25 Holiday Decorating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Follow these tips and your house will be the talk of the neighborhood for all the right reasons.

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By: Ryan Reed, Maria Conti, and Shannon Phillips

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The Mistake: Dry Christmas Tree

There's nothing sadder than a Christmas tree that starts to wither away before the big day arrives. Alternative and artificial trees are good options if you don't want to worry about maintaining a fresh tree. But if you want the real deal, how do you make sure your tree lasts through the holidays?

The Solution: Water Frequently

Fresh-cut Christmas trees require a lot of water to stay fresh, so it's best to keep the bottom few inches of the stump submerged at all times. Be sure to position the tree away from the fireplace, heating vents and fans to prevent it from drying out.

Get More Tips: Fresh Christmas Tree Care Guide

From: HGTV Magazine

The Mistake: Mass-Produced Decorations

It seems like big-box stores start selling holiday decor earlier and earlier every year. While there’s nothing wrong with picking up a few things here and there, you want to be careful to avoid turning your home into a replica of the store display.

The Solution: DIY Decorations

DIY decor is a great way to create a cozy holiday vibe throughout your home and add a personalized touch. From handmade ornaments to this whimsical bottle brush tree wreath, your creations will feel more inviting to guests, and your family will look forward to seeing them year after year. So, channel your inner elf and get crafting before the first frost.

Get More Ideas: Our 100 Favorite DIY Christmas Decorating Ideas

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

The Mistake: Pet Hazards

Around the holidays, it’s important to keep the safety of our furry friends in mind. The main things to look out for are your pet getting tangled in holiday lights and potential eating hazards such as the water in the Christmas tree stand, harmful plants (like poinsettia, holly and mistletoe) and candy left out in the open.

The Solution: Remove Dangerous Items

Avoid poisonous plants if you have pets, and don't leave food unattended. Take every precaution you can, including letting your guests know about potential dangers for your pet, and be vigilant. The last thing you want is an emergency trip to the vet because Fido ate chocolate or the leaves of a poinsettia.

Get More Tips: 7 Smart + Practical Ways to Guarantee a Pet-Safe Christmas

The Mistake: Mismatched Decorating Styles

If your home’s overall design style leans clean and contemporary, old-fashioned or rustic holiday decor may look out of place. Conversely, ultra-modern holiday trimmings may not be the best fit for a more traditional home.

The Solution: Cohesive Holiday Style

Take your home’s overall style into account when decorating for Christmas, choosing complementary colors and patterns. For a contemporary home, consider incorporating non-traditional holiday hues (like the icy blues seen in this space) and bold, graphic takes on classic prints. For a more traditional home, lean into timeless patterns and motifs such as plaid, candy cane stripes and winter greenery.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

The Mistake: Too Many Lawn Inflatables

There’s always that one house in the neighborhood that can’t resist the giant inflatables for sale around the holidays. Kids love them, but they almost always turn out to be more trouble than they’re worth and they’re expensive, too.

The Solution: Traditional Curb Appeal

Leave the 10-foot Santa Claus at the store and design a more timeless look instead. The key to classic holiday curb appeal is incorporating handmade and vintage-inspired decor. Start with a DIY wreath and experiment with lush garlands for your railings and pillars. Then, add old-fashioned ornaments and lights for a truly inviting entrance.

If you can't resist the inflatables, try to stick to just a few that work together as a grouping, like Santa and his reindeer or a trio of snowmen.

Get More Ideas: 75 Festive Holiday Front Porch Decorating Ideas

The Mistake: Skimping on an Artificial Tree

Artificial Christmas trees are a great option if you don’t want to worry about maintaining a fresh tree, but they can vary a lot in appearance. Lower-quality versions often have sparse, spindly branches that don’t look at all like the real thing.

The Solution: Choose a Quality Tree

Invest in a high-quality artificial Christmas tree; it may cost more up front, but you’ll get many years of use out of it. Artificial trees have come a long way in recent years. Traditionally, tree needles were made of flat strips of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Now, some trees have needles made from polyethylene (PE), which can be molded to look more like real tree needles. Artificial trees can even be designed to look like specific species like fir, spruce or pine.

If you already have a lower-quality artificial tree that you’re not quite ready to part with, try filling in any bare spots with ribbon, garland or floral stems for a lush look.

Shop Our Picks: 16 Best Artificial Christmas Trees for 2023

The Mistake: Overpowering Scents

Have you ever walked into someone’s home around the holidays and immediately hit a scented wall of gingerbread or winter spruce? You can probably purchase a holiday candle in just about every scent imaginable, but that doesn’t mean you should.

