The One Christmas Decorating Habit That Makes Everything Look Better

If you could only change one thing about the way you decorate for Christmas, this would be it: take something away before you add something new.

That’s it. Not a special color palette or fancy decor, just a simple habit. Every time you’re tempted to put something out, you move something else out of the way first. It sounds basic, but it changes how every room feels.

Clear, then decorate

Most of us layer Christmas on top of regular life—candles next to framed photos, villages on top of stacks of books, garland wrapped around everyday knickknacks. That’s how you end up with busy surfaces and a house that feels more stressful than special.

Start by clearing the area you’re decorating. Take off regular decor, dust, and step back. Then add Christmas pieces into that blank space. Suddenly the same items look intentional, not squished into whatever inch they could find.

Give your regular decor a “vacation”

You don’t have to love something less to put it away for December. Lamps, vases, and pictures deserve a break. When you think of it as giving them time off instead of “getting rid” of them, it feels easier to pack them up.

Have one dedicated tote or bin for “everyday decor.” As you decorate, anything that gets displaced goes in there. In January, you’ll be excited to see those pieces again instead of wondering why they’re still shoved behind nativity sets.

Apply it by room, not all at once

Trying to reset the whole house in one day is overwhelming. Work in sections. Maybe you start with the entry: clear the table, edit hooks, then add Christmas. Another day you tackle just the mantel or just the kitchen counters.

Ask one question in each spot: “What can leave so this Christmas thing can shine?” When you decide that first, you’ll decorate faster and second-guess yourself less.

Make space around the tree on purpose

The tree area is where this habit matters most. Gifts, extra seating, toy baskets, and decor all migrate there until it feels like a storage corner with lights.

Before you even set the tree up, move anything you know will crowd it—a side table, a basket, a plant. Once the tree is in place, keep practicing the habit. If a new thing wants to live there (like a bin for gifts), something else has to leave.

Build in a five-minute “edit round”

When you finish decorating a room, don’t call it done yet. Take one more lap and actively remove a few things. That might be duplicates, small pieces you added out of guilt, or an extra sign.

You can even set a number: pull three to five items from each space. Put them in a tote and walk away. Chances are you won’t miss them, and the room will feel easier on your eyes immediately.

Let this habit stick beyond December

Once you get used to subtracting before adding, it changes how you handle the whole house. Seasonal decor, new purchases, kids’ toys—anything new coming in has to earn its spot. Something old has to move out or move over.

Christmas is a great time to start because you see the difference fast. Rooms look calmer, decor you love actually stands out, and you don’t feel like you’re wading through stuff. That one habit does more for your house than any expensive ornament ever will.