No doubt the delivery person has been dropping packages at your doorstep like a dog depositing bones, and those presents are adding up fast. In fact, we’ve got presents up the ying-yang and are running out of places to hide them! So we asked around and here are some pretty creative places that parents have found to hide their kids’ presents.
14 Crazy-Creative Places to Hide Presents
1. In empty Christmas storage bins.
I learned this one a few years ago and it has saved my sanity since. All of my Christmas decorations are stored in blue bins that are impossible to see through. After setting up the holiday decorations, I reserve each empty bin for a person in our family. Then, as packages start coming in, I hide presents in each person’s designated bin and store them right back on the top shelf in the garage where the kids can’t reach. My kids are under 9 years old and so far haven’t suspected a thing.
2. In the spooky places kids don’t want to go.
Crawl spaces, attics, and creepy sheds make excellent hiding spots for presents, especially if you hype them up all year. Kids aren’t going to want to go poking around places that might have rats or ghosts.
3. Underwear drawer
For small gifts like electronics, hide them in your underwear drawer. That should be the last place any kid would want to go searching.
4. Suitcases
If you won’t be using that travel luggage any time soon, use it as a primo present-hiding spot. Many parents claimed to have hidden their kids gifts in suitcases, although I will say my parents tried this once and that’s how I found my karaoke machine.
5. Grandma’s house
If you’d rather not stress about your kids finding that special something, store them at grandma’s house. And if grandma doesn’t live nearby…ask a close neighbor or friend.
6. Mis-labeled boxes
Some parents have been able to dupe their kids by using regular old cardboard boxes as decoys. Label them “Tax Documents” or “Product Warranties” and your kids would rather have a snooze-fest than peek into those boxes.
7. The trunk of the car
One year my daughter’s only wish was a giant stuffed teddy bear. There’s no way it would fit in our house without getting found, so the only option was to store it in the trunk of my husband’s car. He had to drive around with a gigantic teddy bear in the back of his car for a few weeks, but it was safe, sound, and secret until the big day.
8. Right under their nose
The most creative parents have used subterfuge so sneaky that it’s actually hilarious. If you dare, try hiding presents right under your kids’ noses—under a bed that never gets cleaned, or in the back of a closet that never sees the light of day. Sometimes it’s the most simple places that are the best.
9. The cleaning closet
If your kids are like mine, they never step a foot into my cleaning closet. I’ve hidden plenty of presents behind bottles of toilet cleaner and containers of laundry detergent.
10. Small appliance boxes in the kitchen.
You know that juicer that’s still sitting in its box in the pantry? Take it out and fill the box with presents. Replacing small appliances with presents and then keeping the box right there in your kitchen pantry is brazen but totally effective!
11. At work.
If your workplace is chill, the office can be a great place to hide Christmas presents.
12. Rent a storage unit for 1 month.
Sometimes you might have bigger presents that require some serious storage. If you’re getting the family a playhouse or a four-wheeler, it may be worth renting a storage unit for a month. You can find units starting at $25-$50 per month that can keep your gifts tucked away nice and safe until Christmas.
13. Hope chest
Growing up, my mom had a special hope chest with a lock and key that was off-limits to us kids. Now I know that it was her special present-hiding spot!
14. Keep a master list
Finally, with all of these hiding spots, it’s a good idea to keep a master list. Use code words or even another language if you’re worried about your kids finding your master list, but many a parent has hidden and then forgotten presents only to find them next Valentine’s Day.
Write down your hiding spots so that nothing falls through the cracks this Christmas.
Got any more brilliant hiding spots? Feel free to share them below!
Audrey McBride says
We have a small ottoman at the foot of our bed. During most of the year it holds our blankets and heavier bedding, but being winter, all the blankets and throws are out. Except for a lighter summer quilt, it is empty. I can easily store gifts under the quilt and no one think to look in there (at least not yet)!
Nicolette says
Awesome idea!
Seana Turner says
Wonderful list. I posted some ideas last year and got some great suggestions I hadn’t thought of. Will share this out!
Carrie says
Coolers- like empty suitcases- are also handy for stashing the gifts.
Rhonda Varkey says
My mom had a pile on her sewing table that was for mending. Often she would toss that shirt, coat or pair of designer jeans we wanted on that pile. Right on top. We never noticed. I have brought neighbor’s gifts into my Christmas closet to hide gifts and vice versa.
Deborah says
One Christmas when I was in high school my Mother hid my new coat in my own closet. I never saw it! Of course, she also hid things and found them in July!