Christmas decorations
Light up your home with holiday magic with festive Christmas decorations. From dazzling lights to trees full of cheer, find your decorating inspiration here.
Frequently asked questions
To decorate a Christmas tree like a pro, follow a strategic, layered approach:
1. Fluff the branches. If using an artificial Christmas tree, separate and shape the tips to create a full, more natural look.
2. Add the lights first. String your tree lights from the inside trunk outwards to give the tree a magical glow.
3. Hang baubles and decorations. Place bigger ornaments deeper inside the branches to add depth, then hang your favourite statement pieces on the outer tips.
4. Finish at the top. Complete the look with a classic star or angel.
Crafting your own festive pieces is a fantastic, budget-friendly way to deck the halls. Some simple, high-impact DIY Christmas decorations you can make at home include:
- Dehydrated citrus garlands: Thinly slice oranges or lemons, bake them on baking paper on a low oven setting until dried, and thread them onto twine for a beautiful, rustic garland.
- Festive ice cubes: Freeze fresh raspberries, blueberries, or mint leaves in silicone ice trays to add instant holiday cheer to your Christmas drinks.
- DIY Christmas crackers: Use recycled brown paper, let the kids decorate them with stamps or paint, and fill them with personalised treats.
For full step-by-step guides and ingredient lists, check out our article on easy DIY Christmas decorations.
Properly storing your Christmas decorations keeps them undamaged and tangle-free for next year. Follow these three simple storage rules:
- Wrap delicate items and fragile Christmas tree ornaments individually in tissue paper or leftover festive wrapping paper before packing them away.
- Prevent tangled lights by wrapping string lights around a sturdy piece of cardboard or an empty paper towel roll to save yourself hours of untangling next December.
- Store your decorations in clear, heavy-duty plastic containers with secure lids to protect them from dust, moisture, and pests.
While there's no official rule for when to put up a Christmas tree, most Australians traditionally put up their Christmas tree on 1 December. This marks the official start of the festive season; however, many choose to set it up during the last weekend of November to make the most of the holidays.
The most popular time to pack away the tree is during the first weekend of the New Year, making it a great way to clear the clutter and start January with a fresh, clean space.
If you like following holiday tradition, then taking down your tree should occur on 5 or 6 January. This window is historically known as the Twelfth Night or the Epiphany, which is simply the traditional calendar marker for the end of the festive season. Old folklore suggests it’s bad luck to keep decorations up past this point.