come hang out with me on Instagram and Facebook where I’m attempting to stay organized and sane during the month of December.

0
2 Comments

christmas gifts holiday

Previous ORGANIZING BOARD GAMES IN BAGS
Next HOW TO ORGANIZE AND STORE CHRISTMAS DECOR

Related Posts

How To Stay Organized During the Holidays

How To Organize Cleaning Supplies

The Best Lidded Baskets To Add Storage All Over Your House

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathryn Sellereit says

    January 2, 2021 at 8:41 pm

    Hi Lisa,
    I am really enjoying your website/blog. Thanks to your mom, I read about it in the Christey family Christmas letter. I too love smallish homes and uncluttered spaces. We still live in our 2300 square foot home with no plans to move yet but I am always going through closets, drawers etc. and evaluating what things I really need and still want to keep. I do agree with the mantra “Less is more” for so many reasons. At any rate, keep up the creative writing.

    Kathy

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      January 4, 2021 at 1:36 pm

      Hi Kathy! Thank you for reading my blog! It means so much to me that you took the time to read and comment. Good for you on continuing to go through closets and drawers. It takes a lot of time but it is so worth it. I find it really helps me curate my belongings so that the things I have are items I love and use, and, as a result, are easier to keep organized!

      Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About

About

Hi! I’m Lisa and I dig smallish homes. I believe they bring families together and provide a constraint on the accumulation of stuff. I’m obsessed with rethinking room design and storage solutions in order to live the life I want in the house I have. I hope you stay a while!
read more

Editor’s Picks

  • Organization

    How To Make Vinyl Pantry Labels Wit...

JOIN THE NEWSLETTER

Categories

  • Cleaning
  • Decluttering
  • Design
  • DIY
  • Lifestyle
  • Organization
  • Shopping

Instagram

Spring is just around the corner, but I’m over h Spring is just around the corner, but I’m over here still making cozy winter soups.  I added a soup board to my kitchen, including wide mugs and various toppings and it was just what we needed to make our weeknight dinner special.

The soup is my own homemade gluten free/dairy free tomato soup and I have a blog post with the recipe + sources for items included in my soup board. It’s simple, hearty and takes less than 20 minutes to make.  Be sure to check it out!  #soup #easyrecipe #kitchenorganization #stayorganized #letsgetorganized #homeorganization #organizedkitchen #organizing-hacks #declutteriing #declutteryourlife
#Ad Let’s organize my new small-space coffee bar #Ad Let’s organize my new small-space coffee bar! Adding a large wood turntable was the key to a tight corner in my small kitchen. It’s so much easier to fill up the water with a quick spin than squeezing in between the counter and cabinets. Plus, how cute are those marble ceramic canisters? They’re perfect for holding coffee pods, sweetener and spoons!#QVCpartner #loveQVC #coffeebarorganization #kitchenorganization #asmrorganizing #nespresso #letsgetorganized #homeorganization #organizedkitchen #organizing-hacks
 #declutteriing #declutteryourlife #stayorganized
#Ad QVC finds that make spring-cleaning a breeze! #Ad QVC finds that make spring-cleaning a breeze! The fluffiest microfiber cloths that grab dust, shine stainless steel appliances, plus they’re machine washable and dryer safe. The Broombi. A unique broom with a flexible blade that cleans dirt and hair from all hard-to-reach surfaces and cleans up with a quick rinse in the sink. With these finds you’ll be done with spring-cleaning in no time!  #QVCpartner #loveQVC #springcleaning #cleaningtips #cleaninghacks #letsgetorganized #homeorganization #organizedhome #decluttering #declutteryourlife #stayorganized
#Ad 3 Tips for Organizing Under Your Sink!  1) Ta #Ad 3 Tips for Organizing Under Your Sink! 
1) Take advantage of vertical space with clear stacking drawers.
2) Turntables make it easy to access cleaning supplies with a spin.
3) Take things out of their original packaging to reduce bulk and make it easier to see what you have.
 