The Solution: All-Natural Fragrance

Instead of filling your home with synthetic winter scents that can be harmful, especially to those with breathing issues, we recommend a natural air freshener that not only smells fantastic but also doubles as a great gift idea.

Get the How-To: Natural Air Freshener: Simmering Potpourri

The Mistake: Naked Mantel

The fireplace is the focal point of any living room, and the mantel is a prime spot for holiday decorating. Too often though, the mantel is either left bare or cluttered with snow globes and Christmas cards with no real direction or theme.

The Solution: Designer Holiday Mantel

Transform your mantel into a holiday showcase. Start with a fresh or faux garland that spans the width of the mantel, then layer in other festive items (like candles, winter florals, pine cones or bottle brush trees) in various heights for visual interest. Keep your other Christmas decor in mind and use similar colors and patterns for a cohesive look. Don't forget to hang the stockings with care! When you're finished, you'll have a stunning display above your crackling fire.

Get More Ideas: 55 Christmas Mantel Decorating Ideas

From: H. Camille Smith

The Mistake: Overloaded Power Strip

There are so many fire hazards around the holidays, and one of the best ways to stay safe is to limit the amount of wires you plug into your power strip. Not only is a tangled mess of wires unsightly, but you run the risk of starting a fire if your power strip overheats.

The Solution: Power Strip Safety

Before decorating, plan out where everything will go and use multiple outlets to avoid overloading. If you feel a wire starting to get warm, unplug it immediately.

The Mistake: Red and Green Everything

There's certainly nothing wrong with these traditional holiday colors, but why stick to the same old thing when there are so many other color combinations to choose from?

The Solution: Try New Colors

Embrace change this holiday season and decorate with a color palette that fits your unique style. If your home is decorated primarily in cool tones, the traditional red may clash; instead, try incorporating Christmas decor in lavender, ice blue or a less typical shade of green like sage. If you prefer warmer tones, consider accents of blush pink, burnt orange or taupe. No matter what you choose, breaking free of the red and green box is one way to ensure your decor leaves a lasting impression on your family and friends.

Get More Ideas: 50 Christmas Decorating Ideas That Aren't Red and Green

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

The Mistake: Too Many Decorations

Similar to the inflatables, you don’t want to be that house in the neighborhood that goes overboard with the decorations. There is such a thing as too many lights!

The Solution: Less Is More

There's nothing wrong with taking a minimalist approach to your front yard holiday decorations; you might save a little on your electricity bill, too. Instead of overwhelming your property, try to convey the spirit of the season with strategically placed lighting and tasteful DIY decorations, like this garland made from foraged greenery.

Get More Ideas: 50+ Crafty Outdoor Holiday Decorating Ideas

From: Chelsea Faulkner

The Mistake: Thinking Size Doesn't Matter

As much as people will tell you otherwise — when it comes to Christmas trees, size does matter. Newsflash: Bigger is not always better! A grand tree in a 900-square-foot apartment will feel overwhelming, while a mid-size tree in a large living room will appear out of place and awkward.

The Solution: Stick to Scale

Keep the size of your space and the height of your ceiling in mind when selecting a tree. For petite pads, try using a tabletop tree to create a festive vignette for your entry console. If you have soaring ceilings in your living room but aren’t ready to commit to a 10-foot tree, get creative with your placement. Set up your tree in the kitchen — Santa will appreciate the convenience to his milk and cookies!

Get More Ideas: 25 Easy Ideas for Decorating a Tabletop Christmas Tree

The Mistake: Only Decorating the Main Living Areas

Many people decorate for the holidays in the front yard and the living room … and that’s it. Christmas cheer doesn’t have to be limited to the first spots you see in your home.

The Solution: Spread Christmas Cheer Throughout the Home

You don’t have to go all out in every room of your house, but consider adding a few small holiday touches beyond the living room. Try hanging garland around your kitchen window, placing a small tabletop tree on the bathroom countertop or hanging an advent calendar in your kid’s bedroom.

Get More Ideas: 20 Ideas on How to Decorate Your Entire Home for Christmas

The Mistake: Using the Wrong Type of Lights

Although some Christmas lights are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, others are only meant for one or the other. Indoor lights won’t hold up well outdoors because they’re not designed to withstand the elements, while outdoor lights can be a fire hazard when used indoors.

The Solution: Purchase Carefully

Check the packaging carefully when buying Christmas lights to make sure you’re getting the right type for your needs. Look for lights with a UL label, which are tested for safety by independent product certification organization Underwriters Laboratory.

