10 Ways to Prepare Your Home Now for the Christmas Season

Inside: Get a head start on Christmas preparations during this hectic time of year with a guide for what you should do in November to be ready to decorate and celebrate!

The holiday season is speeding toward us like a sleigh with the Grinch’s dog in the drivers seat.

With the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day being so short, if we wait until turkey day is done to start thinking about decorating we end up wanting to pull our hair out. But if we prepare now in November, we can enjoy a more stress-free Christmas with our friends and family members surrounded in the lovely setting we’ve created and checked off our to-do list.

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I’m a planner. I’m not a cool fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of girl. And I’ll own that. Because I firmly believe that a little planning makes every experience the most it can be.

And with the mountain of tasks that come with Christmas, my inner planner really kicks into gear. Having the “plan” keeps me sane. It makes me believe I can really get it all done.

If you also want to get ahead of the Christmas crazies, I’ve put together this guide of what we can do now to get our homes ready for the holidays, with all of the behind-the-scenes practical details that go into making them look magical.

While I’m personally a huge fan of decorating in November, if you’re “team after Thanksgiving” this Christmas checklist will help you work ahead and be ready the minute the turkey’s gone!

1. Gather Inspiration.

Start browsing magazines, Pinterest, or Instagram for holiday decor inspiration. Take note of ideas that catch your eye, and save images in a folder for reference. This first step will give you direction for the next.

2. Choose a Color Scheme, Style, and Theme.

If you ever ooh and aah over rooms on holiday home tours or in magazines, you might notice they all have a cohesive color scheme and style. Using this same professional decorator’s secret can give your home the same flow and designer look.

SH&H Tip: Christmas is the exception for the one time you can choose decor and accessories that deviate from your room’s design style.

Basing each room on a style and color scheme also gives you a guide to go by when selecting decorations from your stash, and keeps you from wasting money on new things that don’t “go”.

Here are some popular options that are easy to decorate and find items for:

• Traditional Red and Green – Classic colors give a nostalgic and cozy vibe.
• Winter Wonderland – Use whites, silvers, and blues for a cool, elegant ambiance.
• Rustic and Natural – Combine earthy greens, browns, and accents like pinecones, burlap, and natural wood.
• Monochromatic – Stick to one color, such as all-white or all-red, for a designer look.
• Cutesy – Christmas candy in pastel colors and the Grinch themes bring whimsical, childlike fun
• Glam – Bring on the sparkle with gold, silver, and metallic accents.

3. Determine Key Decorating Areas.

Some focal point areas of your home are seen more than others. There’s no need to decorate every surface of your entire house (unless you just want to), especially if you’re downsizing your decor this year. Focus your efforts on some key spots in your main spaces for maximum impact.

• Entryway or Foyer – This is the first impression of your holiday decor, so add a warm welcome with wreaths, garlands, or a small tree.

• Front Porch – A front door wreath and planters filled with winter greens are great for adding Christmas curb appeal. And it’s the first first impression even before the entryway.

• Fireplace Mantel – A mantel is a natural focal point for Christmas decorations. Dress it up with garlands, candles, holiday accessories, and stockings.

• Staircase – If you have one, a staircase begs for garlands. Add fairy lights and ribbon to match your color scheme.

4. Make a Room-by-Room Plan.

Instead of mentally tackling the whole house, it’s less overwhelming to think of it in parts. It’s also physically easier to decorate in stages!

Here’s a breakdown of what that might look like:

• Living Room – This is often the heart of holiday decor. Plan where to put the Christmas tree. What you will put on the mantel. And what additional accessories you might need after those focal points are in place (i.e. holiday pillows and throws, vignettes for table surfaces, and accent garlands or wreaths for walls or windows).

• Dining Room – Plan a centerpiece for the dining table. Scope out other spots you might add decor (i.e. a sideboard, small wreaths on the dining chairs, a wreath on a mirror, or a garland hung on the chandelier).

• Kitchen – The kitchen is where we spend so much of our time but Christmas decor in this room is quick! Keep it simple with two or three vignettes or decorations on the counters and shelves. Put out holiday towels, and hang small wreaths or garlands on kitchen cabinets or windows.

