Prepping the home for Christmas is fun and exciting, but are you guilty of making common decorating mistakes? From not having a theme to going overboard, don’t let your festive season end in havoc by running into these avoidable blunders.
‘If you look forward to Christmas all year long, it can be easy to get carried away and decorate every corner of your home,’ says Sylvia James, interior designer at HomeHow.co.uk. ‘The basic rule is less is more. You run the risk of looking tacky if you over splurge.’
If you’re worried about making some of the most common decorating mistakes, Sylvia has revealed what you can do to avoid them. Take a look at her advice…
1. Not thinking about the tree topper
Christmas tree toppers come in a variety of beautiful festive forms, but it’s important to choose one that is the right size for your tree. According to Sylvia, leaving it until the last minute without any thought will result in a topper that is disproportionate.
‘Invest in a few different shapes and sizes and continue adding more to the collection as the years go by,’ explains Sylvia.
Gold Star LED Tree Topper, £15.99, Lights4Fun
Oliver Perrott/Lights4Fun
2. Not sticking to one theme
Christmas decorations are supposed to spread festive cheer, but one common mistake many households make is trying to incorporate various themes. Whether you prefer traditional styles or minimal modern decorations, choose just one consistent theme throughout your home.
Sylvia adds: ‘Even if you have large spaces in your home, you can’t have every theme take place. To make an impact, it’s best to focus on one theme and pay extra diligence. Limit the use of textures and materials and stick to just one aesthetic for a consistent look.’
3. Starting without a plan
Christmas is the most wonderful time of year, yet it is often the most stressful. Starting without a plan is another common decorating mistake Brits make, so ensure you get organised ahead of time with a plan.
‘Starting to decorate with no plan will lack consistency,’ says Sylvia. ‘It’s important to know what you will put in each room and the colour schemes to work with. Walking around the house and putting holly bushes in the corner doesn’t execute a well-planned design. A simple plan such as an all red and silver colour scheme or sticking to monochrome textures will help to shape your festive plan.’
Shop the look at Lights4Fun
Oliver Perrott/Lights4Fun
4. Going over the top
Lakeland
2 Lakeland Gold Textured Bowls
Everyone loves decorating the house at Christmas, but another simple mistake is trying to cover every surface in the home — and going overboard. According to Sylvia, it’s best to keep things simple to avoid a cluttered space. Instead of hanging every decoration, choose your favourites.
‘You might need to remove lights or wreaths to tone down the look,’ Sylvia suggests. ‘If you want to add a festive touch to each area, add metallic accents. Simple additions like gold-faceted bowls have a subtle yet strong Christmas feel.’
5. Not adding personal flair
Give your home a touch of holiday flair by adding decorations that are personal to you. If your Christmas decorations can be in any house, you’re doing it wrong, says Sylvia.
Some of the items to consider getting your hands on include personalised baubles, Christmas stockings with your name on the front, and special decorations passed down through the generations.
6. Forgetting to clean first
‘It’s important to have a clean slate to start with. If you start setting up your decorations around dust and clutter, you can ruin the finished look. Try to minimise the existing clutter before you add in the Christmas cheer. Take time to give your home a thorough clean and you’ll notice the difference at the end.’
28 stunning Christmas wreaths for the festive season
Frosted wreath – Christmas wreath
Ultimate Green & Berry Pre-Lit Wreath – 70cm
thewhitecompany.com
£165.00
This Christmas wreath is oh-so-beautiful! A White Company best seller, and now with the addition of lights, this wreath is adorned with frosted faux greenery, including mixed leaves, eucalyptus and white berries.
Orange wreath – Christmas wreath
Textured Small Wreath in Orange
housebeautiful.co.uk
£20.00
Get your home Christmas ready with this stylish textured wreath from the House Beautiful Marketplace. Designed using warm autumnal hues, it’s the perfect transitional wreath to snap up.
Traditional Wreath – Christmas wreath
56cm Pine Wreath with Red Berries
With a traditional look, this gorgeous Christmas wreath features pine green faux foliage and rich red berry detailing.
Red roses wreath – Christmas wreath
Red Roses Wreath
Gisela Graham amara.com
£52.00
If you want a stylish addition to your front door this Christmas, choose this wonderful gold red roses wreath. It’s one of our favourites.
Blueberry wreath – Christmas wreath
Blueberry Christmas Wreath
housebeautiful.co.uk
£23.00
Make a statement with this unique blueberry Christmas wreath. Sitting on a wooden base, it has a real rustic feel to it.
Real wreath – Christmas wreath
The Night Before Christmas Wreath
Choose a real natural wreath for your Christmas decorations this year, with this gorgeous offering from Bloom & Wild. Featuring pops of colour with dusky foliage, additions include pistache, asparaguse, spruce, ruscus, eucalyptus, leucadendron, eryngium, birch, kangaroo paw and berries.
Gold wreath – Christmas wreath
Gold Leaf and Bauble Christmas Wreath – 50cm
House Beautiful Homebase
£25.00
This gorgeous gold wreath features a medley of pinecones, berries, baubles and foliage, all sprayed gold for a truly festive look. If you don’t fancy hanging it on your door, it’ll make a wonderful table centrepiece.
