11 Christmas decorating mistakes you might be making – and how to avoid them
If you want your home to look festive rather than frightful, we have the best advice on how to dodge these decorative disasters.
If you want your home to look festive rather than frightful, we have the best advice on how to dodge these decorative disasters.
When December rolls around, something curious happens to even the most design-savvy households. All year, we curate calm, tasteful interiors – then suddenly we’re throwing glitter over anything that doesn’t move.
Baubles multiply, tinsel appears in places tinsel has no business being, and considered colour schemes are blighted by whatever festive finery we’ve unearthed from our lofts. It’s the season of good cheer — and questionable décor decisions.
So to save us from ourselves (and our impulse to turn the living room into a fully-lit grotto), we’ve called in the people who actually know what they’re doing. From talented stylist Laurie Davidson to the queen of chic neutrals herself, Kelly Hoppen, our experts offer their tips on avoiding the most common Christmas decorating mistakes.
Consider this your festive guide to keeping things merry, bright, and marginally less chaotic.
“Using decorations that are too small is a common mistake people make at Christmas, whether it’s a tiny wreath on a big blank wall, a small tree topper on a very tall tree or even mini baubles that look lost on a tree that’s a bit gappy,” says interior stylist Laurie, who you can follow on Instagram for more tips.
“Your decorations should be proportionate – and don’t forget that oversized is on trend, too!"
“For me, there’s nothing worse than seeing a gappy Christmas tree, with baubles that look a little lost,” she continues. “Instead, try grouping a few different sized baubles together and tying them to your branch using floristry wire or Christmas tree hooks. It means you can place them exactly where you want them, too, filling any gaps and keeping your tree looking full and stylish.”
“Even the most stunning tree can fall flat with the wrong lighting,” says Tristan Sissons, head of purchasing at Hillier Garden Centres. “The right lights instantly set the tone – warm white LEDs create a cosy, classic glow, while multicoloured settings add playful nostalgia.
“Choosing lights with timers or remote controls makes life much easier, helping you maintain that magical atmosphere effortlessly. Thoughtful lighting doesn’t just brighten the tree, it elevates the whole room.”
Laurie adds: “Often the lights that come on pre-lit Christmas trees aren’t enough to shine through lots of decorations and really make an impact. I always like to put extra lights on my tree, so that some are placed further back on the branches, and others more towards the tips, to really create some dazzle.”
Gisela Graham, creative director of her eponymous decoration company, agrees. “Personally, I love a lot of lights on my tree and always aim for what’s considered an ideal amount – 200 fairy light bulbs per 2ft of tree,” she says. “But if you want more, go for it!”
“If the tree is faux, don’t make the mistake of rushing the decoration,” says Gisela. “Spend plenty of time ‘fluffing’ each branch as you assemble it – this means separating and shaping each one individually – the more you do, the better the end result will be.”
Following Gisela’s instructions will give your artificial tree a more natural silhouette – and there are other ways to make it look real. We’d also recommend adding extra “real” details such as pine cones and sprigs of foliage.
You could also conceal the artificial base with a tree skirt or cover it in moss, and use fragrance sticks to give it a pine smell. Try a room fragrance like Scentsicles, RRP £9.50 for six.
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Adrian Lillie, Design Director at CLW Event Design, was this year commissioned to dress Polesden Lacey, a luxurious National Trust house near Dorking, for its Christmas extravaganza, Alice’s Christmas in Wonderland. “I definitely go for a ‘more is more’ sensibility,” he told us. “A nine-foot tree should take a minimum of 1,000 decorations and 200 metres of lights.”
He’s a fan of giving every tree its own individual “personality”. “Swirling fabric or large fabric bows can create drama to then layer on decorations,” Adrian advises. “We also use a variety of larger-than-life props and decorations to give depth and variety. Lanterns, toys, weird and wonderful animal creatures are all fun things to inject humour and surprise into tree design.”
“Colour can play a large part, too. A single-colour tree can be striking –however, using multiple colours while incorporating a spiral sweep of a single colour can be very dramatic. Basically, there are no rules. Just go crazy.”
OK, we’re about to contradict ourselves here, but trying to do too much can quickly backfire if you’re not confident. “If you don’t like decorating, and always feel like you don’t do it well, make it simpler – choose one lovely decoration for each room and make that the focal piece,” suggests interiors expert and CEWE ambassador Chrissy Halton.
“Single focal points work well because they naturally draw the eye and create balance, making spaces feel more welcoming rather than cluttered,” she says.
“Place them where the eye lands as soon as you enter the room, such as the fireplace, dining table or front door. This will help the Christmas theme to be front and centre, no matter how little décor there is in that space".
“In my home, I have a tree in our kitchen and dining area, a wreath over the fireplace in the lounge, and a few small accessories in the hallway and family room,” Chrissy adds. “This allows for maximum impact without overwhelming the space.”
