30 Genius Places to Hide Christmas Gifts

Are you buying early for the holidays this year? Keep gifts hidden from prying eyes with our definitive list of perfect hiding spots your family won't uncover before the big day.

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November 24, 2020

By: Maggie Miller

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Gift Hiding 101

We're all spending more time at home these days, which can make gift stashing feel like an Olympian feat. As you go above and beyond to protect those presents, don't forget to create a list of your hiding spots. Keep a written record tucked in a wallet or a password-protected note on your phone to make gathering up hidden gifts a breeze come Christmas Eve.

Under the Stairs

Storage space beneath a staircase offers a perfect place to squirrel away Christmas presents. Tuck gifts away at the very back, far out of reach from curious little hands. For extra secrecy, camouflage your gift as just another cardboard box or blanket in storage.

From: CLOTH & KIND

Holiday Storage Bins

Out of season, out of mind. Storage bins or boxes for seasonal decorations offer a great hiding spot for Christmas gifts. Nestle gifts amongst the ceramic pumpkins and fourth of July flags to misdirect mischievous gift seekers.

SEE MORE: 55 Easy Garage Storage Ideas for Instant Organization

Drop Ceilings

Literally keep gifts out of sight and out of reach by storing them above drop ceiling tiles. Carefully lift a tile and slide lightweight presents onto adjacent tiles. Just be sure to make note of which tiles are hiding spots to avoid a round of search and rescue!

Empty Shipping Boxes

Empty shipping boxes make great gift decoys. Before you break down the box for recycling, consider using it to hide a gift. For even more misdirection, disguise it as a storage or moving box that houses old “bathroom” or “kitchen” items.

Empty Christmas Tree Boxes

Christmas tree boxes are a great place to hide gifts in plain sight. When the tree is up and decorated, no one will give its storage container a second thought!

Car Trunk

The trunk of your car offers an excellent hiding spot for bulky gifts. Place presents in the locked compartment to make sure your curious kids can’t get to them. If your car offers easy visibility to the trunk (SUVs, for example), disguise the gift by covering it with a blanket or hiding it inside a nondescript box or storage container.

Spare Tire Well

Is the trunk of your car simply too exposed to make for a good hiding spot? Try placing gifts in the spare wheel compartment! Most kids don’t even know about this ultimate hiding spot, and those who do will never suspect their gifts are nestled beneath.

Grandparents' House

Top-secret gifts can be made inaccessible by storing them at another family member's home. If you plan to visit close relatives (think grandparents) for Christmas, have gifts delivered to their house for a worry-free run-up to the holidays.

Garden Shed

Spouses wont spare a second thought for the garden shed during winter. For gifts that can withstand a little cold, an outdoor shed or storage area is an ideal place to keep gifts. Store gifts in large plastic bags for extra protection from the elements.

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Upper Kitchen Cabinets

Need a spot with lots of room that's inaccessible to children? Try hiding gifts in the upper kitchen cabinets. These rarely used storage areas offer a fantastic space for hiding presents that family members of all ages won’t consider and likely won't be able to reach.

From: Jenn Feldman Designs

Recycling Bins

Recycling bins, especially the ones used for paper, are a super sneaky place to hide gifts. Few family members will consider rifling through old papers and cardboard to look for their gifts! Store the gift in a plastic grocery bag or wrap in discarded papers for even more covert hiding. Just make sure you're the one taking out the recycling so you can avoid any accidental trash day mishaps.

Bookshelf

A densely packed bookshelf offers ideal nooks for small gift stashing. Need an exceptionally difficult place for your spouse’s gift card? Try storing it inside your favorite book. Just be sure to write down the page number.

Labeled Storage Boxes

Put all of those carefully labeled storage bins to even more good use. Misdirect seasonal sleuths by storing gifts in the "donation” or “photo album” boxes or in shoe storage boxes like the ones seen here.

Cooler

With tailgating season long since past, pull out that cooler and stash your spouse’s present inside. If you’re worried about discovery, wait for them to leave for work, and place other stored items on top of the gift.

Suitcases

If your holiday travel plans include staying at home, you can still put your luggage to good use! Suitcases are loaded with super sneaky zippered pockets that are perfect for squirreling away surprises.

From: Lisa Adams

Cleaning Supply Closet

No kid (or spouse) wants anything to do with chores, making the cleaning supply closet an ideal place to keep surprises. Place their gifts behind sponges and scrub buckets for a natural snoop repellent.

Attic

Need a lot of space for bulky gifts? Try storing them in the attic. The attic offers a roomy, inaccessible storage place that’s too spooky for even the bravest of babes. If the gift is for your spouse, make sure to wait until they’re out and about or asleep to place the present. Note: if your gift is climate-sensitive the attic probably isn't the best place to hide it.

Basement or Cellar

Like the attic, a basement or a cellar provides lots of room for bulky presents. Wrapping gifts in plastic bags keeps them dry and clean, and shields them from any courageous kiddos brave enough to sneak down the stairs.

The Office

This off-limits workspace can be converted into the ultimate hiding spot for top-secret surprises. Boxes for old tax receipts and client files make excellent hiding places for small presents and gift cards.

Summer Clothing Storage

No one is thinking about shorts in December, so your family will never suspect that their summer clothing is hiding presents! Try tucking small or fragile gifts between the folds of stored shirts and skirts to keep them safely squared away.

From: Emily Fazio

Garage

Chances are good that your garage is already prepped and ready as a storage space, making it an ideal place to stash gifts. Tip: Be sure to place presents away from Christmas decorations to make sure they don’t accidentally come out with the tree!

From: Tiffany Brooks

Clear Storage Bins

Clear storage bins make a great “plain sight” hiding space for gifts. Wrap them in cloth or plastic bags and place behind other items in the storage bin. Spouses will never suspect their secret surprise is right in front of them!

Underwear Drawer

Keep mischievous munchkins at bay by storing little gifts in the underwear drawer. Small presents or gift cards can fit easily between or under the folded fabric, and no kid wants to go through their parents’ unmentionables!

Cookware

Have a rarely used pot hiding in the back of the cabinet? Stash a small gift in there for the kids. Just make sure the present doesn't end up in the pasta.

From: Beaches Design and Development

Piano Bench

A piano bench is a perfect place for flat presents. Wait until kids are away at school or with a friend to pop the lid and place the present.

Laundry Hamper

Large hampers are great for mid-sized presents. Place at the bottom and cover with (slightly) dirty clothes. Just be careful gifts don’t mistakenly make it into the machine!

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Under the Sofa

The small hidden space beneath the sofa is perfect real estate for large, flat gifts. When the kids and partner are upstairs or outside, slide your gift beneath the couch. It’s a good idea to keep it in a nondescript box or envelope, just in case.

In the Toolbox

A two-level toolbox is great for covering up stocking stuffers and small gifts. Lift the top layer out and bury the gifts beneath the hammer and screwdriver. Lots of toolboxes offer options for padlocks if you have extra-persistent kiddos.

Linen Closet

All those sheets and coverlets make perfect Christmas present coverups. A spot that is high up and camouflaged by layers and layers of blankets is exceptionally difficult to discover. If you feel extra crafty, wrap the gift in a bulky blanket.

Sock Drawer

Seldom-used socks make great hiding spots for gift cards or jewelry. Find the pair that only gets pulled out once or twice a year and roll up the gift inside. Buried in a sea of socks, finding the gift will be like searching for a needle in a haystack.