Use the BEST tips for planning your holiday decor to make the season stress-free and easy!
Included are ways to organize holiday decor and gift planning in advance.
I’m also sharing lots of beautiful holiday decor tips for your home.
Gold And White Elegant Christmas Mantel Decor Ideas
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The Best Tips for Planning Your Holiday Decor
Christmas is my favorite time of year and I know you love it too!
Did you know – 60% of shoppers will have started and or finished their holiday shopping by November 1st!!
There is no such thing as “too early” to get in the holiday spirit: deck those halls, put up a Christmas tree, bake those cookies and fill those Christmas stockings!
See – The Best Artificial Christmas Trees To Deck Your Halls
With the shipping season predicted to be one of the busiest ever I encourage you to check off your list early and order as soon as you can.
So you’ll be sure to give your loved ones the gifts they love!
Nostalgia and tradition are also going to be mixed this year with a keen sense to try new trends.
So trendy Christmas colors and Christmas themes will be explored this holiday too!
Because holiday decor often sells out by end of October, I’m giving your holiday tips and ideas now so that you can plan early and shop early!
I recommend ordering your holiday tree, Christmas garland and decor…. and your presents early!
I’m not trying to rush you at all, I just want you to be able to get what you want!
Plus starting early will make all of your Christmas plans easier! 🙂
Affiliate links are included – see my disclosure statement 
See my top picks for Christmas decorations:
Get a head start this year – and thank yourself later!
Click on the images below to shop Pottery Barn Christmas decor.
Click on the images below to shop Crate & Barrel Christmas decor.
Click on the images below to shop Amazon Christmas decor.
Click on the images below to shop Z Gallerie Christmas decor.
Click on the images below to shop Ballard Design Christmas decor.
Click on the images below to shop Wayfair Christmas decor.
West Elm Christmas – Holiday Decor Sale up to 20% off!
Click on the images below to shop West Elm Christmas decor.
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Planning Your Holiday Decor
Plan what decor you need to buy this year to fill the gaps from last Christmas.
Maybe your Christmas pine garland is looking frazzled or you need some new twinkle lights.
Inventory Your Existing Christmas Decorations
It’s very important to know what you have, so you don’t buy items you already own.
It’s easy to forget what you have take a quick inventory.
Take the time to go through your existing Christmas decorations now.
Purge what’s broken or you no longer want.
Also make sure you have enough Christmas tags, Christmas bulbs, twist ties and hangers for outdoor garland and wreaths.
Do you need a new holiday wreath or can you use the one from last year?
This is a good time to reorganize your holiday decor if it’s a bit of a mess!
Now you know what you have and that it’s all in good shape.
Choose Your Theme or Color Scheme
I love to tweak my Christmas colors each year to keep things interesting.
However I typically build around a white, gold and silver look.
And I typically decorate with reindeer and go with a glam, wintery woodland look.
Elegant Gold and White Flocked Christmas Tree
Click on the images below to shop this look!
Click on the images below to shop my Christmas tree look!
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You can try a whole new Christmas theme this year or just add a new accent color like red, blue or green to what you have.
The 2021 Christmas trend colors this year are a gorgeous greens (sage green and dark green), traditional red, blush pink, black and white, and metallics.
I always pick up a few new wrapping papers to decorate with! I love wrapping boxes to look like gifts and decorating with them.
Last year I used a gorgeous gold and silver leopard print paper!
I’m craving a twinkly, shimmery holiday look this year so I’m using mainly neutrals with lots of sparkly faux pine stems and shimmery Christmas picks.
As I mentioned, the winter woodland Christmas tree theme will remain strong decor ideas this year too!
Elegant Woodland Christmas Tree Decor Ideas
Choose One New Decor Idea To Try This Christmas:
This year I’m going to make a few miniature gift wrapped presents to tuck into our Christmas stockings like this!
It’s a little thing but I think it looks so beautiful.
miniature wrapped presents tucked into holiday stockings
Last year I tucked sparkly faux leaves and Christmas berry picks into my stockings, so the miniature wrapped presents will be a new tweak I’ll try this holiday!
