The holidays wouldn't be the same without festive decorations and present wrapping. But storing these items for the rest of the year can take up a lot of space. Stay organized with these holiday storage hacks to make your life a little easier.

• Pack fragile ornaments carefully to keep them from breaking. Plastic apple containers, egg crates, and beverage trays are ideal storage options.

• Avoid the nightmare of unruly holiday lights next year. Wrap the lights around a hanger or a piece of cardboard before storing in a box or container.

• Don't let rolls of wrapping paper get in the way. Store the rolls in a clear garment bag and hang in a closet.

• Keep your storage bins free from bulky wreaths. Use a zip-tie to attach the wreath to a hanger. Drape a plastic garbage bag over the hanger and hang in a storage closet or on a rack.

• Organize ribbon for easy access by stacking the rolls on a paper towel holder.

• Not sure what to do with leftover candy canes? Grind them up for a tasty dessert topping you can enjoy any time of year.