The holidays are here again, and that means making memories with family, delicious food…and presents! Lots and lots of presents. If you ask your kids, that’s probably the most important part—and that’s why hiding gifts for Christmas, Hanukkah, or whichever holiday you celebrate from prying eyes isn’t as easy as it sounds. So, where do you hide your presents? Try a few of these hiding spots and keep your gifts a secret until the big day.
In the Attic or Basement
Did you know that most parents hide their presents in their closet? Kids know this too, so it will be the first place that they look! You can switch it up without too much effort, though: throw them for a loop by choosing a spot that’s a little less ordinary. Head upstairs to the attic, downstairs to the basement, or even out to the garage. You could even create a false “construction site,” if your children are regular sherlocks to fool them into thinking you have a serious DIY project in the works.
No matter which hiding place you choose, you’ll want to hide presents in plain boxes, just like the others you have in the space. Bonus points if you write something misleading on the side of the box. “Insurance forms” should do the trick.
In a Suitcase
Suitcases and duffel bags make great storage containers in any season, but they’re also useful for hiding gifts. If you have empty luggage around the house, put it to good use this holiday season. Large suitcases are great for hiding bigger items, and hard-case luggage can hold delicate items.
In Your Kids’ Bedrooms
This is certainly a creative way to hide presents but hear us out. Curious kids tend to have a few go-to spots where they search for hidden gifts every holiday season. These often include obvious places like under their parents’ beds and in their parents’ closets. Most kids stop short of searching in their own rooms, though.
Catch them off guard by hiding carefully camouflaged gifts under their bed or in their closet. Try to refrain from asking them to clean their rooms right before Christmas, and they’ll never know just how close their gifts are.
In the Trunk
Fact: Nosy family members are more likely to go searching for presents while you’re out of the house. So why not take the presents with you? Rather than packing them up in a tote bag, hide the gifts in your trunk so they’re always with you when you leave. Be sure to close the trunk cover or place a blanket over your festive bags and boxes to keep curious eyes at bay.
With the Laundry
Most kids will readily ignore both clean and dirty laundry, so you can hide your stash of gifts in a garbage bag at the bottom of the laundry hamper. If you plan ahead, you can buy a new, larger hamper that you can’t see into before Holiday season.
In Plain Sight
If your kids are used to searching for hidden gifts in odd places, try something different this year. Hide your stash of gifts in an obvious place, but make the presents look much less interesting than they really are. Re-use delivery boxes or even your Christmas Tree box to put them off the scent.
Appliance boxes are great for this purpose: Make your kids’ new video game system look like a blender, and they’ll never peek. Just stack it on the shelf next to the other appliances, and rest assured your secret is safe.
At the Office
One sure fire way to keep your Hannukah, Christmas, or any gifts from your family is to hide them at the office. Wherever your office is now, at home or otherwise, gifts are easy to disguise as office supplies or in a filing cabinet. You only have to worry that your coworkers might get a bit curious.
In a Storage Unit
Storage units are useful in many situations over the holidays. Whether your kids, partner, or pets are particularly persistent in their search for hidden gifts, or you just have a lengthy list and will need a lot of space for hiding presents, renting a mini-storage unit could be the perfect solution.
What if you’re wondering how to hide a big present? Storage units are ideal in this situation as well. With month-to-month lease terms, units of all sizes, and convenient locations, this is a solution that will give you peace of mind throughout the holiday season.