Shop Our Picks: 10 Best Indoor Christmas Lights for Every Style and Budget in 2023

The Mistake: Skipping the Tree Skirt

Even if your Christmas tree is decorated to perfection, an exposed tree stand will seriously detract from its style.

The Solution: Dress Your Tree to Impress

Put the finishing touch on your Christmas tree with a skirt that complements your ornaments and other decor. Buy one or craft your own, like this no-sew felt skirt. For something with more structure and even better coverage, consider a trendy tree collar, which is a solid covering that wraps around the base of the tree.

Shop Our Picks: 15 Beautiful Christmas Tree Skirts Under $100

From: Marian Parsons

The Mistake: Glitter Crafts for Kids

Glitter is a great way to add some sparkle to a Christmas card, holiday decoration or even a DIY sweater, but when it comes to kids’ crafts, it can lead to a mess that seems impossible to clean up.

The Solution: No-Mess Crafts

Create core memories for kiddos visiting your home this holiday season without the mess. Try one of these glitter-free Christmas tree decorating ideas, or give them their own candy-covered holiday table they'll never forget. The goal is to fill your home with joy and laughter, not the sound of the vacuum.

Get More Ideas: 80+ Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

The Mistake: Fire Hazards

There's just something so cozy about having candles around your home during the holidays, but they can also be a severe hazard. Whether a loose piece of clothing gets too close to the flame or a pet knocks over the candle, fire is a real concern.

The Solution: Go Flameless

You can still achieve the warm feeling a candle provides without the potential dangers that come with it. Light up your holiday instead with flameless candles that flicker until you turn them off. Not only do they provide peace of mind, but some even come with a remote so you can automate when they turn on and off.

The Mistake: Haphazard Hanging

Don’t be that person who adds a glitter-clad ornament to the first empty branch they see. After all your hard work, the last thing you want is to step back to admire your tree and be greeted by a chaotic mix of colored baubles and candy canes.

The Solution: Plan Your Placement

Be methodical while trimming your tree — and don’t overdo it. Create groups of ornaments based on like colors or size, starting with the bulkier baubles first. Work from top to bottom, evenly spacing the ornaments as you go. Allow some of the tree needles to shine through, and take stock of your tree after adding each grouping.

Get More Ideas: 100 Beautiful Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

The Mistake: Flimsy Wrapping Paper

There's certainly nothing wrong with a sale and any wrapping paper is better than no wrapping paper, but some inexpensive paper can easily tear when wrapping presents. When this happens, it only causes frustration, and who wants that during the holidays?

From: Sam Henderson

The Solution: Style and Durability

Holiday style and durability are key when wrapping presents. That's why we recommend using thicker wrapping paper with a design that will pop under the tree and when you deliver your gifts to their recipients. Not only will the present feel like a high-quality, glossy magazine in their hands, but they'll know you went the extra mile to make their present special.

Get More Ideas: 90+ DIY Christmas Gift Wrap Ideas

From: Morgan Faulkner

The Mistake: Unreliable Ornament Hooks

The flimsy hooks on many ornaments you buy can become unreliable over time, potentially causing your delicate decorations to fall and shatter. This is especially true for those vintage ornaments that have been handed down through the years.

The Solution: Secure Your Ornaments

Secure your ornaments for years to come by replacing flimsy hooks with ribbon, twine, pipe cleaners or floral wire. The goal is to use an item that will be long-lasting and provide more stability for your ornaments.

Get More Ideas: 85 Easy DIY Holiday Ornaments for All Ages

From: Sam Henderson

The Mistake: Too Many Breakables

If you have little ones at home or visiting for the holiday season, trimming the tree with fragile, glass ornaments can lead to major disappointment (or worse, injuries) if your favorite baubles are broken.

The Solution: Pick Sturdy Decor

Make your home feel festive with soft, resilient holiday accents like pillows, throws and stockings. For the tree, opt for shatterproof ornaments that are unlikely to break if dropped. If you do have delicate ornaments or decorations that you really want to display, hang them toward the top of the tree or place them on a high shelf to keep them well out of reach of little hands.

Get the How-To: 5 Christmas Pillow Ideas That Use Your Regular Pillows

The Mistake: Plain Plates

Basic plates are great for everyday use, but consider something more festive for the holiday season. The last thing you do before going to bed on Christmas Eve is leave out a plate of cookies and carrots for Santa Claus and his reindeer. Any plate will do. Santa is busy delivering presents, after all, but why not make the tradition a little extra special for your little ones?

