Is it too early to decorate for Christmas? These style experts offer up a definitive tree-decorating date

When should you start decorating for Christmas? It's a question that divides us all. In one camp you have the festive fanatics who are itching to put up the tree as soon as Halloween is over. On the other hand, there are the Grinches, who'd happily go without seeing a single Christmas light until the day of the 25th (and even then they'll complain that it's too over-the-top). Most of us seem to fall on one side or the other, but who's right?  

Really, there are no hard and fast rules about when you should start decking the halls with festive baubles, tinsel and twinkling lights. If you have young children, putting up the tree as early as 1st November might be the best option just to see their faces light up at the sight of it each morning. Others with busier work schedules might not bother with any hint of decoration until Christmas eve. 

Although most of us wait until after Thanksgiving before we start preparations for the biggest holiday of the year, tradition tells us there are more rigid dates we should take note of when it comes to Christmas decorations. There are also some practical factors we should be aware of, too (after all, no one wants a tree that's lost all its needles before the big day). 

Before you rush to the garage to fetch your decorations, read on to hear from professional stylists and designers for their insight on when to start on those Christmas decorating ideas (unless of course it's already too late...)

Is it too soon for Christmas decorations? 

(Image credit: Athena Calderone)

Much to some peoples' dismay, there's never such a thing as too early for Christmas. There is however such a thing as Christmas decorating etiquette. As a general rule of thumb, it's a good idea to hold off the adorning your home with garlands and poinsettias until Thanksgiving is out of the way. 

'I prefer to decorate post-Thanksgiving giving my fall decor a proper moment to shine,' says designer Lauren Sullivan of Well x Design. As Lauren notes, not only does this allow you to focus on the celebration behind Thanksgiving without Christmas edging its way in, but it also allows the date to creep that little bit closer to the month of December which some would say is a more acceptable time.

There's also the fact that holding back from putting up the Christmas tree helps you to appreciate the special day even more once it rolls around. As Bethany Adams of Bethany Adams Interiors explains: 'Some may call me a Scrooge because I refuse to decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but for me, condensing the holiday season makes it just that much more special.' 

She continues: 'I find it quite jarring the first week of November to see skeletons across the street from Santas and jack-o-lantern's facing off with Christmas trees. For our family, it has become a tradition to set up our tree on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, which kicks off our holiday decorating for the season.'

When should you traditionally put up Christmas decorations? 

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The long and short of it is, you should put your Christmas decorations up whenever works best for you. That said, Yuletide is all about embracing traditions, so it wouldn't be right to not mention them here. 

Traditionally, the official day to start decorating your home, including your tree and Christmas wreath, is on Advent Sunday - the fourth Sunday before Christmas day. While this can fall as early as the November 27 (as is the case this year) most of us wait until the first weekend of December. 'Most find that right after Thanksgiving is a great time to decorate, but there really is no right or wrong when it comes to your decorating,' says Mac Harman, CEO of Balsam Hill. 'Whatever works best for you and your home is great!'

What practical factors should you consider?  

(Image credit: The Musee Home)

If now feels like the right time to start hanging the baubles in your home, don't let us hold you back! However, there are some practical factors you might want to consider beforehand, especially if you usually buy a real Christmas tree. 

Certain types of pine tree are particularly prone to shedding their needles and in the warmth of your home, this will be accelerated. No one wants to be greeted by a bare tree on Christmas day, so it might be a good idea to way until the first or second week of December to put up your authentic tree. 

'If your tree is artificial, you really have no restrictions on when you put your tree up as it’s going to stay looking its best for the whole of Christmas and into the New Year. However, if you opt for a real tree, you’re going to be a little more limited in the time frame your tree can survive,' Mac notes. 'It's generally recommended that a live tree can last around four weeks- using this timeframe you can work your way backward from when you’re hoping to take your tree down.'

There's also the fact that Christmas decorations can take up a lot of space. If you have kids and pets, you might want to hold back from diving into your Christmas living room decor as early as November since there will inevitably be more damages and limited space! 

When should Christmas decorations come down? 

Remember the carol 'The 12 Days of Christmas'? Well, many of us forget the actual meaning behind it. While Christmas day is the primary day of celebrations, in true Christian tradition, it only marks the very first day of Christmas. These dates dictate that the twelfth night of Christmas is the time you should be taking down your festive decor, which falls on January 5.