Holiday Decorating 101

‘Tis the season to deck the halls! Whether you stick to the basics of garland on the staircase, lights on the tree and a wreath on the door… OR you go all out with a full lights display for the whole neighborhood to enjoy, you definitely need to stock up on the latest holiday décor trends! We’re spreading some extra holiday cheer with our guide full quick and easy holiday decorating tips and tricks to help you bring the holiday spirit to your home this season.
 

Tips for Tree Decorating
Getting yourself a real Christmas tree is a rewarding and nostalgic experience, but it can also be time-consuming and requires a bit of maintenance. If you want to save yourself the hassle, try out a faux tree available at Costco or Restoration Hardware. In this day and age, faux trees are made so well that they are visually identical to the real thing.

The tree is the centerpiece of a great holiday home so make sure to equip it with all the bells and baubles the year has to offer. Places like West Elm or Crate & Barrel are perfect for finding ornaments and tree toppers, or if you want unique, artisan items for your tree, be sure to check out Celebrate Local or Blink Davies. Just remember that it is important when decorating your tree to not overdo it. Find a few key colors to center your ornaments around and choose a selection that fits a theme. Compliment your theme with tasteful string lights. Then finish it up with a carefully woven ribbon to bring out the rich green color of your tree.
 

Tips for Interior Decorating
The inside of your home is a blank canvas for the Christmas spirit. By using some simple tricks, you can transform your living space into a winter wonderland. To start, think green. Garlands on mantels and along handrails create focal points for holiday cheer. Your mantel is also the place to display your stockings. Frame your stockings in more of that green by placing them around and in front of your garland backdrop. Lastly, use wreaths to bring out any empty walls. If you are short on greenery or want to change up your annual stocking holders or wreaths, there is a collection of classic and modern options from Pottery Barn and Urban Home & Garden.
 

Tips Exterior Decorating
If you wait too long, outside decorating can be a daunting and cold task. But whether you are an early decorator or late bloomer, here are a few outdoor tips. Gather your materials inside and place them by your entry points. That way you aren’t trying to untangle string lights with cold hands. If you want to do away with the hassle of string lights altogether, Costco sells net lighting that works great on shrubs and small trees. Another bold holiday move is to add LED characters to your landscape.
 

Wrapping Things Up
While the essentials are important, it is the finer details that contribute to a well-rounded holiday home. Change out casual dishware and plate settings for more thematic ones from Urban Home and Garden. Next, remember that the magic of Christmas isn’t just in the sights of the season, but also the smells. Pick up your holiday scents and candles at White Barn or Bath & Body Works. Last but certainly not least, think about next year-you. Even something as simple as plastic bins can have a huge impact on your decorating efforts. Luckily, the Container Store is dedicated to your decorating, and future decorating needs. Get specific bins to store and label unused decorations, and make sure you have plenty left over for the inevitable day of undecorating.

Do you have any essential holiday decoration tips that you swear by? Share them with us in the comments below!