Keep the Magic Alive
For many people, the most difficult part of holiday shopping isn’t choosing the perfect gifts or making sure they’re wrapped on time; it’s keeping them hidden from nosy family members! It can be difficult to outfox snooping children—and spouses—who can’t possibly bear to wait until the big day to unwrap their gifts, but these clever hiding places are sure to be the last place they’ll look.
In a Mislabeled Box
This solution is simple, but effective. Grab a box or bin and label it with something dull like “Tax Receipts” or “Appliance Warranties.” Then hide it among similar boxes in your basement, closet, or storage room. Unless you have children who will tear the entire house apart to find their gifts, this should be enough to thwart them.
Related: 15 Gift Ideas Every Homebody Will Love
In Your Underwear Drawer
Some places are simply understood to be off limits, and underwear drawers are usually one of them. Tuck small presents beneath a layer of your undies to ensure that any nosy children or teens will be too embarrassed to dig any deeper. This is an effective solution for small parcels but won’t solve the problem for larger boxes.
At a Friend’s House
If you live in a small space or feel powerless to foil the efforts of your children, consider swapping gifts with a friend. Not only does this work to keep the real gifts a surprise, it might also function to throw snoops off the scent if they find a package that contains something they definitely did not ask for.
Related: Wrap It Up! 10 DIY Ways to Bedeck Your Holiday Gifts
In a Trash Can
Even the most zealous of present seekers won’t be likely to dig through the garbage to search for holiday gifts. We won’t advise you to store presents among actual trash, but we do recommend purchasing a new trash can and filling it with gifts. You can then hide it in your basement or garage and cover the gifts with a layer of faux “garbage” like crumpled newspaper that you can later recycle.
In the Basement or Attic
If you have small children, hiding holiday gifts is as easy as storing them in the scariest place in your home. Tuck them away in an attic, furnace room, cobweb-filled shed or other spooky spot that your kids wouldn’t dare venture into. Make sure to place the gifts in a storage container to ensure they don’t become damp or dusty. This trick admittedly only works for younger children and probably won’t be effective for teens or adults.
Related: Under the Eaves: 21 Arresting Attic Rooms
In Their Rooms
While this may seem counterintuitive, how many kids would think to search through their own closets looking for holiday gifts? While your closet would probably be the first place they’d check, you can outwit them by hiding their presents right under their noses. For an added layer of deception, put them in boxes labeled “baby clothes” or “books.”
In Suitcases
Almost everyone has a suitcase or duffel bag hanging around their house, and they’re great spots to hide larger gifts that may be otherwise difficult to conceal. Because these items are rarely used, they’re typically tucked away in storage anyway, so the people you live with won’t be likely to suspect this spot.
At Your Office
Sometimes it can feel like nowhere in your house is safe. In that case, you may need to consider storing gifts in a second location that your family members don’t have access to. If you have a partner or roommate who is on to your usual tricks, this may be the only way to keep them hidden. Small- to medium-sized items can be stored in drawers or under your desk at work.
Related: The Latest and Greatest Power Tools to Gift Your Favorite DIYer This Holiday Season
In a Storage Unit
If things get really desperate, you may have to resort to throwing money at the problem. Maybe you’re lucky enough to already rent a storage unit, but if you’re not, it can be a good solution for larger gifts that can’t be easily hidden in your home. Depending on where you live, storage units can actually be quite affordable, and are typically rented on a monthly basis so you can simply utilize them for the holiday season.
Wrap It Up
Is there anything more clever than hiding a gift in plain sight? Get a leg up on your family by wrapping the items you purchase as soon as you bring them home. You can either keep them in their hiding spot as an extra layer of protection or put them under the tree where you’ll be able to keep an eye on them and chide anyone who tries to shake the boxes in an attempt to guess what’s inside.
Related: 13 Better-Than-Gift-Wrap Ideas for Packaging Presents
Don't Miss!
If you have the money to hire a handyman for every household woe, go ahead. But if you want to hang on to your cash and exercise some self-sufficiency, check out these clever products that solve a million and one little problems around the house. Go now!
