The Biggest Holiday Decor Mistakes Everyone Makes
It’s that time of year again.
The home decor stores are aggressively festive, glitter-covered, and peppermint scented.
Here in Australia, there are kangaroos with Santa hats, garlands with plastic snow, and let’s not forget the hundreds of throw pillows that say “JOY” in fonts that should be illegal.
But what I want to remind everyone at this time of year is that holiday decorating is not about buying more stuff.
It’s about adding the right layer to what you already have.
If your home doesn’t feel cohesive the rest of the year, December won’t magically fix it with a wreath and a red candle.
But if your base is good, holiday decor is the fun overlay!
1. Moody palettes are in
When holiday decor is treated as an overlay, colour matters more than quantity. This year’s colours are deep, saturated, and cosy:
Deep greens
Blackberry & mulberry
Charcoal
Brass & bronze
Moody blues
They work so well because they feel grounded and expensive, and they blend naturally with existing interiors instead of fighting them.
Brooke & Lou (left) & Britany Sopyc (right)
What’s tripping people up?
Going too heavy with bright red.
Yes, red is the quintessential Christmas colour, but it’s dramatic. It takes over rooms.
If you don’t already have some red in your home, layering a lot of it on for December can feel jarring.
What to do instead
Let greenery be your main “colour.”
Then add touches of deeper tones like burgundy, blackberry, charcoal, bronze, or warm gold.
You still get the Christmassy feel, but much more elevated!
2. Maximalism is back… but it’s not the kind you’re picturing
Maximalism has returned, but in a way that actually supports the overlay mindset.
This version isn’t about filling every corner with Christmas objects. It’s about tactile abundance.
What’s going wrong for most people?
They’re adding more things instead of more depth. That’s how you get clutter instead of richness.
Styled By Emily Henderson (left) & Ashlee Zunk (right)
What to do instead
Think in layers, not quantities.
Add velvet or linen ribbons
Use tactile wrapping papers
Drape greenery with a little movement
And yes - bows are still everywhere.
But the difference this year? Scale
Oversized, sculptural moments are replacing collections of small decor. We’re seeing a lot more big moment pieces instead of lots of little pieces.
3. Ralph Lauren Christmas is having a moment
Some trends are tempting to fully commit to.
Ralph Lauren Christmas is one of them.
Think classic tartans, rich metals, deep reds, and greens.
@ralphlaurenhome
What’s tripping people up?
Going too literal. Filling the whole house with every plaid, bead, and brass ornament can make spaces feel like a store display instead of a home.
What to do instead
Pick one or two statement pieces. Maybe that’s a tartan throw, a cashmere blanket, or a standout Polo Bear ornament
Layer in metals subtly alongside greenery
Let the rest of your decor stay simple. You only need one or two nods to bring the Ralph Lauren feeling in
4. Lighting is everything… but you’re probably using the wrong colour
If you want proof that holiday decorating isn’t about buying more, lighting is it.
This year is all about amber glow.
The most common mistake? Cool white LEDs.
They cast a blue-ish hospital glow that kills all atmosphere.
Ella Toropov (left) & Laurie-Anne Douesnard (right)
What to do instead
Swap your string lights to warm white and your entire home will feel that much cosier!
5. A new aesthetic is rising: Little Women Core
Another holiday decor trend this year is embracing the poetry of the home. In other words, romantic domesticity.
If you’re lost, it’s the opposite of over-styled, over-shiny decor.
That’s why we’re seeing so many holiday spaces that feel bookish, sentimental, intimate and story-driven. It’s a Little Women moment.
@thevibrantdwelling (left) & Patrick Biller (right)
How could you do this
A velvet bow tied around a sconce
Hand-tied stockings
Vintage tableware
Candlelights
Felt decor
Nothing here overwhelms the home. It simply adds softness and meaning to what already exists.
The best holiday homes won’t be the most decorated ones.
They’ll be the ones where Christmas feels like a natural extension of the home that’s already there.
Cheers,
Reynard