11 Christmas decorating mistakes you might be making and how to avoid them, from Saga, 2025 12 04

[Colin Howard]

Greetings,

Much of the below may be of little interest, perhaps the few reading who
have or did have useful sight may care to read on but those without ever
having useable sight might simply care to read for nostalfgia's sake of
other family and friends' past experiences.

The last time I attempted Christmas decorations, took place when we lived
in Caerwent, between Chepstow and Newport, in South Wales, some sixty years
ago, not made a paper chain or strung up Christmas cards or any thing else
since.

In those days, I had useful sight hence could match colours and make a
reasonable attempt, as my parents agreed after one afternoon's putting up
paper chains and other baurbles, I never attempted highly sophisticated
ideas such as many given below, we did some years have a Christmas tree, far
as I recall, always natural, with a few coloured electric lights strung over
the branches, such went up maybe a couple of days after I came home from
school or college and came down before 6 January.

The author writes:

If you want your home to look festive rather than frightful, we have the
best advice on how to dodge decorative disasters.
By Amy Cutmore | Published - 2 Dec 2025

When December rolls around, something curious happens to even the most
design-savvy households. All year, we curate calm, tasteful interiors - then
suddenly we're throwing glitter over anything which doesn't move.

Baubles multiply, tinsel appears in places tinsel has no business being and
considered colour schemes are blighted by whatever festive finery we've
unearthed from our lofts. It's the season of good cheer and questionable
décor decisions.

11 common Christmas decorating mistakes

So to save us from ourselves (and our impulse to turn the living room into a
fully-lit grotto), we've called in the people who actually know what they're
doing. From talented stylist Laurie Davidson to the queen of chic neutrals
herself, Kelly Hoppen, our experts offer their tips on avoiding the most
common Christmas decorating mistakes.

Consider this your festive guide to keeping things merry, bright and
marginally less chaotic.

1. Getting the scale all wrong

"Using decorations too small is a common mistake people make at Christmas,
whether it's a tiny wreath on a big blank wall, a small tree topper on a
very tall tree or even mini baubles that look lost on a tree that's a bit
gappy," says interior stylist Laurie, who you can follow on Instagram for
more tips.

"Your decorations should be proportionate - and don't forget that oversized
is on trend, too!

"For me, there's nothing worse than seeing a gappy Christmas tree, with
baubles that look a little lost," she continues. "Instead, try grouping a
few different sized baubles together and tying them to your branch using
floristry wire or Christmas tree hooks. It means you can place them exactly
where you want them, too, filling any gaps and keeping your tree looking
full and stylish."

2. Not lighting the tree properly?

"Even the most stunning tree can fall flat with the wrong lighting," says
Tristan Sissons, head of purchasing at Hillier Garden Centres. "The right
lights instantly set the tone - warm white LEDs create a cosy, classic glow,
while multicoloured settings add playful nostalgia.

"Choosing lights with timers or remote controls makes life much easier,
helping you maintain that magical atmosphere effortlessly. Thoughtful
lighting doesn't just brighten the tree, it elevates the whole room."

Laurie adds: "Often the lights that come on pre-lit Christmas trees aren't
enough to shine through lots of decorations and really make an impact. I
always like to put extra lights on my tree, so that some are placed further
back on the branches and others more towards the tips, to really create some
dazzle."

Gisela Graham, creative director of her eponymous decoration company,
agrees. "Personally, I love a lot of lights on my tree and always aim for
what's considered an ideal amount - 200 fairy light bulbs per 2ft of tree,"
she says. "But if you want more, go for it!"

3. Rushing to put up your artificial tree

"If the tree is faux, don't make the mistake of rushing the decoration,"
says Gisela. "Spend plenty of time 'fluffing' each branch as you assemble
it - this means separating and shaping each one individually - the more you
do, the better the end result will be."

Following Gisela's instructions will give your artificial tree a more
natural silhouette - and there are other ways to make it look real. We'd
also recommend adding extra "real" details such as pine cones and sprigs of
foliage.

