Now that the calendar has flipped to November, I am ready to start thinking ahead about what my Christmas decor is going to look like. Okay, look, I don’t want anyone coming for me! Things are rough out there, so I want everyone to do what makes them happy! If you like picking up your Charlie Brown Christmas tree from the lot on your way home on Christmas Eve… you do you. I celebrate that spirit! But here is why planning my holiday decor early is my secret weapon for a slower-paced, less stressful, joy-filled holiday season. It’s all about getting organized now so you can actually enjoy the holiday magic later.
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Choosing a Color Palette or Theme.
The easiest way to create a cohesive and high-end look is to start by defining your color palette or theme. Think of it as setting the mood for your entire season. For my own home this year, I’ve settled on a beautiful, sophisticated blend: dusty blue and mossy, muted greens for a calming, natural base, and a deep raspberry red to bring in that classic holiday warmth, along with gold and silver metallics to elevate it just a bit. I am calling it “Modern Traditional Christmas”.
Choosing a specific palette, rather than just using “all the Christmas colors,” keeps your decor intentional and pulls everything together, from your tree ornaments to your table setting. Once you lock in these key colors, you immediately have a filter for every decoration decision you make from here on out.
Get Organized: See What You Have and What You Need
Once my color story is locked in, it’s time for the less exciting—but most important—part of my process: creating a plan. This organized approach helps me save money and prevents me from making impulsive purchases.
Before I allow myself to buy a single new item, I start by giving my house a thorough cleaning. It’s much easier to decorate a clean slate, and that fresh start helps me visualize how I want the final look to come together.
Next, I go through all my existing decorations. I haul out those Christmas tubs and see what I have on hand that actually works with my Modern Traditional Christmas palette. I make a checklist of what items I need to repair or make over (I love a good DIY), what works as is, and, just as important, what I need to replace. Yep, I’m looking at you, Mr. Santa Claus from Costco circa 2016.
- Take Inventory: I count my ornaments, strands of lights, and feet of garland.
- Quality Check: I decide if it’s time to retire that tired, flattened wreath or that sad-looking artificial tree. Are the light strands still working, or are they a tangled mess of broken bulbs?
- Make My List: I create a precise, categorized list of everything I need to purchase (e.g., “15 Redish/ burgundy ornaments,” “50ft LED warm white lights,” “new front door wreath”).
The biggest benefit of planning early? Shopping the sales! With this list in hand, I can take advantage of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and pre-season sales, which is a huge money saver. Having a clear helps me avoid overpurchasing or duplicating items I already own, protecting both my budget and storage space.
My Decor Game Plan this Year:
Okay, so my plan is in place, the Inventory is checked, and the shopping list is ready. This is my favorite part of decorating early: thinking about the special touches that will truly define my style this year. This step is all about moving beyond the basic tree and garland to put my own twist on my decor. I ask myself: What details will make my home feel unique this holiday?
For me this season, I’m planning a few distinct, personalized moments:
Focal Points:
- The Wreath Wall: I’m dedicating a small feature wall to what I’m calling my’ Wreath Wall. ‘I love DIY projects, so I’ll be highlighting several wreaths (mostly DIYs!) that tie into my colors. This is a great way to add texture and visual interest away from the main tree. See the collection of inspiration wreaths for my wall of wreaths here.
- Mini Tree Spotlight: I’ll be spotlighting several mini trees throughout my home. These little trees are perfect for bringing my “Modern Traditional Christmas” theme into unexpected places—like my bedroom or the kitchen counter—and they are a fun way to use some of my favorite ornaments.
- Seasonal Art Swaps: I also love to switch out my regular wall art for holiday prints. It’s an easy swap since I keep the frames up and exchange the print inside. This is a simple, high-impact way to tie the walls into my decor theme instantly. I’ve collected some of my favorite Holiday prints here.
This is also the time when I think about my decor pieces that hold sentimental value. My plan always includes making sure my collection of salt dough ornaments is displayed prominently. These are the pieces that tell my family’s story, and they deserve a spotlight in my overall decor plan! I also have to decide how I want to showcase my plant collection, which is located in the same room as the main tree.
Leaving Room for Last-Minute Decor Finds:
I’ve chosen the palette, taken Inventory, and made a comprehensive shopping list. So, is my plan locked in stone? Absolutely not! The whole point of planning early is to reduce stress, to slow down, not eliminate the fun of holiday decor. That’s why I always build flexibility into my plan as a crucial item.
If you’re anything like me, you know that the best finds often happen when you least expect them. I might be out grabbing a coffee and stumble upon ribbon that perfectly matches my raspberry red, or maybe a gorgeous vintage candle holder that screams my name from across the store.
By having my core decor planned out and my major items purchased on sale, I leave room for those spontaneous, “I love this, and I just have to add it” pieces. Planning early means I can enjoy those moments of unexpected inspiration without worrying about blowing my budget or ending up with a hodgepodge of decor. It allows those truly special, last-minute additions to speak to me.
Here you can shop a few of the items I am planning on adding to my decor this holiday season.
Another reason why I plan my Holiday Decor Early... People who decorate for Christmas earlier tend to be happier! That’s my story, and I am sticking to it! I genuinely hope this peek into my planning helps you see that decorating doesn’t have to be a last-minute scramble. Instead, you can gift yourself the time to slow down, decorate with intention, and truly savor a stress-free season. Happy Decorating!
Until next time,
-Libbie
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