The Best Places to Hide Christmas Gifts in Your Home

We’ve all been there before; you’ve actually gone ahead and completed your entire list of Christmas shopping super early. The gifts are wrapped and ready, and then that all too familiar feeling of dread hits you as you think “how on Earth am I going to hide these presents until December”? 

Whether you’ve got kids at home with the stealth skills of MI5 agents or a partner who’s still a child at heart and claims they’re “just looking for the sellotape,” finding the perfect hiding spot is a festive challenge in itself. So, in order to save you from a Christmas morning ruined by wonderful gifts that no longer have the element of surprise. We’ve rounded up some of the best places for you to stash those much beloved gifts around your home, as a bonus we’ve thrown in a few you should probably avoid too. 

Scroll on to learn more. 

1. The loft: a classic gift hiding spot 

If you’ve got a loft, you’re lucky enough to already have one of the best gift-hiding spots going. Most kids (and even a lot of adults) won’t think to go up there, especially if it’s already well established as the mysterious dark room full of ghosts, insulation and spiders. 

If you think there’s a chance somebody might actually go up there, go undercover. Keep the gifts in a labelled box (works best if it’s something boring like “old papers” or similar) and shove it way towards the back. Bear in mind though, if you're storing chocolates or anything meltable, it might not be worth the risk if your loft gets hotter than the Sahara every time you turn the heating on. 

2. Suitcases or luggage bags 

Honestly, suitcases are a no brainer and can be one of the best go-to gift hiding spots. No one's even thinking about touching them during the holiday season, and Christmas isn't generally the time people start dreaming of airports and baggage claims, at least for most of us. 

Tuck your gifts inside, zip it up, maybe even padlock it for extra protection if you think it’s necessary. Just be careful you don’t hide them so well that you end up forgetting where you put things, otherwise you just might end up discovering the “missing” Nerf gun in July when you’re packing for the summer holidays. 

3. Ottoman beds & benches: storage kings & queens  

If you’ve got yourself an ottoman bed or a bench with hidden storage, you’re basically living the gift-hiding dream. These things were practically designed for secret stashing. Simply lift the mattress or lid, pop the gifts in, and voila - it all disappears like magic. 

The beauty of ottoman storage is it’s usually already packed with all the stuff you don’t need on a regular basis, so slipping a few gifts in there is easy-peasy. Tuck them inside bin bags or wrap them in blankets to avoid the present hunters from spotting anything festive. 

Generally, most kids can’t lift an ottoman bed without causing a health and safety incident and we definitely wouldn’t recommend that they try. On the bright side that means this hiding spot should be pretty much childproof. Just don’t forget what’s under there, or you’ll probably end up sleeping on an Xbox for the better part of a year. Although, that does mean next Christmas is sorted, right? 

4. In plain sight (but cleverly disguised) 

Now, this one might seem a little riskier but hear us out – sometimes the best hiding spot is right under their noses. Wrap a big box, label it something boring like “Charity Shop Donations”, and stick it in your wardrobe or a cupboard. 

No one’s going to bother opening a box that they think contains your old work shirts and a broken kettle you’ve had for years. Disguise is your friend here. Add an old sheet on the top or maybe even add a bit of dust on top if you're feeling extra theatrical. 

5. Under the bed (with a twist) 

Yes, under an open bed sounds like amateur hour, but we’re here to tell you that it can work if you put a little bit of thought into it. Slide the gifts into a large storage container and then pile other stuff on top as a disguise. Anything will work really - out-of-season clothes, extra bedding, whatever you've got lying around. 

Kids might have a cheeky sneak peek under there, but they’re pretty unlikely to go digging through 10 layers of clutter. Especially if you throw a random pair of pants on top - no one’s going through that. 

6. Your car boot 

This one’s a bit of a gamble, but if you trust the weather, the boot doesn’t leak and you live in a safe area, the car boot can be a great sneaky little hiding place. 

It’s especially good for those larger items that are a bit trickier to hide or for the things you haven’t had a chance to bring in and wrap yet. Just make sure you don’t forget about it, and don’t leave anything in there that’ll melt or freeze. 

If you’ve got one of those boot covers that hides the contents from view, even better. Double sneaky. Just be careful not to forget if you ask your kids to help you in with the shopping one day. 

7. Behind the books 

Got a bookshelf? Slide those smaller gifts behind the books and hide them in plain sight. It’s simple but weirdly effective, especially if your bookshelves are more decorative than in frequent use. 

No one’s going out of their way to pull down your copy of War and Peace unless they’ve got a sudden craving for 1,200 pages of Russian drama. It’s the ideal hiding place for all those little gadgets, jewellery boxes, or stocking fillers. 

8. Inside old appliance boxes 

You know those boxes you keep "just in case" whether it’s the toaster box from four years ago, or the box to the TV that you thought you’d keep in case of repairs or exchanges, old appliance boxes are the perfect choice for hiding a whole host of gifts. 

Shove a present inside, pop the box back in the garage, cellar or under the stairs, and you’re all set. Just don’t get carried away with decluttering one weekend or your stash might accidentally be discovered. 

9. On top of the wardrobe 

Out of sight, out of mind. The top of a wardrobe is prime real estate, especially if you pop the gifts in a bag or box and then throw a blanket or a spare duvet over them. No one will think twice. 

We admit, it’s not the most original, but it works. Plus, unless you live with a house full of basketball players you should be safe. Most people aren’t bothering to get the step stool out for a casual look around the top of the wardrobe. 

10. Inside a disused laundry basket  

Take an empty laundry basket, pop some clean (or even slightly clean) clothes on top, and voila — a perfectly boring hiding spot that no one will touch. Unless you’ve somehow ended up with a family eager to put the washing away.  

Use this one at your discretion. If you know that no one but you ever touches the washing basket then you should be safe. Otherwise, you might be best to steer clear of this idea.  

11. Fake storage boxes in plain view 

This one’s a bit more advanced, but worth it if you’re going full-on Santa this year. Buy a couple of cheap storage boxes or fabric bins, label them something like “Old Decorations” or “Winter Coats,” and stack them somewhere visible. 

Because they’re right there in plain sight, no one will clock on that they contain the Nintendo Switch you panic-bought in July. It’s psychological warfare, and you’re winning. Genius. 

Spots to avoid  

Okay, now let’s talk about places that seem good but are actually terrible: 

• Your wardrobe floor – It’s the first place everyone looks. It’s a classic, and your entire family knows it. 

• Kitchen cupboards – Too many eyes, too much danger (especially if you have a biscuit thief residing in the house). 

• Bathroom cupboards – Damp + gifts = disaster. Just don’t do it. 

• Inside the oven or microwave – Seems mad, but people have done it in the past. Also: you will forget and end up preheating your kid's Buzz Lightyear by accident. 

• Under the tree – Look, we get it. It’s tempting, it looks aesthetic. But if you’ve got kids, pets, or nosy partners, those gifts are simply not safe. Wait until Christmas Eve to stack them all down there. Plus something about that just feels a little more special than them sitting there all of December. 

Final thoughts 

The key to hiding Christmas gifts is to think somewhat like a burglar (but a festive one). Go for places that are inconvenient, boring, or just far enough out of reach that no one can be bothered to check. And of course you always need to remember where you’ve put them.You could maybe leave yourself a cryptic note on your phone that hints at their location, or you could make a festive little map treasure hunt, though this one might be enticing if the kids were to find it. 

In the end, it’s all about keeping the surprise alive. There’s nothing better than seeing someone genuinely shocked on Christmas morning, alongside the satisfaction of knowing your hiding spot for the last three months was a success.