Original publish date: 1st December 2021 Last updated: 18th December 2025

Best places to hide Christmas presents in your home

When the countdown to Christmas begins, the excitement in the house builds quickly, as does the temptation for snoopers to track down their gifts. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or generous friend, finding good places to hide Christmas presents is essential for keeping festive surprises under wraps.

To help you preserve the magic, we’ve pulled together some of the best places to hide Christmas presents in your home, with smart, practical, and safe options for gifts of all shapes and sizes.

Where to hide Christmas presents

1. In a suitcase

Typically stored well away in a spare room, attic, or high on top of a wardrobe, the suitcase definitely makes the top of the list for Christmas present hiding places. A zipped or padlocked suitcase adds an extra layer of security for added peace of mind. Just remember to stash the key somewhere you’ll remember, or store a lock combination in a password-protected notes app on your phone. This is one of the most reliable places to hide Christmas presents if you want them completely out of mind and out of reach.

2. Under the bed

When hiding gifts under the bed, it’s less of a slide-and-forget and more of a disguise-and-secure situation. And obviously, it only works for certain presents, which are smaller in size. If you have storage boxes, use them, and disguise the presents amongst everyday items. This approach camouflages your gifts and gives you quick access when it’s time for wrapping.

3. Hard-to-reach cupboards, shelves and drawers

Hard-to-reach spaces are classic good places to hide Christmas presents, especially those that children can’t easily access. Choose shelves or cupboards that won’t crush or damage gifts, and let everyone except the intended recipient know to steer clear of the area until after Christmas.

4. At a friend or relative’s house

If you have trustworthy friends and family, then consider using their homes to store your presents, especially large ones, such as a doll’s house or rocking horse. Or if you have a large family and are struggling for hiding places and space in general, then ask other relatives and friends for a helping hand. This is especially useful for large families or homes with limited storage.

5. The attic

The attic is one of the best places to hide Christmas presents because it’s rarely visited and naturally out of bounds for curious youngsters. Choose a day when the house is empty so you can move gifts safely, especially if climbing a ladder. If you have time, wrap the presents first to keep them clean and protected.

6. The cellar

If your home has a cellar, it’s an ideal hiding spot—not just for wine but for presents too. Children typically avoid dark or “spooky” spaces, making the cellar a perfect low-risk storage area.

7. In the wardrobe

If you have smaller items to hide, the wardrobe is perfect as you can wrap them in the clothes that you may have folded up at the bottom or use the top shelf inside it. You could hide even smaller items in your pockets. Again, wrap them up first just in case someone wants to go routing.  

8. The garage or shed

If you’re the main user of the garage and shed, then definitely use it to store your gifts. But if your garage and shed are quite dirty, be extra careful and try to do a thorough clean beforehand to avoid any dirt marks on the wrapping paper or presents. Put the gifts in a plastic box too to add that extra hidden layer. And make sure your garage door is secure.  

9. Your vehicle

Your vehicle boot is another brilliant hiding place for gifts when you’re struggling for space inside the house. It should be a temporary hiding place ideally, as you don’t want to be driving around with gifts moving around or increasing the chances of someone finding them when accessing the boot. When you’ve come home after buying some presents, and you can’t take them in yet, leave them in the boot. Remember to lock your vehicle! 

How to keep presents and valuables safe

Hiding your presents from who they’re intended for is one thing, but you also need to factor in hiding from potential burglars. Here are some tips you can put in place to help keep your Christmas presents secure from outside prying eyes. 

Monitor and supervise your home

Wherever you are keeping presents hidden, have more peace of mind with outdoor security cameras and indoor security cameras to keep a watch over your home and its perimeters. You can also benefit from a monitored alarm system, so wherever you are, you can rely on security specialists to dispatch police on your behalf, if need be. Speak to the SimpliSafe’s team today to see how a smart security system could work for your household.

Use motion detection

Use alarm sensors to add layers of protection to your home by detecting motion. A smart motion sensor can work by only detecting the unique heat signature of humans, so your furry family members won’t trigger any false alarms. 

Mark valuable items

Get into the habit of marking your items, especially expensive valuables. TVs, laptops, computers, mobiles, game consoles etc. Items can be marked with a special solution that’s only visible under Ultraviolet (UV) light. The Met Police say you should mark or etch your items with your house or flat number and postcode. Marking items makes it harder for burglars to then sell on and makes it easier to retrieve items if the police come across any that match your description.   

Neighbourhood watch and staying vigilant

If you aren’t under a neighbourhood watch scheme already, you may want to consider setting one up. If you don’t really speak to your neighbours or rarely see one another, it’s never too late to strike up a conversation. And by bringing up a neighbourhood watch, it’s the perfect excuse. Read up on how to be a good neighbour and then start a conversation. Invite people to a WhatsApp group or email thread to discuss any concerns or ideas. The more vigilant and communicative a neighbourhood and community is, the better investigations will go if anything does happen. You can share each others’ camera footage in case you have picked up anything, like a trespasser or getaway car. 

Keeping your presents pet-safe

Don’t forget about hiding your presents from your furry family members. You may have found the perfect hiding place to keep a gift away from a partner, but is it prime for your pet to get its paws into? Cats can get pretty much anywhere, so depending on how trustworthy they are, you may need to lock some things away in a vehicle, garage, shed or friend’s or relative’s house. 

Frequently asked questions

Where are the best places to hide Christmas presents at home?

Some of the best places to hide Christmas presents at home include the attic, garage, wardrobe, under-bed storage boxes, and locked suitcases. These areas are typically out of sight, hard to access, or easily disguised, making them ideal for keeping gifts hidden until Christmas morning.

Where can I hide big Christmas presents?

Oversized gifts pose a challenge, but you still have options:

• Ask relatives or friends to store items for a few weeks.

• Use a locked garage or shed if space allows.

• For luxury or extra-large surprises, consider renting a short-term seasonal storage unit for added flexibility and security.

What are some good places to hide Christmas presents from kids?

If you’re hiding gifts from children, choose good places to hide Christmas presents that are high up, locked, or considered “boring” spaces they won’t approach, such as the attic, cellar, or top kitchen cupboards. Wardrobes and storage boxes can also work well for smaller items.

How do I keep Christmas presents safe from burglars?

Use a combination of smart home security tools such as indoor cameras, outdoor cameras, monitored alarms, and motion sensors. These protect hidden gifts by securing entry points and alerting you instantly to unusual activity.

Is it safe to hide Christmas presents in the car?

Hiding gifts in your vehicle can work as a very short-term solution, but it’s not ideal. Cars are common targets for theft, so it’s safer to move presents indoors or store them in secure areas like lofts, wardrobes, or locked storage spaces.