As we’ve already mentioned, Christmas can be a time when taste goes out of the window, as inflatable snowmen and Santas appear on lawns, and animatronic carol-singing trees, reindeer and even fish appear on sideboards. But not so for queen of neutrals Kelly, who has launched a classy collaboration with Marks & Spencer this festive season. We commend her for not dropping her signature style just because it’s Christmas.
“For the table, I use varying candles like the gold, silver or white ones in my new collection – with pine cones, vintage baubles and some real or faux greenery down the centre,” Kelly says. “Then I change the napkins and glasses for Christmas and Boxing day, depending on whether we’re enjoying breakfast, lunch or dinner.”
And there definitely won’t be any gaudy wrapping paper under Kelly’s tree. “I love wrapping presents,” she tells us. “Last year I did white and silver, but this year I’m thinking brown parcel paper with black – chic, simple but still very impactful.”
“A common mistake is mixing too many styles,” says Chrissy. “Whatever your theme, keep it consistent throughout the house to make it feel put together. Less is often more. Unless you’re going for a full ‘winter wonderland’ effect, it’s usually better to keep it cohesive and simple.
“I advise choosing a colour palette for the whole house, whether it’s traditional (red and green), modern (bright, multi-coloured) or wintery (white and silver),” she says. “This keeps everything cohesive and avoids a mismatched look.”
“If you’re a fan of a colour scheme, carry it through from the table to the tree,” suggests Gisela. “If you’re having trouble tying everything in and don’t want to spend a fortune, invest in some ribbon in your colours – this year, bows are huge! You can then tie them everywhere. My last-minute hack is to tie a length of beautiful ribbon around each set of cutlery for the festive wow factor at the table.”
“When decorating a heritage property, our first consideration is eliminating any glitter in products across faux floristry, decorations and props,” says Adrian.
“Glitter shedding is detrimental to precious antique interior furnishings and collections, so we have to be clever with use of iridescent materials like metallic foil and other innovative finishes to create Christmas sparkle without bringing products into a house that can cause curatorial concerns.”
So what harm can glitter really do? Well for a start, the hard particles can scratch surfaces like polished wood and leather. Glitter can also embed itself into fabric weaves, rugs and carpet. And if it’s coated in glue, the sticky residue will attract dirt and grime.
Worse, if you then use a harsh solvent like acetone to remove it, you could damage the original finish, leaving you with a bill for repairing or replacing your furnishings.
“One of the biggest mistakes we see is leaving your door bare or using a small, uninspiring wreath,” says Naomi Bentley, director at Charles Bentley.
“Instead, choose a striking wreath that complements your door. Personalise it with ribbon, pine cones, small baubles or scented touches like cinnamon sticks to create a festive focal point that greets guests warmly.”
“Even then, the door can still look flat and uninspiring without proper framing,” says Naomi. “Avoid a lifeless entrance by draping a lush evergreen garland around the door frame or porch railings. Add subtle fairy lights for a soft evening glow, and tuck in ornaments, berries or pinecones that match your wreath for a coordinated, layered look.”
But Naomi does point out there’s a fine line between a tasteful festive porch and a messy one.
“Many people overcrowd their porch with too many decorations or leave it feeling bare with nothing else besides a wreath“.
“Instead, layer it in complementary touches like a tasteful light-up wicker reindeer, lanterns or small seasonal planters. Even a festive doormat or a pair of matching outdoor candle holders can help tie the display together. The key is to balance your elements, so your entrance feels considered, welcoming, and full of seasonal charm.”
“In my opinion, a wreath looks wonderful anywhere – so don’t just stick to a door,” says Gisela Graham. You could use a wreath as a table centrepiece, hang it on an internal door, kitchen cabinet or in a window, or place it on a shelf.
“Depending upon their weight, you can hang these using temporary adhesive hooks which can be removed afterwards. Heavier wreaths may need something more robust, though,” she says.
Suction cup hooks, for example, are subtle but sturdy, or you could use an over-the-door hanger usually designed to hold items like bathrobes.
While we love pretty light displays at Christmas, there is one set that we’re not so keen on seeing – the blue ones flashing on top of a fire truck.
“As the year draws to a close, the darker nights, colder temperatures and festive celebrations all place a heavier demand on appliances, lighting, heating, and decorations,” says Vishal Narbheram, an electrician with 15 years’ experience and Totalkare spokesperson. “But with this comes an increased risk of electrical hazards.”
Narbheram adds: “The risks are real but preventable… By recognising warning signs early and following simple safety practices, households can enjoy the season with peace of mind.” The biggest danger?
Overloaded plug sockets or faulty lights that can cause overheating and fires. Decorations left on overnight or while out of the house pose especially high risks. Flickering lights, buzzing noises from plugs, sockets getting hot, or a circuit breaker tripping are all warning signs, but to reduce the risks, he recommends:
(Hero image credit: Gisela Graham)
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