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How Does Professional Christmas Light Storage Work?

November 5th, 2025

5 min read

By Kaylea Kuhlman

Tote bins for storage with professionally installed christmas lights ready for next year.

Every year, when the holidays end, there’s that one chore everyone dreads, taking down the Christmas lights. You might find yourself untangling cords in freezing weather, climbing up a shaky ladder, or trying to remember where you stuffed the clips last year. Maybe you swore last December you’d organize them better next time, yet here you are again, looking at a jumbled mess in the garage.

At Brush & Roll Painting, we’ve seen just how much homeowners love their holiday lights once they’re up, but not the stress that comes after. As a company that has been serving the Omaha area since 1996, we take the same organized, detail-oriented approach to our holiday lighting service as we do with our painting projects. Our team uses high-quality Dynamic RGBWW lights and offers storage options that save homeowners time, space, and headaches.

In this article, you’ll learn exactly how professional Christmas light storage works, what happens to your lights between seasons, and how keeping everything organized ensures a quick, smooth setup year after year. By the end, you’ll know what to expect when a company stores your lights, and why this service can make your holiday season feel a lot lighter.

How Professional Christmas Light Storage Works

When most people think about Christmas lights, they picture the sparkle and magic. But there’s a behind-the-scenes process that makes that magic happen each year. Here’s what goes on once your lights come down after the holidays.

Step 1: Careful Removal and Labeling

After the season ends, our team returns to your home to carefully take down every light, clip, and decoration. This isn’t a rushed process. Each section of your display, roofline, windows, trees, or railings, is labeled and bundled separately.

This step matters more than most people realize. Without labels, installers can spend hours trying to figure out which strand fits where the next year. By keeping everything organized from the start, we make sure that setup goes much faster in the following seasons.

We also remove all clips and accessories and place them in clearly marked bags. This prevents lost hardware and keeps everything in good condition for reuse.

Step 2: Inspection and Sorting

Once we remove the lights, we take them back to our shop in Omaha. Here, every strand is inspected before storage. If a bulb has burned out or a section needs repair, we note it. That way, we can take care of replacements before next year’s installation.

This inspection is key because it prevents surprises. There’s nothing worse than discovering a dead section of lights when it’s 20 degrees outside.

Each customer’s lights are stored in their own labeled container or section. That means your lights never get mixed up with another family’s display. When the next season rolls around, everything is right where it needs to be, organized, labeled, and ready to hang.

Icicle lights along the roofline of a house and net lights on bushes in front of a home, professionally installed christmas lights in Omaha, NE.

Step 3: Safe Storage

We store all customer lights at our shop. This keeps them protected from moisture, rodents, and damage that can happen in a garage or attic.

Over time, heat and cold can make plastic brittle and wiring stiff. By keeping the lights in a safe, stable environment, they last longer and perform better year after year.

Our team also stores clips and other small accessories with your lights, so you don’t have to worry about hunting for replacements next year.

How Long Are Professional Christmas Lights Stored?

At Brush & Roll Painting, we store your lights for three consecutive holiday seasons.

Here’s how it works:

  • Year 1: You purchase your lights, and we install them. We take them down after the Holidays are over and store them.
  • Year 2: We rehang them, using the same setup, and you pay only for labor. We take them down after the Holidays are over and store them.
  • Year 3: We do the same, rehang and remove them for the cost of labor only. After the third season, we recommend repurchasing lights, and the process starts over. This isn’t because we want you to spend more, it’s simply because LED bulbs, clips, and wiring naturally start to wear after several years of outdoor use. At that point, upgrading ensures your display remains bright, efficient, and safe.

Think of it like maintaining your home’s exterior paint. Even high-quality products have a lifespan. Regular upkeep keeps everything looking sharp and functioning as it should.

Professionally installed c9 christmas light bulbs on the roofline of a house in Omaha.

Why Professional Holiday Light Storage Matters

You might wonder, why not just keep the lights in your basement? It’s a fair question, but there are a few big differences between DIY storage and professional storage.

