Preparing for Christmas.

A Season to Savor, Not Rush.

The holidays are right around the corner and while they’re some of the most magical times of the year, they can also be some of the busiest. Over the years, I’ve found that the key to truly enjoying the season is to start early and make decorating something to savor, not to rush.

So I thought I’d share how I prepare our home for Christmas, starting before Thanksgiving, and how spreading out the process reduces some of the stress.

Step 1: Start Early and Set the Tone

As soon as November arrives, I start to feel the pull of the holidays. About two weeks before Thanksgiving, we kick off the season by decorating our foyer banister with garland, lighting, and ribbon. I found a beautiful faux cypress garland that most guests think is real. We start at the top, using double strands of the 6’ garland as we go. We secure it using zip ties, which get hidden, working our way down the banister. Then we start back at the top with battery powered, soft snowflake lights with a 5 hour timer. They are so lightweight that you only need to zip tie the battery pack. Just be sure to leave access to the battery pack, because the batteries do need to be changed a few times over the next 6 weeks.

Faux garland, zip ties and battery lights on a timer.

On the same afternoon, we dress both of our mantels. One in the living room and one in the den with garland, ornaments, and stockings.  We use the same garland and battery powered lights, but no zip ties needed.

We also set up our pre-lit faux Christmas tree in the front living room and decorate it with shimmering gold, white, and silver ornaments that bring a soft, elegant glow to the space.

Our den mantel…

Step 2: Add Layered Touches Throughout the Week

Throughout that week, I like to layer in smaller touches of holiday décor throughout our home that brings warmth and sparkle to each room.

Just before Thanksgiving, we hire someone to handle our outdoor lighting. A few of the front yard trees and bushes get wrapped in lights, and our faux cypress garland and ribbon hangs on our front step banister. A different lightweight eucalyptus faux garland gets hung around our front door, along with a festive wreath. Let me say that I am completely aware that this is a luxury. My husband has tackled the task in previous years and we finally discussed the pros and cons of hiring an experienced Christmas decorator. We weighed the stress of balancing his time and availability versus the cost of hiring someone and decided it was right for us.

The lights were beautiful at night.

Step 3: Bring Home the Real Tree

After Thanksgiving, we make our traditional stop to pick out our Fraser fir tree. My husband and I set it up in our den, add the lights, and then slowly fill it with keepsake ornaments.

This part sounds all sentimental and precious and cozy, but it’s probably the most stressful part of decorating for the holidays! Yes, it’s sentimental and precious, but it’s also stressful to pick the right tree and get it set up and decorated. And we’ve unknowingly come home with some crooked monsters in years past, but we still make them beautiful while making fun memories along the way.

Then comes the hardest part . . . getting the tree into the house, setting it up in the stand, holding it for my husband while he lays on the floor securing the base, while I squirm with uncomfortable back pain. Ohhh, the precious memories, right?!

Stringing a live tree with lights is probably the most tedious part for me. My preference is to start at the bottom and go in and out, up the next row and repeat until I get to the top. I like the lights to go all the way into the trunk of the tree and then extend to the end of the tree branches, especially on a Frasier fir. This allows for the tree to glisten and glow from within. It takes work, but it’s sooo worth it.

But after all that comes the best part . . . even though unboxing each treasured ornament takes time, I can’t express how each and every ornament is a special moment down memory lane - every place we’ve traveled, every gifted ornament I’ve received from friends or family. I even have an ornament from a parent of children I babysat when I was a teenager. I have ornaments that remind me of loved ones no longer here, some from ornament exchanges, and the ones my daughter made as a child. Each and every one is a memory and when placed on the tree, it’s like seeing the tree come to life and our memories reignited.

Our crooked tree created funny memories…

Step 4: Refresh Your Soft Layers

To make our home feel even more festive, I like to change out pillows and throw blankets in our den and on our back porch. These simple swaps instantly add color, texture, and warmth—proof that even small updates can completely shift the mood of a space.

Step 5: Savor the Mood

By decorating over a couple of weeks, the process feels joyful and manageable instead of overwhelming. Once everything is in place, we light Christmas candles, pour something festive to drink, and start watching Christmas movies together.

It’s the perfect way to ease into the holiday season and truly enjoy the beauty and meaning behind it all.

As designers, homeowners, and holiday enthusiasts, we all want our homes to feel warm, welcoming, and filled with joy this time of year. The key is giving yourself the gift of time. Decorate little by little, layering textures, lighting, and meaningful touches along the way.

Whether it’s swapping out pillows and throws, lighting a favorite candle, or unboxing cherished ornaments, each step becomes part of the celebration. When you approach the season slowly and intentionally, your home will reflect not just your style, but the heart of the holidays themselves. Just remember, as I always say, the most welcoming part of a home is you. You set the tone. Guests and loved ones pick up on what you are feeling when they enter your home. So, be intentional. Let go of all the things that aren’t perfect, who cares if it’s the “Ralph Lauren” Christmas that everyone is talking about? Forget about anything that stressed you out that day, and just pour out love and joy to everyone that enters your home. People remember how you made them feel not how your home impressed them. That’s the most important part of preparing for the season.

Live Beautifully,

Kate

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