Christmas decorating should feel joyful not overwhelming.
But sometimes, even beautiful decorations can fall a little flat simply because of how they’re styled. The good news? Most Christmas decorating mistakes are incredibly easy to fix. From choosing the wrong tree size to forgetting those final finishing touches, here are five common Christmas decorating mistakes to avoid this year and what to do instead.
1. Choosing the Wrong Christmas Tree Size
Your Christmas tree sets the scale for the entire room, so getting the proportions right matters. A tree that’s too small can disappear in a large living space, while one that’s too tall or wide can make the room feel crowded. Before buying your tree, measure both your ceiling height and available floor space. Remember to leave enough room at the top for your tree topper too.
The fix: Choose a Christmas tree that complements the proportions of your room rather than simply choosing the biggest one available.
A beautifully proportioned tree will always look more intentional.
2. Decorating Only the Outside of the Tree
This is one of the biggest differences between an everyday tree and a designer-looking Christmas tree. If every ornament sits only on the tips of the branches, your tree can look flat. Instead, decorate in layers. Start by placing some ornaments deeper inside the tree, then gradually work outward with larger decorations, statement ornaments and bows. Christmas picks and florals can also be tucked between branches to add extra dimension.
The fix: Think inside, middle and outside when decorating your tree.
That depth instantly creates a fuller, more luxurious look.
3. Using Decorations That Are All the Same Size
Perfectly matching ornaments may sound like a good idea, but too much repetition can make a Christmas tree feel one-dimensional. The most beautiful festive displays usually combine different scales, shapes and textures. Mix classic baubles with oversized ornaments, bows, decorative picks and statement pieces. If you're decorating a larger tree, don't be afraid to go bigger. Small ornaments alone can easily get lost amongst full foliage.
The fix: Mix approximately three different scales of decorations throughout your tree. It creates movement, balance and visual interest.
4. Forgetting to Create a Colour Story
See something beautiful and immediately add it to the tree? We've all been there. But without some kind of colour palette, a Christmas display can quickly start feeling busy rather than layered. Before decorating, choose two or three main colours and build around them. For example:
- Burgundy + champagne + gold
- Classic red + gold
- White + silver
- Brown + bronze
- Green + champagne
- Black + white
You can still introduce different textures and finishes while keeping the overall palette cohesive.
The fix: Choose your colour story before you start buying ornaments. It will make shopping and decorating much easier.
5. Stopping Before the Finishing Touches
The tree is up. The ornaments are on. Done? Not quite.
Often, it's the last 10% of decorating that makes the biggest difference. A beautiful topper, cascading ribbon, a tree skirt, extra picks or an oversized bow can transform a tree that looks “almost finished” into one that feels complete. The same applies throughout your home. A garland on a console, a wreath at the entrance or a few carefully placed festive accents can connect the entire Christmas look.
The fix: Once you've finished decorating, step back and look at the room as a whole. Ask yourself: what feels unfinished? Sometimes one final detail is all it needs.
The Secret? Layer, Don't Overcrowd
Creating a luxurious Christmas look isn't about using as many decorations as possible. It's about choosing the right pieces and giving each one a purpose. Start with a beautifully proportioned tree, create a colour palette, mix different scales, layer your decorations and finish with those details that make the space feel considered. And most importantly decorate in a way that feels like your Christmas.
Complete Your Christmas Look
From beautiful Christmas trees and statement ornaments to ribbons, picks, bows and finishing touches, discover everything you need to build your festive look at Irony Home.