5. Get Out the Bins and Boxes Now.

Don’t wait until the last minute when you want to begin decorating. This is usually no small task and can take a good chunk of the day, not leaving enough time or energy to do much else. Plus, it’s also a good time to assess what you have, what you can use with your chosen themes, and what you need to buy or replace.

6. Plan the Christmas Tree Decorations.

The Christmas tree is the centerpiece of holiday decor, so it requires its own section here. A few things to keep in mind:

• Choose the Right Size Tree – Ensure it fits well in your designated space. Consider a slimmer tree if space is tight, but go as tall as you possibly can to keep it from looking puny.

• Check the Tree Lights – Replace bulbs, purchase extra strands to fill in sections that are out, or shop for a new tree if needed.
• Pick a Tree Theme – Your tree can have its own theme in addition to a basic style and color theme you’ve chosen for the rest of the room.
• Organize Ornaments and Tree Decor by Color – This allows you to see what you have to match the color scheme you’ve chosen (ornaments, ribbon, picks, etc.) I store my ornaments by color and I thank my last year self every November when I pull out the decor bins.
• Plan the Tree Topper and Skirt – These details tie the whole tree together with the rest of your decor and colors.

7. Figure Out What You Can Reuse, Recycle, and Refresh.

Rather than buying all new items, see if you have enough existing decor to fit with the color scheme or theme you’ve chosen. Determine what you can repurpose from what you already have.

This is the perfect time see what’s in good condition and to purge the broken or unwanted items that haven’t seen the light of day in a few years.

Some inexpensive ideas to reuse or refresh what you have:

• Paint It – Refresh the color or “metal” by making over old decor with paint or Rub ‘N Buff.
• DIY Decor – Make craft projects now for theme-matching budget-friendly decorations.

• Decorate with Ribbon – Adding ribbon can transform a wreath, garland, or tree to match this year’s look.
• Repurpose Ornaments – Use ornaments as vase fillers, in a decorative bowl, or tied to a garland.

8. Make a Lighting Plan.

Lighting is essential to make your home look magical.

• Outdoor Lighting – Put up your outdoor Christmas lights now (or get on the schedule of someone to do it for you). It will save you work during the busy season, plus the weather is usually better now. You don’t have to turn them on yet if you don’t want to.

• Candles and Lanterns – Gather up your candles and lanterns to place around your home for an inviting, cozy feel. (Use safer battery-operated candles in high-traffic areas and around flammable garlands and greenery.)
• Twinkle Lights – String lights and battery operated fairy lights are cheap and can bring the spirit of Christmas almost anywhere, like mantels, trees, garlands, and wreaths.

9. List Out What You Need to Purchase Early.

As you plan in these first few steps, make a running list of items to buy or replace now so you have everthing you need when you decide it’s time to start decorating. It’s a good idea to buy a little extra of things like ribbon and picks in case you can’t get more—you can always return what you don’t need. Plus a word to the wise—a lot of holiday decor that becomes hot on social media sells out early.

Some items to check:

• Ornaments – When sorting through tree ornaments, organize them by size to see if you need to add more in your color plan. Shatterproof ball ornaments in large, medium, and small sizes are a great way to start the base decor of your color theme.
• Garlands and Wreaths – The hottest styles of the season tend to sell out, so plan where you want them, and if you need anything new purchase it now.
• Ribbons and Bows – Make sure you have ribbons and bows to match. They’re a beautiful and easy way to bring in the color you’ve chosen to the Christmas tree, wreaths, and garlands.
• Stockings – If your stockings need updating, pick up a new set that matches your decor theme.

10. Basic Cleaning to Prepare for Decorating.

• Stick with the way you clean regularly. This busiest time of the year is not when you should go overboard on cleaning (leave the remodeling and decluttering ’til after the new year), It’s not an efficient use of your precious time and the holiday decor will distract guests’ eyes anyway!
• Move or remove furniture and home decor accessories to make room for Christmas trees and decor.
• Make household repairs and check light fixtures for burned out light bulbs if you’re entertaining this season.
• Prep the guest room. If you’ll be having overnight guests and have a dedicated guest room, getting this ready can be done way ahead of time.

Congratulations—you’re now ready to decorate! Don’t you already feel more like you have it all together?😊

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