The holiday season brings joy, twinkle lights, and the urge to deck the halls—but all too often, well-meaning décor efforts fall flat. If your home ends up feeling cluttered, mismatched, or downright chaotic instead of cozy and festive, you might be making some common holiday décor missteps.
Below, we’ll spotlight the pitfalls many fall into—and more importantly, how to fix them. (Yes, your holiday decorating can be stress-free and beautiful.)
What’s the Biggest Mistake People Make when Decorating for the Holidays?
Trying to do everything. Many decorators start with passion, only to feel trapped under the weight of “must-do” décor.
Instead, adopt the principle: do fewer things better. Prioritize one or two standout areas (a mantel, the front door, a tree), do them well, and let supporting elements subtly echo that choice.
Mistake: Oversized, overpowering décor
It’s tempting to go big: giant wreaths, extra-thick garlands, or enormous exterior lighting. But in smaller homes, such décor often overwhelms the space and throws off proportions.
Solution:
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Measure before you buy. A wreath that is one-third the width of your door is more balanced than a “full coverage” version.
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Use layers: a moderately sized wreath, plus smaller accents that echo its scale.
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For outdoor lighting, concentrate your efforts on entryways, eaves, or a feature tree rather than wrapping everything.
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Mix heights and scales in your displays so nothing feels monolithic.
And if you're curious about the materials and textures that are shaping festive interiors, our blog on 2025 holiday fabric trends: the materials defining this season is a great read.
Mistake: Decorating without considering your existing style
Decorating in a vacuum (or worse, chasing Instagram trends) can produce jarring results that clash with your home’s baseline aesthetic. For instance, traditional red and green schemes might look beautiful in catalogs but feel out of place in a modern grey-and-white living room.
Solution:
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Start by identifying your core home style (minimal, farmhouse, Scandinavian, traditional).
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Choose a holiday palette that complements your base décor: think silver-and-ivory for neutral interiors, or soft metallics over bright primary colors.
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Use accent pieces to inject holiday cheer rather than reworking entire spaces.
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If your décor is modern and sleek, go for clean-lined stuff and avoid overly ornate, frilly items.
For more such tips, check out our feature on the role of fabrics in creating a cozy holiday atmosphere.
Mistake: Mixing too many colors, materials, or textures
A “more is better” mindset often leads to visual chaos. Too many competing colors, patterns, or finishes can make your space feel like a Christmas store exploded.
Solution:
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Stick to 2–3 core hues (e.g. white + gold + greenery).
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Introduce contrast through texture (matte, metallic, fabric) rather than additional colors. For instance, a Sunbrella Foster Metallic Cushion adds a subtle shimmer to your space.
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Use repetition (same ribbon, matching ornaments) across vignettes for visual coherence.
Mistake: Forgetting to plan for functionality and flow
It’s easy to get carried away and place decorations where they disrupt daily life, blocking pathways, burying light switches under garlands, or crowding tables. One of the primary decorating tips that works here is choosing focal points instead of spreading decorations everywhere.
Solution:
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Walk through each room as if you were just living there: don’t put fragile ornaments in a walkway or overhead hazards above seating areas.
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On your dining table, use low, linear arrangements or hang festive design elements overhead so guests still have tabletop space. Pair your setup with this off-white cloth napkin set that complements any holiday palette without stealing the spotlight.
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Keep high-traffic zones clear, using taller or wall-mounted décor instead of cluttering floor-level surfaces.
Mistake: Poor storage and prep sabotage next year’s efforts
You might win this year, but next year you will dread untangling lights, searching for matching ribbons, or recovering broken ornaments. The worst storage mistakes include using flimsy containers and dumping indoor and outdoor decorations together.
Solution:
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Use sturdy, compartmentalized tubs or totes (clear ones are ideal for quick identification).
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Wrap strands of lights individually (cardboard reels, zip ties), and store them separately from breakables.
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Sort items by room or purpose before packing. Don’t mix fragile indoor ornaments with outdoor inflatables.
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Label everything so next year, you can find what you need without digging.
When you start by identifying problems (clutter, mismatch) and then apply targeted solutions, your holiday décor transforms from chaotic to curated. In the end, the goal is a home you want to live in through December, not one you just have to decorate.
