Don’t Make These Holiday Decorating Mistakes!

With Thanksgiving in our rearview mirror, ’tis officially the season to be jolly — and really, really judgmental of others’ bad holiday decorations. ;-)

Sure, crooked strands of lights and frenetically blinking outdoor holiday displays top every list of Christmas-cheer gaffes, but there are many more nuanced mistakes you can make when decorating your home for Christmas.

Turn your judgment inward. Are you making these common holiday decorating mistakes?

Using inflatables

If Hurricane Sandy taught us anything recently, it’s that a lot of things can blow away pretty easily. And if the past 10 years have taught us anything, it’s that we wish more of those giant, lit-up yard inflatables would blow away forever.

Unless you’re really into holiday kitsch — and being the constant annoyance of your neighbors — skip the inflatable snowmen and Santas, and stick to classy and refined twinkling lights and the occasional luminaries.

Cramming

If you’re really going all-out with your holiday decorations — snow angels, Christmas figurines, nativity scenes and the like — you may need to do more than shuffling your current knickknacks around.

Don’t try to cram your decorations in with your everyday surroundings. Make your home a true winter wonderland by giving all your holiday treasures the space they deserve on your mantel and other shelves.

Not childproofing

Got small children around? Be sure to tailor your decorations to their sensitivities and curiosities. Trim your tree’s branches above eye level, and keep breakables on high shelves and mantels. Keep extension cords tucked away, and avoid overcrowding your power outlets to discourage curious fingers from poking around.

And, of course, make sure your Christmas tree is securely planted into its stand and won’t topple over after the slightest disturbance from your little ones. (Not only is it dangerous, but it’s also frustrating to see your hard work thwarted!)

Being too ambitious

Martha Stewart creates incredible displays that look simultaneously effortless and like they took weeks to execute for a reason: It’s her job. Attempting to create a handmade winter bird’s nest, intricately lined with tiny white lights and topiary sparrows when all you really have time for is a pre-lit tree with a box of ornaments you’ve had since childhood.

Remember: Your holiday decorations should be personal and meaningful to you. No one’s going to judge you for not having magazine-quality trimmings decking your halls.

Confining décor to just one room

Don’t let the rest of the house get jealous of your living room: No space is off-limits for holiday decorating! Spread the spirit throughout with simple touches like holiday-scented candles in the bathroom and mini-trees on the kitchen island.

It may be a little extra work up front, but those holiday accents sprinkled throughout your home will bring a smile to your face every time you enter a room.

Need help making the most of your home’s holiday-decorating potential? There’s still time to get in touch with Neave Décor’s designers! Call us at (845) 463-0592 or fill out our handy web form to the right to schedule a free consultation.

image credit: Eric__I_E