Published on Oct. 30, 2024
If you're an avid ornament collector, you know how fragile baubles and bulbs can be. Protect them with the Rolls Royce of storage: the Balsam Hill rolling ornament chest.
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Ornaments may be my favorite part of holiday decorating. Every year, my husband and I take a trip down memory lane as we unveil the hand-blown bauble from our first weekend to Door County or the silly little deer figures we gifted guests at our December wedding. Ornaments are the perfect medium for memories. And over the years, we’ve amassed quite a collection.
Storing that collection, though, can be a bit of a headache. I’ve tried a number of different methods, such as wrapping each trinket in tissue paper and nestling inside a storage bin or packing each piece inside its own tiny box. So far, these DIY methods haven’t met my standards. They either take up too much space or leave my precious (and fragile!) pieces vulnerable to breakage.
For Christmas 2024, I made it my mission to find a solution. And that’s when I stumbled upon the Balsam Hill rolling ornament storage chest. I tested this organizer, along with a set of Balsam Hill ornaments, to see if my storage woes would finally meet their match.
Balsam Hill ornament storage offers a sleek, compact way to keep your adornments safe. Available in three sizes to fit 100, 120 or 150 ornaments, each holder features a bright red exterior. It’s built like a suitcase, rolling around on four caster wheels and including a retractable handle. Each chest includes several easy-to-remove trays with fabric-lined dividers for nestling ornaments of all shapes and sizes. There’s even a front zippered pocket for holding ornament hooks! This smart storage solution thought of everything, and it’s beholden to the high quality we’ve come to expect from Balsam Hill.
VIA MERCHANT
Keep your precious ornaments safe with this genius chest organizer. It's pricey, but worth it for the peace of mind!
I’ve been testing the 100-ornament rolling storage chest and 35-piece Alpine Grove ornament collection since September 2024.
Both the ornaments and ornament chest arrived in standard Balsam Hill boxes. The ornaments were split between two boxes, each lined with styrofoam packing material. A few of the less breakable ornaments, like the twig balls, were wrapped in paper. I was impressed that there was zero breakage. Some glitter had fallen off, but none of the glass ornaments were chipped, cracked or otherwise harmed.
The ornament storage arrived flat and required some light assembly. For only needing to put in two screws, it was surprisingly challenging. The angle and black interior made it tricky to get the correct angle aligned to put the screw in—even with a flashlight. I’d recommend a helper so someone can gently tug on the metal framing while the other person screws. By myself, this step took about 15 minutes.
Next, you need to unfold the ornament holders and add the dividers. This step is very simple and cathartic. To finish assembly, stack each of the five holders inside the case.
Once assembled, I was able to fully appreciate the high quality of the organizer. It’s made of the same durable material as the Balsam Hill flip tree’s storage bag. The zippers glide easily and the handle feels like a nice piece of luggage. I also love that there’s a pocket on the front for ornament hooks and a label on the side. (I have multiple trees in my home, so I love this detail for keeping collections straight!)
Once assembled, it was time to test the fit. I began arranging the Alpine ornaments—which I picked for their wide array of shapes and sizes—in the organizer. The dividers create 20 pockets in each holder. But you could remove a slot or two to make space for large or long ornaments. Additionally, if you have really small ornaments, you could get away with placing a few in each slot.
I found that the Balsam Hill ornaments fit nicely. The longer, finial shapes required me to remove a divider, and some of the extra-large pieces, like the twine balls, didn’t fit at all. That said, this ornament collection runs large overall—which is why they make such an impact on the tree!
As far as security goes, each ornament was snug. If you have really delicate pieces, you could wrap them in tissue paper before nestling inside, but I don’t think it’s necessary for most baubles. I like that there’s a large black piece that goes on the top of the last row, too, for extra protection. I rolled the case around a bit, jostling the ornaments inside, and they didn’t budge.
Now, there’s no denying this ornament organizer is an investment. It costs $269, with larger sizes going for even more. If you primarily have plastic, felt, shatterproof or otherwise durable pieces, it’s likely not worth the cost. But if you’re an ornament collector with highly delicate pieces, this chest is worth it for peace of mind. I’m already planning to buy a second for my ever-growing Old World Christmas assortment and treasured Patience Brewster “Dash Away” reindeer set.
I’m a holiday gifting and Christmas decorating expert with nearly a decade of editorial experience. My work has been featured in Family Handyman, Reader’s Digest, Better Homes & Gardens and, of course, Taste of Home. To date, I’ve contributed to testing over a dozen artificial Christmas trees—including Balsam Hill trees (like the smart Twinkly tree) and King of Christmas trees. I also have experience testing a Balsam Hill wreath and garland. An avid holiday enthusiast, my goal is to help our readers find the best products for making merry.
VIA MERCHANT
Ornament collectors, this one's for you! We were impressed with this rolling chest's quality and ample storage space.
You can pick up all three sizes of the ornament organizer, including the 100-ornament chest we tested, at Balsam Hill. Prices start at $269. While pricey, it’s a worthwhile investment to keep your ornaments safe season after season.
The Alpine Grove ornament collection we tested is also available at Balsam Hill. The set includes 35 handcrafted pieces in an assortment of forest-themed shapes for $299, or roughly $8.50 an ornament. Considering the quality and detail, this is a great set for anyone starting or looking to grow their ornament collection.