1. Organization

At home, it’s easy for cords and clips to end up tangled or misplaced. Professional storage keeps every item in its place, labeled, and ready to reinstall. That saves hours of sorting and detangling next season.

2. Convenience

Perhaps the biggest reason people choose professional storage is convenience. Instead of spending hours untangling and testing, you can simply schedule your reinstallation and let the team handle it. Your lights are already organized and ready to go.

3. Safety

When you take down lights yourself, there’s always a risk of damaging shingles, gutters, or clips. A trained team uses the right equipment to remove everything carefully and safely.

Colored c9 bulbs installed with clips on the roofline of a house with a peak.

What’s Included When Lights Are Stored Professionally

When your lights are stored by a company like Brush & Roll Painting, you’re getting more than a place to keep them. You’re getting a system that ensures your holiday setup is smooth every year.

That includes:

  • Labeling of your display layout, so we know exactly where each strand goes next year
  • Bagged clips and accessories to prevent loss or confusion
  • Inspections to identify any needed repairs before reinstalling
  • Secure storage space for all your materials
  • Quick set up for the next season since everything is organized and prepped

It’s a simple system, but it’s one that saves homeowners hours of frustration.

What Happens After 3 Seasons of Light Installation

After the third season, your lights will have done their job well. But much like a good paint job, lights do eventually reach the end of their lifespan.

Over time, exposure to snow, wind, and temperature changes takes its toll on even high-quality products. At that point, the best option is to replace them. Many homeowners also use this as an opportunity to upgrade or change their display—perhaps adding new elements like wreaths, garlands, or additional roofline coverage.

If you choose to repurchase lights, the same process starts again: organized labeling, safe storage, and continued maintenance through the next three seasons.

Warm yellow christmas lights on the outside of a home in Omaha, NE.

Common Questions About Christmas Light Storage

  1. Can I add new sections to my display next year?
    Yes. If you’d like to add more lights, wreaths, or decorations, that can easily be done during your reinstallation. The additional materials would be purchased, but the process remains the same for storage and labeling.
  2. What if I move to a new home?
    If you move within the Omaha area, your lights can usually be reinstalled at your new address. The team will review your new roofline layout and adjust accordingly.
  3. Do you clean the lights before storage?
    We make sure everything is dry and free of debris before packing. Moisture or dirt can shorten the lifespan of lights, so we ensure they’re stored in good condition.
  4. What if a strand stops working between seasons?
    When we reinstall your display, any non-working sections are tested and replaced if needed. Since all lights are inspected before storage, issues are usually found early.
  5. Why only store for three years?
    Because by that point, most products have seen enough wear that replacement is the best way to keep your display bright and reliable. It also allows for style updates and new lighting technology over time.

The Benefits of Professional Light Installation

When your lights are professionally stored, you’ll notice several differences from doing it yourself.

  • Your setup happens much faster because everything is labeled and ready.
  • You won’t need to dig through storage bins or climb ladders in the cold.
  • You’ll save money in the long run since your lights last longer and stay in better condition.
  • Your home will look consistent and well-planned every season.

It’s one of those behind-the-scenes services that makes a huge difference in how enjoyable the holidays feel.

Christmas Light Installation in Omaha, NE

If you’ve ever dealt with tangled wires, lost clips, or broken bulbs, you know how frustrating post-holiday cleanup can be. This article showed you how professional Christmas light storage solves that problem by keeping every strand, clip, and connector organized and protected for the next season.

At Brush & Roll Painting, we store your lights until the third Holiday season, inspect them between seasons, and make setup easy by keeping everything together at our Omaha shop. Our process is designed to keep your display looking great year after year without the stress of managing it all yourself.

If you’re ready for a smoother, easier holiday lighting experience, click the button below to get a quote for installation and storage.

GET A QUOTE

Or, if you’re still exploring your options, try our holiday lights pricing calculator to see what a professional display might cost for your home.

Kaylea Kuhlman

Kaylea is the Brush & Roll Painting Content Manager. Kaylea is a Journalism and Media Communications summa cum laude graduate with a minor in Marketing from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Kaylea manages the marketing for Brush & Roll Painting.