Seasonal Decorating for Real Life: Quick Tips for a Beautiful Home Year-Round

Today I am sharing some simple seasonal decorating tips to help you decorate for the holidays without all the stress!

September is coming to an end and all of the major holidays are quickly approaching. Fall is in full swing here in Michigan, and Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas decorations are all likely starting to come to mind if they haven’t already. Seasonal decorating can either be a source of joy and excitement, or perhaps an occasion for stress and burnout.

I strive to not let seasonal decorating stress me out, but this is something that I’m still trying to master. I really only decorate seasonally three times a year. The Spring season, Fall season and Christmas. Winter I wouldn’t really call decorating, but more making the home cozy.

However, even though I don’t decorate for every holiday, I still have a few simple tips to share to hopefully help you as you prepare your home decorations for the holidays. Decorating as a homemaker isn’t about perfection, but about making your home a cozy and inviting place for you and your family.

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Seasonal Decorating: Start with Smart Storage

One of my best tips to help you lower your stress levels when decorating for the holidays is to start with smart storage. Greenery, wreaths, centerpieces, faux flowers – all of the seasonal décor can quickly overwhelm you if you don’t have a designated space and system for each decorating theme.

I know not everyone has a basement for their decorations like I do, but try to find a designated space for each season. Maybe your bedroom closet is the assigned space for spring decor, and under your bed is where you keep fall florals, blankets and other natural elements. Knowing exactly where each season is stored will allow you to easily and quickly access the decor you need when the holiday comes, and you won’t have to sort through four different holidays every time you decorate.

The next tip I have for smart storage is to utilize plastic bins, especially clear plastic bins. This has been a lifesaver for me! Being able to just look at a bin and mostly see everything that is inside will save you so much time. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself for investing in some clear storage.

I also make sure to clearly label every bin to make it even more straight-forward when pulling out my decor. You can either write directly on the bin if you plan to use it for the same thing year after year, but sometimes I will use a roll of painters tape to label everything because you can easily remove the tape if you decide to use the bin for something else the following year.

My last storage tip for seasonal decorating is to declutter as you go. If you pull out your bin full of light strings from Christmas last year and half of them don’t work, throw them out now. If you have a pile of gourds or pinecones from fall that you haven’t touched in three years, consider donating them to your local thrift store for someone else to utilize. Don’t let your unused or broken decor pile up and collect dust. Get rid of it by throwing it away or donating it.

Seasonal Decorating: Plan the Right Time

This is such a major tip for not getting stressed when decorating for the holidays. Don’t try to squeeze in your seasonal decorating in between tasks! If you know you have to get started on dinner in 30 minutes, it’s probably not the best time to pull out your easter eggs, baskets and bunnies haha

Try to choose a time when you don’t feel rushed or overwhelmed. For me, that’s usually right after lunch. The boys have finished homeschool and are either in the basement or outside playing. My youngest usually naps, so I know I at least have two or three hours of quiet time to decorate where I won’t be interrupted.

Seasonal Decorating: Set Manageable Goals

Setting realistic timeframes is so important for managing stress while decorating your living space for the seasons. Spring and Fall might take a day, but Christmas? Possibly a week, especially with little ones around. If you set too lofty of a goal, you are sure to frustrate yourself rushing to get it all squeezed in.

Try to break decorating into small, focused tasks. For example, today I am going to add some warm lights to my living room tree or hang fresh greenery on the fireplace mantle. If you set these little goals, you will keep momentum going without burnout.

Ask for Help (or Create Space for It)

I like to explain to my family what I’m working on anytime I start a task, but especially for seasonal decorating. I like to let them know what specific area I will be decorating, whether that’s going out on the front porch to work on the planters for fall or adding a winter wreath to the front door for Christmas.

Making my plans clear not only helps them to know where I am and what’s going on, I can also involve them if they are old enough! My boys love Christmas, so they are always up for helping decorate the tree with the little dried oranges or ornaments they helped make. They like to put up other accents and accessories for the holiday season, and it’s fun to get them involved even if I maybe go back later and slightly rearrange things haha

However, if you have toddlers that are bent on destroying rather than decorating, consider a playdate with a friend to keep them occupied or asking grandma if she wouldn’t mind watching them for an hour or two. I also like to try independent activities to keep them busy like coloring or pulling out the Legos.

I know it’s hard to decorate with little kids. Trust me, I’ve been there. Try your hardest to be patient and flexible, and remind yourself it doesn’t all have to happen at once. Do what you can, when you can and give yourself plenty of grace.

Reminder: Check Your Heart & Your Why

Seasonal decorating with children around brings me to my next point. If you find yourself getting stressed, feeling frustrated, or even taking out your anger on those around you, it’s time to pause and take a break. Stop and ask,Why am I doing this?

Decorating should bring joy, not stress. After all, we are decorating our home to make the season feel more cozy and magical not only for ourselves, but for the very people we may be taking our frustrations out on.

I am still guilty of this and it’s something I have been working on over the years. I am a perfectionist who likes to get things done quickly and efficiently. Add a blog and an audience to please on to that, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Praise the Lord, He has helped me to work on letting things go and to make sure I have my priorities in order. As a homemaker and full time mom, my most important role is being a loving and attentive mom, not making my home the perfect holiday paradise for guests or strangers on the internet.

Seasonal Decorating: Keep It Simple

My final tip for you is to keep it simple. Remember you don’t have to go “all out” unless you want to. And if it’s adding stress to your plate, maybe it’s better to not go all out haha We are all going through different seasons in life, some harder than others. It’s okay to scale back this year if your life feels overwhelming at the moment.

Here are a few ideas I’ll leave you with. For fall, a few pumpkins and stems can go a long way. It’s fun to go big for Christmas, but just a simple tree with with some twinkling lights will add joy and wonder to the season. Spring can be as easy as few fresh flowers in vases throughout your home like tulips or lilies. Small touches can make a big impact, and the most important part of seasonal decor is that it brings you and your family joy. Who cares what other people think? It’s your house and YOU live there, not anyone else!

I hope these seasonal decorating tips have inspired and encouraged you as the big holidays are approaching. It’s perfectly okay to take it slow and keep it simple. Enjoy the process and embrace a decorating style that fits your life and season. Do you have any seasonal decorating tips to share? Comment below and don’t forget to sign up for my free mini homemaking course below for more decorating tips and tricks!

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