Christmas decorating *really* starts in February

Okay, February might be a bit too early. But truly – one of the best things you can do for yourself before you break out the tinsel is to plan ahead with your holiday décor. Try to have a clear vision of what you would want your home to look like. And if you’re looking for inspiration, the likes of Pinterest, Instagram, and interior décor blogs are always full of ideas.

Compile a few pictures, and maybe even a colour or pattern palette so that you at least know what you’re looking for when you begin shopping for decorative items. Deciding on a focal point early on is probably a great idea too. A natural focal point for most Christmas décor is the tree. In the excitement of tree-shopping, most people forget that picking out a tree is a lot like picking out furniture, always do your measuring in advance! A tree that is too big or too small can make your decorations look cluttered or haphazard.

The Personal Touch

While most of us buy our Christmas decorations from the store, it certainly doesn’t mean that your decorations can’t be personalised in some way. Store-bought can always be made your own through some deliberate choices. The first would be to try and avoid buying pre-decorated trees. If you have the time (and granted, not all of us do), making the effort to decorate your tree will guarantee that it truly becomes your own.

You can also look for personalised ornaments or baubles, even stockings with your family members’ names sewn on. If you’re the sort with some creative flair, you might even be able to take the decorations apart and put them back together in new, and exciting ways!

Sales on Christmas decorations right after the festive period, or ornaments picked up during family trips can be great moments to reflect on lovely memories from the past year.

Don’t Forget The Christmas Feeling

The Christmas and holiday season really is so much more than what you can see, it’s what you feel. Often, homeowners will decorate only the main areas of their house, the foyer or living room for example. Don’t forget to add a touch of festive décor to the entire house, even the places no guest will step into.

Put some Christmas plants in the bathrooms, hang up Christmas wreaths on all the bedroom doors, or hang mistletoe and holly in the laundry room. And of course, indulge your other senses as well – bake cookies, light scented candles, and play all the Christmas tunes you want.