Changing up my décor for the holidays is one of my favorite ways to keep the house feeling alive. Putting away some of your usual décor for a few months is also a great way to love it again when it is time to swap them back into place after the holidays.
I know it is a bit early to be thinking Christmas with Halloween just barely in the rearview mirror, but I do lots of my shopping online (even more now with Covid) so there is a bit of a lead time and a lot of the good stuff sells out early. Below are some things to keep in mind as you shop for Christmas décor and a few of my recent purchases as well as things on my wish list.
Use lots of greenery
Wreaths, garlands, and fir sprays look great in every house and it is nearly impossible to have too much. I always choose faux because of no mess or maintenance other than storing it for the next year. I add greenery to my vases that are out all year and other than the Christmas tree, the garland on the staircase is center stage. Wreaths can be hung on chairs, in windows and doors, or placed flat on the table with battery operated candles (on timers!) in the middle for a very easy centerpiece. Added the reindeer as they would be so cute on a mantel with greenery and battery-operated TIMER votives for the win! I love it when the candle lights come on and go off by themselves like magic!
Consider a color scheme
Previously I have had a traditional red, white and green combo and you cannot go wrong with that. This year I am reducing the red, amping up the white, and adding blue to create a more modern look.
Buy what brings you JOY
I have a snowman collection from previous years and this year trees seem to be my thing (maybe I am missing Washington some) as I bought quite a few without intending to. I even made some trees with an easy DIY project – more on that soon! The wood trees were my first new Christmas purchase and the white ceramic trees from Target below were the best deal – even better in person! Late add of a few additional trees below as I think the ones I originally posted are all sold out and I would bet that these will sell out too!
Make it personal
Each year everyone in my family (including the dog) gets a personal ornament. This means that my tree has lots of tennis and soccer-themed items and items related to gaming. Etsy and Amazon are going to be your best friend here – you will be amazing at the things you can find. The Oogie Boogie ornament below from The Nightmare Before Christmas is for me and completes my set and the Grinch is another favorite and this one says it all!
Look for budget-friendly finds
While I love West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Crate and Barrel, they can put a dent in the budget. Check out Home Depot, Target, Michaels (might have bought another ceramic tree here not pictured), JoAnns, and your local grocery store for some great lower cost finds. The wreath and little tree above are from Home Depot, the sprays are from JoAnn, and the white ceramic trees I cannot get enough of are from Target!
Consider your outdoor plan
Each year the best outdoor Christmas lights get scarce as the holiday approaches. I am looking at you web lights that make decorating bushes a breeze. I am also a fan of C9 bulbs with yard stakes which make a big impact either running up the driveway or in front of the house – we use to have red and white alternating lights which made a huge impact with minimal effort. This year, I am adding the snowflake illuminate lights and probably clear lights on the stakes and will let you know how it works out.
Finally, it is always a good idea to pass along some of your older decor as the idea is to find the right balance between old and new without throwing everything but the kitchen sink at your home! I try to put away one all-season decor for every Christmas piece I add to keep things from looking cluttered. When the kids were little, I allowed for more decor to amp up the fun. I hope this has given you some great ideas and inspiration.
What decor gives you JOY? How are you going to decorate differently this year?