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.
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."
4. Going over the top
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."
Follow Country Living on Instagram.
28 stunning Christmas wreaths for the festive season
Ultimate Green & Berry Pre-Lit Wreath - 70cm
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.
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.
With a traditional look, this gorgeous Christmas wreath features pine green faux foliage and rich red berry detailing.
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.
Make a statement with this unique blueberry Christmas wreath. Sitting on a wooden base, it has a real rustic feel to it.
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.
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.
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.
Simple but effective, this rattan base wreath is decorated with silver glitter stars and will make a wonderful statement on your walls.
This is a pared-back eucalyptus wreath but the frosted detailing gives it just the right amount of sparkle for the festive season.
Ella James Frosted Berry And Fir Christmas Wreath
We love the simplicity of this Christmas wreath. Adorned with eucalyptus leaves, it's nestled with faux frosted white berries and fir.
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.
Want to snap up something traditional? This beautiful festive floral wreath from Lakeland is sure to turn heads.
This pre-lit winter white Christmas wreath has a wonderful warming glow. It's perfect for a winter wonderland theme.
Go gold and go bold with John Lewis' statement-making bauble wreath.
Perfect for rustic or country-inspired interiors, this twig wreath is handmade from natural bark, and intertwined with silver bark stars.
Inspired by British landscapes, this feathery Christmas wreath is packed with pine sprigs, Champagne-coloured pine cones and berry clusters.
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.
This stylish Christmas wreath from the House Beautiful range at Homebase is brimming with frosted pinecones, gold-tinted berries, and the best part, baubles!
Get festive with this beautiful winter berry wreath. It's made from real larch cones, moss and beautiful artificial berries.
With a frosted finish, this wreath from Cox & Cox will turn any space into a winter wonderland.
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.
Switch up your decorations and opt for this large wreath handmade from Fairtrade felt with soft white and grey bobbles.
Sparkle your way through the festive season with this dazzling silver holly wreath.
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.
Looking for a simple style? Well this beautiful low-key wreath with artificial mistletoe is perfect for any home.
Dibor Personalised Luxury Succulent Christmas Wreath
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.
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.
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.