Elegant Gold and White Christmas Living Room Decor Ideas
Mixed Metallics Christmas Porch Decor & Holiday Living Room
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I’m also going to add some small artificial pine trees to my front porch, like the photo below.
Every year I also add my quick and easy fresh pine and cedar planters and make my fresh pine, cedar and birch tall planters.
I think the little Christmas trees will add a pretty forest look!
Spruce up your front porch with traditional wreaths, garland and trees trimmed with twinkling lights and red ribbons.
Make A List
Now that you’ve completed your inventory and you know what colors and theme you are going to use, make a list of what you need to buy.
Stock up on holiday ribbon, wrapping paper, ornament hangers and ornaments now before they are sold out!
And if you need outdoor decor make sure to pick it up as soon as you can, because that’s typically the first Christmas decor to sell out.
Also if you need a new tree, buy it now!!!! They will sell out very fast this year!
I’m thinking of buying two new slim Christmas trees for my entryway and am going to buy them this weekend to make sure I get them!
And if you’ve always wanted to try something new decor wise, why not this year? Do you love those light up glass Christmas trees? Or light up ceramic holiday houses? Put them on your shopping list!
Christmas reindeer decor ideas. Click on the images below to shop
Christmas holiday houses decor ideas. Click on the images below to shop
Christmas tabletop and mantle tree decor ideas. Click on the images below to shop
Assemble Your Items
Pick a spot in your home where you can gather your Christmas decor. I have many labelled plastic bins for my holiday decor so I pull all of them out and set them aside in one area of our basement.
By the way, this is my favorite portable wireless label maker!
I also use a couple large plastic bins to place new things that I buy this year, in so it’s all in one place.
When my online orders arrive I unwrap them and put them in the bin so it’s ready to decorate with.
I’ve started decorating for the upcoming holiday home tours I’ll be sharing with you – stay tuned!
Benefits of Planning Your Holiday Decor Early
- You will stress less! And be less frustrated.
- Putting up your decor will be so much easier if you have a plan in place. You won’t have to tweak your mantle 5 times if you have it all thought out in advance.
- You can start decorating when you want. Some people like to put their holiday decor up after Thanksgiving and some people like me, love to start earlier. When you have all of your decor ready and organized you can pick the day you want to start and not have to rush.
- Your Christmas looks will coordinate and be cohesive….not a hod podge of different colors and styles.
- You can spend more time enjoying your holiday decor and more time with your family creating beautiful holiday memories!
Setting for Four | Christmas 2021
Here are my ideas and plans for the coming holiday season:
- The front porch: I’ll be using the same wreath I have the past few years because I LOVE IT so so much and haven’t found anything as nice! I’ll be adding these new pillows for my porch chairs . I want to use small artificial evergreen trees in the planters as I mentioned above and add a few pots of faux pine greenery.
- The entry: I’m planning on adding a couple of slender pencil trees to our entry, to flank the door. I also plan on creating a tray of decorative Christmas cone trees for the foyer too! I’ll also be adding new pillows to our settee.
- The living room: new pillows for the sofa, a small tree on the end table by the sofa, an elegant, glam Christmas tree and mantle.
- The dining room: my gorgeous DIY marble table runner with a beautiful centerpiece I’m working on.
I hope this has inspired you to begin planning your holiday decor!
What holiday themes and colors are you thinking of using?
If you have any questions ask them in the comments below!
More Christmas design ideas:
- Stylish & Chic Holiday Dining Room Decorating Ideas
- Beautiful & Neutral Christmas Decor Ideas For The Home
- Welcoming Christmas Entryway Decor Ideas
- Elegant Gold and White Christmas Kitchen Decor Ideas
- Beautiful & Affordable Christmas Decor Ideas For The Home
- How To Set Up A Flocked Christmas Tree To Minimize Flock Shedding
- A Pencil Christmas Tree Style for Narrow Spaces
Heather is a Designer, True Color Expert® and proud military wife at 
Can you share links for your owl Christmas tree? Thank you!
Hi Diane – I updated the post to include the link to the beautiful owl Christmas tree decor! It’s here: https://www.settingforfour.com/elegant-woodland-christmas-tree-decor-ideas/
Hope that helps! 🙂