13 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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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 plastic trees are fine but how do you make sure your real 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. Follow these tips if you want to keep your living tree for years to come.
The Mistake: Mass-Produced Decorations
It seems like big-box stores start selling holiday decor earlier and earlier every year and 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
Make your own Christmas decorations, crafts and centerpieces this year for a festive feel that's unique to your home.
The Mistake: Pet Hazards
The Solution: Remove Dangerous Items
The Mistake: Overpowering Scents
The Solution: All-Natural Fragrance
Instead of filling your home with synthetic winter scents, we recommend a natural air freshener that not only smells fantastic but also doubles as a great gift idea.
The Mistake: Lawn Inflatables
The Solution: Traditional Curb Appeal
If you want more of a traditional look, avoid the 10 foot Santa Claus and go with handmade holiday flair for your curb appeal instead.
The Mistake: Naked Mantel
The Solution: Designer Holiday Mantel
Transform your mantel into an elegant centerpiece that will look great as the backdrop for your family photos.
The Mistake: Overloaded Power Strip
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
The Solution: Try New Colors
Mix things up around the holidays and don’t be afraid to break out of the red and green box.
The Mistake: Too Many Decorations
The Solution: Less is More
Cut down on the decor (and your electric bill) by trying these DIY outdoor Christmas decorations.
The Mistake: Glitter Crafts for Kids
The Solution: Kid-Friendly Crafts
We recommend setting up a candy crafting table for kids or having them try these glitter-free, kid-friendly Christmas tree decorating ideas.
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!
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 over-do 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.
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 reusable 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.
See More Photos: 20 Clever Holiday Decor Storage Hacks