'Never Too Early If You're A Psychopath': Homeowners On When To Put Up Christmas Decor

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You know it's officially Christmas season after you're done carving your way through a large turkey. However, can you start putting up your holiday decor before Thanksgiving is through? The internet is divided, with vastly differing views making rounds online. On the one hand, a Redditor wrote, "It's never too early if you're a psychopath." But, on the other hand, people acknowledge that it should be your decision and you don't need to follow trends blindly. Case in point, another Reddit user noted, "It's not too early if you want your Christmas decorations up. It's your decision as to whether or not it's too early."

Basically, if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving or host it at your home, you don't have to rush through taking your fall decorations down and putting up your winter-themed garlands, wreaths, and lights on the Sunday after. You can also deck out your home as soon as you want if you don't mind challenging the norm and standing out. In fact, you can give your tree the center stage as soon as Halloween is through — decorating while eating candy will keep you energized throughout (just think of the sugar overdose). You can even bring out your tree before that (gasp!). Recalling their experience, a Reddit user said, "We passed by a house trick or treating with their tree set up in the front window and the curtains wide open. No candy, either." But if you're a creature of habit or put in a lot of effort decorating with pumpkins for a stunning fall display, wait until the first day of December or Advent Sunday — it's generally four weeks prior to Christmas.

If you like to go all-out and find creative Christmas decorations you can make with household items, having your decor up for less than a month might not feel adequate. Just think of all the hours you spent hunting for the heirloom ornaments, making the tree look the best on the block, and draping enough lights to give your neighbors and driving-by strangers a dazzling show. In case you want more time to enjoy them, feel free to dress up your home in early- or mid-November to feel like all your hard work paid off. This can especially pay off if you have recently moved and want your new neighbors to know you're friendly and open to social interactions.

You also don't want to wait for long if cold weather arrives early and the days get shorter. Start on your decorations as early as you like to let the bright colors and glowing lights lift your mood instantly. And if you have a busy work life and can only decorate your interiors in short bursts, ensure you have weeks to get your home Christmas-ready. Simply put, begin decorating before Thanksgiving. That being said, you want to consider your tree's lifespan before committing to a longer timeline. To elaborate, live conifers start aging as soon as you cut them down, so you'll have to deliberately prolong the life of your real Christmas tree. The purchase process will be tricky, too, since you won't have a lot of options prior to turkey-carving day. But if you own an artificial tree, you can get started whenever you want.

In case you're still undecided, look for ways to smooth the transition between Halloween or Thanksgiving and Christmas. For instance, you can use a pumpkin for both fall and holiday decor if you pick one in a neutral tone. A white one stuffed with dried flowers and berries will look great as Halloween or Friendsgiving decor. And when you're ready to start adorning your home with Christmas ornaments, swap out the autumnal foliage with pinecones, dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, and other blingy decor items. Red bows, small ornamental balls, and twinkling lights will help, too. You can follow a similar strategy with your front door wreath. Replacing your pumpkin or gourd-esque pillow covers with ones displaying snowmen in all their glory is another idea.

And if you feel like opting for a live tree is holding you back from getting a head start, you can always deck your halls, stairs, and mantel to welcome Christmas early. A holiday-themed welcome mat, like Auikvh's Tis The Season Washable Rubber Doormat, a beautified fence, and winter-scented candles can set the right tone, too. While at it, get your ornaments and tree toppers out. In case you need to replace any broken pieces or want to add a few new ones, have them all at hand. This way, you just have to bide your time until your local farms start selling real conifers, then you can quickly get your tree. Ultimately, the choice is yours. You can either wait until Thanksgiving or put up your holiday decor in early November.