When to Decorate?

Kate LaPlaca

Staff Writer

When Nov. 1 rolls around, the annual debate begins: when is the right time to start decorating for the holidays? Should you decorate for winter and Christmas separately, or put everything up at once and take it down together?

Personally, I think Nov. 1 is the perfect time to start decorating for the winter season—but not for Christmas just yet. There’s a key difference between winter décor and Christmas décor. During the first week of November, I like to put up simple decorations like snowmen, snowflakes, and other neutral winter touches. This helps create a cozy seasonal atmosphere while still keeping a few fall accents for Thanksgiving. It gives the house a nice transition between fall and winter without feeling like too much is happening at once.

That said, I also think Thanksgiving should remain focused on fall décor, with pumpkins, warm colors, and autumn leaves. Once Thanksgiving passes, it’s time to fully embrace the next season.

In my family, Christmas decorating traditionally starts on Black Friday. That’s when we set up the Christmas tree and bring out all the festive decorations. Although I love this tradition, I personally believe that the best time to start decorating for Christmas is after Dec. 1. That’s when the official countdown to Christmas begins, and it feels more meaningful to start then.

Of course, everyone has their own traditions and timelines. But in my opinion, winter decorations can start as early as Nov. 1—though it’s best to wait until after Thanksgiving—while Christmas decorations should come out no earlier than Dec. 1, or the weekend before at the very earliest.