The Solution: Personalized for Santa

A personalized plate is a great way to let Santa and his reindeer know who left him a sweet treat for his travels. Grab an ovenproof plate and food- and dishwasher-safe ceramic paint and paint pens, and let your kids create whatever holiday scene they want. Just don't forget to have them write their name and date.

Get the How-To: Make a Hand-Painted Cookie Plate for Santa

From: Marian Parsons

The Mistake: Waiting Until the Last Minute

The holidays are a lot of fun, but they can also be stressful. From worrying about packages being delivered on time to battling traffic at the grocery store, there's enough going on that you'll want to get your decorating done early and avoid procrastinating until the last minute.

The Solution: Start Early

After Thanksgiving is a great time to decorate for the December holiday season. For many, it's typically a long weekend, and the severe winter weather hasn't hit with all its force yet. So grab the string lights, garlands, wreaths and ornaments and get decorating before climbing on the roof becomes too dangerous.

The Mistake: Leaving the Decorations Up Too Long

We get it, you want to soak up the holiday season for as long as possible, but you don’t want to be the only house on the block with Christmas decorations still up. Eventually, it starts to look like you’re just neglecting the task of taking them down.

The Solution: Use Tradition as a Guide

According to Christian tradition, the Twelfth Night (or 12 nights after Christmas) is considered the official end of the Christmas season. Depending on whether you count Christmas as day one, this falls on either January 5 or 6. Some believe that leaving holiday decorations up past these dates can bring bad luck. Of course, you’re not obligated to follow this tradition exactly, but it’s a good general guideline to keep in mind.

If you need some festive accents to get through the winter months, consider taking down decorations that are overtly Christmassy (such as Christmas trees and Santa figurines) but leaving up wintery decorations like evergreen garlands, pinecones, plush throws and candles.

The Mistake: Careless Christmas Storage

If you plan to store your new, gorgeous glass globe ornaments in a flimsy, cardboard box like this one — don’t even bother buying them. You’ll either lose them in a sea of storage in your garage, or they’ll be crushed by the time you pull them out next Christmas.

The Solution: Streamline Your Storage

Create a storage solution and storage system that fits your personal needs. Small, round ornaments fit perfectly in egg cartons — use this hack and organize the baubles by color family. For more delicate ornaments, purchase a sturdier set of containers and use a label maker or neat handwriting in permanent marker to indicate where each ornament is stored. Make a separate master list that coordinates with your storage to make inventory a breeze next year.

Get More Ideas: 20 Clever Holiday Decor Storage Hacks

25 Holiday Decorating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Related To:

Shop This Look

The Mistake: Dry Christmas Tree

The Solution: Water Frequently

The Mistake: Mass-Produced Decorations

The Solution: DIY Decorations

The Mistake: Pet Hazards

The Solution: Remove Dangerous Items

The Mistake: Mismatched Decorating Styles

The Solution: Cohesive Holiday Style

The Mistake: Too Many Lawn Inflatables

The Solution: Traditional Curb Appeal

The Mistake: Skimping on an Artificial Tree

The Solution: Choose a Quality Tree

The Mistake: Overpowering Scents

The Solution: All-Natural Fragrance

The Mistake: Naked Mantel

The Solution: Designer Holiday Mantel

The Mistake: Overloaded Power Strip

The Solution: Power Strip Safety

The Mistake: Red and Green Everything

The Solution: Try New Colors

The Mistake: Too Many Decorations

The Solution: Less Is More

The Mistake: Thinking Size Doesn't Matter

The Solution: Stick to Scale

The Mistake: Only Decorating the Main Living Areas

The Solution: Spread Christmas Cheer Throughout the Home

The Mistake: Using the Wrong Type of Lights

The Solution: Purchase Carefully

The Mistake: Skipping the Tree Skirt

The Solution: Dress Your Tree to Impress

The Mistake: Glitter Crafts for Kids

The Solution: No-Mess Crafts

The Mistake: Fire Hazards

The Solution: Go Flameless

The Mistake: Haphazard Hanging

The Solution: Plan Your Placement

The Mistake: Flimsy Wrapping Paper

The Solution: Style and Durability

The Mistake: Unreliable Ornament Hooks

The Solution: Secure Your Ornaments

The Mistake: Too Many Breakables

The Solution: Pick Sturdy Decor

The Mistake: Plain Plates

The Solution: Personalized for Santa

The Mistake: Waiting Until the Last Minute

The Solution: Start Early

The Mistake: Leaving the Decorations Up Too Long

The Solution: Use Tradition as a Guide

The Mistake: Careless Christmas Storage

The Solution: Streamline Your Storage

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