I’m loving these clear plastic drawers from @QVC and now want to add them under all the sinks in my house. They slide easily and are nice and deep! Can’t you just see them under a bathroom sink as well?
#QVCpartner #loveQVC #underthesinkorganization #kitchenorganization #letsgetorganized #homeorganization #organizedkitchen #organizinghacks #declutteriing #declutteryourlife #stayorganized

Disclaimer

© Smallish Home, 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Smallish Home with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Amazon Associates Disclosure

Smallish Home is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
Spring is just around the corner, but I’m over h Spring is just around the corner, but I’m over here still making cozy winter soups.  I added a soup board to my kitchen, including wide mugs and various toppings and it was just what we needed to make our weeknight dinner special.

The soup is my own homemade gluten free/dairy free tomato soup and I have a blog post with the recipe + sources for items included in my soup board. It’s simple, hearty and takes less than 20 minutes to make.  Be sure to check it out!  #soup #easyrecipe #kitchenorganization #stayorganized #letsgetorganized #homeorganization #organizedkitchen #organizing-hacks #declutteriing #declutteryourlife
#Ad Let’s organize my new small-space coffee bar #Ad Let’s organize my new small-space coffee bar! Adding a large wood turntable was the key to a tight corner in my small kitchen. It’s so much easier to fill up the water with a quick spin than squeezing in between the counter and cabinets. Plus, how cute are those marble ceramic canisters? They’re perfect for holding coffee pods, sweetener and spoons!#QVCpartner #loveQVC #coffeebarorganization #kitchenorganization #asmrorganizing #nespresso #letsgetorganized #homeorganization #organizedkitchen #organizing-hacks
 #declutteriing #declutteryourlife #stayorganized
#Ad QVC finds that make spring-cleaning a breeze! #Ad QVC finds that make spring-cleaning a breeze! The fluffiest microfiber cloths that grab dust, shine stainless steel appliances, plus they’re machine washable and dryer safe. The Broombi. A unique broom with a flexible blade that cleans dirt and hair from all hard-to-reach surfaces and cleans up with a quick rinse in the sink. With these finds you’ll be done with spring-cleaning in no time!  #QVCpartner #loveQVC #springcleaning #cleaningtips #cleaninghacks #letsgetorganized #homeorganization #organizedhome #decluttering #declutteryourlife #stayorganized
#Ad 3 Tips for Organizing Under Your Sink!  1) Ta #Ad 3 Tips for Organizing Under Your Sink! 
1) Take advantage of vertical space with clear stacking drawers.
2) Turntables make it easy to access cleaning supplies with a spin.
3) Take things out of their original packaging to reduce bulk and make it easier to see what you have.
 
I’m loving these clear plastic drawers from @QVC and now want to add them under all the sinks in my house. They slide easily and are nice and deep! Can’t you just see them under a bathroom sink as well?
#QVCpartner #loveQVC #underthesinkorganization #kitchenorganization #letsgetorganized #homeorganization #organizedkitchen #organizinghacks #declutteriing #declutteryourlife #stayorganized
#Ad Tea Organization! I’ve been searching for th #Ad Tea Organization! I’ve been searching for the perfect solution for storing and organizing tea, and think I’ve found it in these stacking divided boxes. I used one for herbal and one for caffeinated tea, and now it’s so easy to find just the right flavor. What’s your favorite tea? Please share as I’m always looking for new flavors to try! 
#QVCpartner #loveQVC #teaorganization #kitchenorganization #asmrorganizing #pantryorganization #letsgetorganized #homeorganization #organizedkitchen #organizinghacks #declutteriing #declutteryourlife #stayorganized
Have little boys who love Nerf blasters? Here are Have little boys who love Nerf blasters? Here are 3 ways to organize and store them so you don’t have to look at them all the time. My personal favorite is the extra large basket! #nerfblasters #toyorganization #toyorganizationhacks #playroomorganization
An easy DIY floating shelf for above a top loading An easy DIY floating shelf for above a top loading washer and dryer. It’s the perfect way to add storage while still allowing access to the water hookups & the washer door. All the details and instructions are on the blog - click the link in profile to read! #diyfloatingshelf #laundryroom #laundryroomideas

ConvertKit Form

Copyright © 2023 Smallish Home · Theme by SheShoppes