5 Holiday Decorating Mistakes Designers Want You to Stop Making ASAP

As you prepare to decorate your home for the winter holidays, keep in mind that there are a few common mistakes that interior designers witness year after year, and urge you to avoid at all costs.

Below, four designers chime in with insights on five common pitfalls that you will want to steer clear of as you deck the halls.

Decorating With Faux Garland

Faux garland has risen in popularity in recent years, but some designers consider it secondary to the real thing.

Real greenery gives a more elevated aesthetic and releases a fresh scent to make your home smell fresh and natural all day long. However, keep in mind that because greenery can dry out quickly, you will want to mist yours periodically to ensure that it stays fresh and festive-looking all December long.

If you intend to host a holiday gathering in your home this season, plan to buy your greenery close to the date of your party so that it appears as lush as possible when your guests arrive.

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Opting for Red and Green Decor Items Only

While red and green are certainly common colors to decorate with during the holiday season, keep in mind that you can still add plenty of Christmas cheer to your home while incorporating other beautiful hues.

“Ornaments and stockings exist in every color these days, so choose color combinations that speak to your personality and day-to-day decor style,” says Timala Stewart, founder of Decurated Interiors design studio.

For example, if you’re drawn to a minimalist aesthetic, try experimenting with off-white and silver decor this year; if you’re more into common styles like grandmillennial, consider hanging some blue and white stockings. Try playing with colors that complement your home and personal style instead of just going for the classic red and green combo.

Not Staying True to Your Personal Style

On a similar note, it’s important to maintain a sense of self even while decorating for a specific holiday or season.

“I believe it’s the one time of year when we should do away with decor rules and embrace nostalgia,” says Tiffany Leigh Piotrowski, principal designer and founder of Tiffany Leigh Design.

She explains how she often sees people abandon the styles and colors they love about the holiday season so they fit an aesthetic that’s trending.

“Christmas is about having fun and recreating childhood magic,” Piotrowski says. “I let go of seriousness and perfection during the holidays.”

Even though she’s styled her own home using primarily neutral colors, Piotrowski is all for embracing a colorful Christmas tree when December rolls around. She especially enjoys displaying the vibrant vintage glass ornaments she inherited from her grandmother and covering the tree in colored lights rather than white ones; this brings a personal touch to her holiday decor every year.

Mixing Themes

That said, designers suggest maintaining a cohesive look when decorating for the season.

“The big mistake I see people make when decorating their homes for the holidays is mixing themes,” Shannon Murray Petruzello, the founder of Shannon Murray Interiors, says.

For example, people sometimes will mix tartan with winter wonderland items, opt for green and red decor alongside pastels, or go overboard with all types of different greenery.

Petruzello recommends picking a theme and sticking with it throughout your home. This way, it’ll make a bigger impact and not feel so chaotic.

If you’re unsure which style you want to go with, try visualizing what color schemes and details will complement your home’s current style. And if you’re still drawing a blank, try finding a holiday collection that strikes the perfect balance of nostalgia and festive cheer for you.

Clustering Too Many Candles Together

Stewart is hesitant to cluster too many candles together at once, particularly if they’re placed near greenery, as this can be a fire hazard. Instead, she recommends replicating a moody look by using battery-operated, flameless candles.

Whether you scatter these on the mantel top, place them inside of a non-working fireplace, or line them up on the windowsill, they’re sure to spread plenty of ambiance and charm through all the corners of your home.

Best of all, because candles aren’t holiday-specific, you can keep them on display for the rest of the winter; they’ll cozy up your space well into the new year and beyond.