- Business Insider asked interior designers which mistakes to avoid when decorating for the holidays.
- Not having a clear organizational system can make decorating a much more time-consuming process.
- It's important to consider your pets when decorating, as certain design choices can be hazardous.
As you make your home merry and bright this holiday season, there are a few things to consider to ensure the process is as fun (and painless) as possible.
So, Business Insider asked interior designers about the common holiday decorating mistakes people should avoid making to ensure everything is organized, festive, and safe for the entire family. Here's what they said.
Lacking a clear theme can make your house look less cohesive.
It's exciting to collect new holiday decorations, but over time, that could lead to some of your items not gelling together.
"It's OK to not use every single decoration piece that you possibly have," Linda Hayslett, principal designer for LH Designs, told Business Insider, adding, "At the end of the day, we always remember those homes that are curated."
Plus, she said that when you don't pull everything out each year, you have more options to switch things up in the future (without accumulating more stuff).
Not having a clear organizational system can make decorating — and cleaning up — a pain.
One thing Hayslett recommends doing to make decorating on-theme easier is grouping similar items together in storage. For example, all your decorations could be grouped by color and labeled accordingly.
She said this makes it easier to find what you're looking for in storage every year. Plus, if you really want to keep things organized, you can even color-code your storage bins.
"For my Christmas decorations, I have green and red bins. And then for Halloween, I have black and orange bins. And then for Thanksgiving, I have brown and yellow bins," Hayslett told BI.
Placing decorations too close to the fireplace can be a safety hazard.
Placing decorations, especially real Christmas trees, garlands, or wreaths, near an in-use fireplace can be a safety hazard, Jennifer Beget, owner and principal designer of J Beget Designs, said.
For a safer alternative to achieving the festive look, Beget suggests placing faux battery-powered candles in the fireplace instead.
Using decorations that are past their prime can make a space look dated.
There's a big difference between showcasing vintage items and using decor that's long past its shelf life, and it's important not to confuse the two if you don't want your space to look dated.
One obvious sign that a piece of decor didn't last the test of time is if it's faded, Beget said, adding, "Some things just have to be retired."
Don't forget to consider your pets' safety.
Curious cats and dogs can go sniffing around your Christmas tree, resulting in broken ornaments and potential injuries.
"Personally, we have a cat who loves to go after the bottom of the tree, and so we always have to put items he won't be able to bite into or chew so he doesn't choke," Beget said.
Hayslett also suggested decorating a separate, smaller, pet-safe tree for your cat or dog as a potential distraction from the main tree in the house.
You can also avoid placing ornaments on low branches that pets can easily reach, and make sure they're placed evenly over the tree, so it doesn't tip over.
Not using a timer for your lights can cost you extra time and money.
Bending over or climbing behind the couch to plug and unplug your holiday lights every day can be a huge pain (literally).
So, Beget recommends using a timer to allow your lights to turn on and off automatically during the season.
Plus, it's a game changer for when it's cold or rainy, so you don't have to go outside and unplug all your cords, Beget added.
And who doesn't love saving a little money on their electric bill?
