The Decor Mistake That's Making Your Christmas Setup Look So Tacky

With Thanksgiving behind us, those of us who celebrate Christmas are preparing to deck the halls and put up their festive holiday décor. And nothing gets you into the holiday spirit like putting up your Christmas tree. But no matter what style of tree you gravitate toward, there is one décor mistake that stands to make your holiday setup look super tacky: decorating your tree with ornaments and accents around a singular theme.

In a recent interview with The Spruce, interior design expert Alex Thies, of Adelyn Charles Interiors, cautioned against what she described as a "themed" Christmas tree. This cohesive style is quite popular online. However, it can easily look overdone or worse, gaudy. While some homeowners and designers enjoy the over-the-top look of a themed tree, Thies prefers to play it safe and suggests sticking to "the classics when it comes to the holidays." 

If you're looking to break tradition with your Christmas tree this year, her expert-approved workaround is to infuse some personality with a handful of themed ornaments here and there. That aligns with decorating advice from other interior design pros, who've warned that it's a fine line between a lightly themed or color-coordinated Christmas tree, and one that veers into dated or tacky territory. Here's how to find that balance.

While fully themed Christmas trees can look a bit cheesy, there's nothing wrong with incorporating a small selection of specialty elements. Statement ornaments are perfect for showing off your family's unique style and interests. For instance, going the vintage route and decorating your tree with a few antique or heirloom ornaments will look thoughtfully curated. If you like a bolder look, you could take a cue from TikTok's "Kitschmas" tree trend, which calls for playful colors and an eclectic mix of nostalgic accents, à la maximalist home décor ("mix" — not theme — being the operative word here).

You could even skip the trinkets and baubles altogether and deck out your tree with statement-making garland to give it a cohesive look without any ornaments. Vibe-wise, this option is similar to a themed tree but less in-your-face. Alternatively, consider decorating your tree with a loose theme of Christmas colors that are on trend this year, like sapphire or pink versus classic red and green. These refined color palettes are an easy way to achieve a "contemporary and elegant aesthetic," interior designer Katie Malik, of Katie Malik Design Studio, told Daily Mail UK.