You could also conceal the artificial base with a tree skirt or cover it in
moss and use fragrance sticks to give it a pine smell. ?Try a room fragrance
like Scentsicles, RRP £9.50 for six.

The experts at Saga Insurance explain how to avoid fires and accidents over
Christmas.

Expert advice

M&S/Kelly Hoppen

Chic and simple is Kelly Hoppen's way to make decorations look impactful

4. Playing it safe

Adrian Lillie, Design Director at CLW Event Design, was this year
commissioned to dress Polesden Lacey, a luxurious National Trust house near
Dorking, for its Christmas extravaganza, Alice's Christmas in Wonderland. "I
definitely go for a 'more is more' sensibility," he told us. "A nine-foot
tree should take a minimum of 1,000 decorations and 200 metres of lights."

He's a fan of giving every tree its own individual "personality". "Swirling
fabric or large fabric bows can create drama to then layer on decorations,"
Adrian advises. "We also use a variety of larger-than-life props and
decorations to give depth and variety. Lanterns, toys, weird and wonderful
animal creatures are all fun things to inject humour and surprise into tree
design.

"Colour can play a large part, too. A single-colour tree can be striking -
however, using multiple colours while incorporating a spiral sweep of a
single colour can be very dramatic. Basically, there are no rules. Just go
crazy."

5. Or having too much going on!

OK, we're about to contradict ourselves here, but trying to do too much can
quickly backfire if you're not confident. "If you don't like decorating and
always feel like you don't do it well, make it simpler - choose one lovely
decoration for each room and make that the focal piece," suggests interiors
expert and CEWE ambassador Chrissy Halton.

"Single focal points work well because they naturally draw the eye and
create balance, making spaces feel more welcoming rather than cluttered,"
she says.

"Place them where the eye lands as soon as you enter the room, such as the
fireplace, dining table or front door. This will help the Christmas theme to
be front and centre, no matter how little décor there is in that space.

"In my home, I have a tree in our kitchen and dining area, a wreath over the
fireplace in the lounge and a few small accessories in the hallway and
family room," Chrissy adds. "This allows for maximum impact without
overwhelming the space."

6. Abandoning your signature style

As we've already mentioned, Christmas can be a time when taste goes out of
the window, as inflatable snowmen and Santas appear on lawns and animatronic
carol-singing trees, reindeer and even fish appear on sideboards.

But not so for queen of neutrals Kelly, who has launched a classy
collaboration with Marks & Spencer this festive season. We commend her for
not dropping her signature style just because it's Christmas.

"For the table, I use varying candles like the gold, silver or white ones in
my new collection - with pine cones, vintage baubles and some real or faux
greenery down the centre," Kelly says. "Then I change the napkins and
glasses for Christmas and Boxing day, depending on whether we're enjoying
breakfast, lunch or dinner."

And there definitely won't be any gaudy wrapping paper under Kelly's tree.
"I love wrapping presents," she tells us. "Last year I did white and silver,
but this year I'm thinking brown parcel paper with black - chic, simple but
still very impactful."

7. Blending mismatched aesthetics

"A common mistake is mixing too many styles," says Chrissy. "Whatever your
theme, keep it consistent throughout the house to make it feel put together.
Less is often more. Unless you're going for a full 'winter wonderland'
effect, it's usually better to keep it cohesive and simple.

"I advise choosing a colour palette for the whole house, whether it's
traditional (red and green), modern (bright, multi-coloured) or wintery
(white and silver)," she says. "This keeps everything cohesive and avoids a
mismatched look."

"If you're a fan of a colour scheme, carry it through from the table to the
tree," suggests Gisela. "If you're having trouble tying everything in and
don't want to spend a fortune, invest in some ribbon in your colours - this
year, bows are huge! You can then tie them everywhere.

My last-minute hack is to tie a length of beautiful ribbon around each set
of cutlery for the festive wow factor at the table."

Choose a colour scheme and carry it through from the table to the tree

8. Going crazy with glitter

"When decorating a heritage property, our first consideration is eliminating
any glitter in products across faux floristry, decorations and props," says
Adrian.