Luxury wreath – Christmas wreath
Pine and Apple wreath 40cm
MOYSES STEVENS selfridges.com
£180.00
If you really want to go all out at Christmas, look no further than this full and vibrant Moyses Stevens Christmas wreath. Features include pinecones (natural), apple slices, cinnamon and limes, all tied with a plush velvet red bow.
Star wreath – Christmas wreath
Star Wreath 45cm
homeessentials.co.uk
£20.00
Simple but effective, this rattan base wreath is decorated with silver glitter stars and will make a wonderful statement on your walls.
Frosted eucalyptus wreath – Christmas wreath
Eucalyptus Wreath
£48
This is a pared-back eucalyptus wreath but the frosted detailing gives it just the right amount of sparkle for the festive season.
Eucalyptus Wreath – Christmas Wreath
Frosted Berry And Fir Christmas Wreath
Ella James £79
We love the simplicity of this Christmas wreath. Adorned with eucalyptus leaves, it’s nestled with faux frosted white berries and fir.
Pink wreath – Christmas wreath
50cm Blush Pink Eucalyptus Wreath
Dunelm dunelm.com
£20.00
It won’t be to everybody’s taste but if you’re planning on incorporating pink into your Christmas theme this year then you’ll probably love this pink eucalyptus wreath with beautiful foliage. It’ll definitely make a statement.
Traditional wreath – Christmas wreath
Lakeland Festive Floral Wreath
Lakeland lakeland.co.uk
£29.99
Want to snap up something traditional? This beautiful festive floral wreath from Lakeland is sure to turn heads.
White wreath – Christmas wreath
Pre-Lit Winter White Christmas Wreath
This pre-lit winter white Christmas wreath has a wonderful warming glow. It’s perfect for a winter wonderland theme.
Bauble wreath – Christmas wreath
Gemstone Forest Gold Bauble Wreath
John Lewis johnlewis.com
£25.00
Go gold and go bold with John Lewis’ statement-making bauble wreath.
Twig wreath – Christmas wreath
Natural Bark Star Twig Wreath, Silver
nationaltrust.org.uk
£20.00
Perfect for rustic or country-inspired interiors, this twig wreath is handmade from natural bark, and intertwined with silver bark stars.
Pine and berry wreath – Christmas wreath
Pine and Berry Wreath, Champagne
John Lewis johnlewis.com
£40.00
Inspired by British landscapes, this feathery Christmas wreath is packed with pine sprigs, Champagne-coloured pine cones and berry clusters.
Pre-Lit Wreath – Christmas Wreath
Pre-Lit Wire Wreath
marksandspencer.com
£25.00
Spread merriment this Christmas with M&S’ large pre-lit wreath. With dainty lights and a circular design, it’s ideal if you’re after something more unique.
Bauble wreath – Christmas wreath
Pinecone Christmas Wreath – 56cm
House Beautiful Homebase
£35.00
This stylish Christmas wreath from the House Beautiful range at Homebase is brimming with frosted pinecones, gold-tinted berries, and the best part, baubles!
Berry wreath – Christmas wreath
Luxury Winter Berry Wreath
Pippa Designs £54.50
£59.50
Get festive with this beautiful winter berry wreath. It’s made from real larch cones, moss and beautiful artificial berries.
Frosted wreath – Christmas wreath
Frosted Fir Wreath
With a frosted finish, this wreath from Cox & Cox will turn any space into a winter wonderland.
Heart wreath – Christmas Wreath
Warm White Micro Light Heart Wreath
Lights4fun lights4fun.co.uk
£11.99
Spread a little love with this simple 18cm heart wreath. It has glass and pearl style beads, 10 warm LED lights and a delicate silver frame.
Felt wreath – Christmas wreath
Southwold Wreath, Large
gardentrading.co.uk
£50.00
Switch up your decorations and opt for this large wreath handmade from Fairtrade felt with soft white and grey bobbles.
Silver wreath – Christmas wreath
Snow Mountain Holly Wreath, Silver
John Lewis johnlewis.com
£35.00
Sparkle your way through the festive season with this dazzling silver holly wreath.
Wreath with blue baubles – Christmas wreath
Pre-Lit Candlelight Christmas Wreath – 60 cm diameter
Dress your front door to impress with this gorgeous pre-lit blue wreath. Packed with blue baubles, champagne-toned poinsettia flowers and snow-flocked artificial foliage, it’s a real head-turner.
Simple style – Christmas wreath
32cm Mistletoe Christmas Wreath
Looking for a simple style? Well this beautiful low-key wreath with artificial mistletoe is perfect for any home.
Succulent wreath – Christmas wreath
Personalised Luxury Succulent Christmas Wreath
Dibor £24.95
Handcrafted in the UK, this Christmas wreath is a real show-stopper. It’s decorated with large succulent blooms and real foraged pinecones, studded with frosted white berries, and finished with the sprays of forest green moss and burgundy petals.
Bauble wreath – Christmas wreath
Mercuried Bauble Wreath
Jazz up your front door with this silver bauble wreath from Cox & Cox. It’s the perfect way to jingle all the way to January.
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