"Glitter shedding is detrimental to precious antique interior furnishings
and collections, so we have to be clever with use of iridescent materials
like metallic foil and other innovative finishes to create Christmas sparkle
without bringing products into a house that can cause curatorial concerns."

So what harm can glitter really do? Well for a start, the hard particles can
scratch surfaces like polished wood and leather. Glitter can also embed
itself into fabric weaves, rugs and carpet. If it's coated in glue, the
sticky residue will attract dirt and grime.

Worse, if you then use a harsh solvent like acetone to remove it, you could
damage the original finish, leaving you with a bill for repairing or
replacing your furnishings.?

9. Neglecting your front door

"One of the biggest mistakes we see is leaving your door bare or using a
small, uninspiring wreath," says Naomi Bentley, director at Charles Bentley.

"Instead, choose a striking wreath that complements your door. Personalise
it with ribbon, pine cones, small baubles or scented touches like cinnamon
sticks to create a festive focal point that greets guests warmly."

"Even then, the door can still look flat and uninspiring without proper
framing," says Naomi. "Avoid a lifeless entrance by draping a lush evergreen
garland around the door frame or porch railings. Add subtle fairy lights for
a soft evening glow and tuck in ornaments, berries or pinecones which match
your wreath for a coordinated, layered look."

But Naomi does point out there's a fine line between a tasteful festive
porch and a messy one.

"Many people overcrowd their porch with too many decorations or leave it
feeling bare with nothing else besides a wreath".

"Instead, layer it in complementary touches like a tasteful light-up wicker
reindeer, lanterns or small seasonal planters. Even a festive doormat or a
pair of matching outdoor candle holders can help tie the display together.
The key is to balance your elements, so your entrance feels considered,
welcoming and full of seasonal charm."

10. Thinking wreaths are for front doors only

"In my opinion, a wreath looks wonderful anywhere - so don't just stick to a
door," says Gisela Graham. You could use a wreath as a table centrepiece,
hang it on an internal door, kitchen cabinet or in a window, or place it on
a shelf.

"Depending upon their weight, you can hang these using temporary adhesive
hooks which can be removed afterwards. Heavier wreaths may need something
more robust, though," she says.

Suction cup hooks, for example, are subtle but sturdy, or you could use an
over-the-door hanger usually designed to hold items like bathrobes.

11. Not making decorations safe

While we love pretty light displays at Christmas, there is one set that we're
not so keen on seeing - the blue ones flashing on top of a fire engine.

"As the year draws to a close, the darker nights, colder temperatures and
festive celebrations all place a heavier demand on appliances, lighting,
heating and decorations," says Vishal Narbheram, an electrician with 15
years of experience and Totalkare spokesperson. "But with this comes an
increased risk of electrical hazards."

Vishal adds: "The risks are real but preventable. By recognising warning
signs early and following simple safety practices, households can enjoy the
season with peace of mind."

The biggest danger? Overloaded plug sockets or faulty lights that can cause
overheating and fires. Decorations left on overnight or while out of the
house pose especially high risks.

Flickering lights, buzzing noises from plugs, sockets getting hot, or a
circuit breaker tripping are all warning signs, but to reduce the risks,
Vishal recommends:

Using LED lights instead of older incandescent ones (they stay cooler
and use less energy).

Not overloading sockets. Use a power strip with surge protection if
needed.

Switch decorations off before leaving home or going to bed.

Checking for safety marks (like the UKCA or CE mark) when buying new
lights.

Written by: Amy Cutmore

Amy Cutmore has been writing about interiors for more than 20 years, harking
back to the days when glossy red kitchens, toile de Jouy and rag rugs were
all the rage and everyone wanted a Changing Rooms makeover. You'll have seen
Amy's work at Britain's biggest homes titles, including Ideal Home, where
she served as Consumer, Technology and Group Digital Editor. She has also
edited or written for Homes & Gardens, Livingetc, 25 Beautiful Homes, Real
Homes, Gardeningetc, Inside Readers' Homes, Inspirations for Your Home,
Country House & Home, Top Ten Reviews, Trusted Reviews and Country Life.


Colin Howard, Southern England.