Decorating for Christmas: How to Get It Done Quickly!

December 1, 2025

Today I want to share how to get your Christmas decorating done quickly!

I know many people already have their décor up, but I just can’t quite bring myself to decorate before Thanksgiving. Who knows…maybe someday I will. If you already have yours up, I applaud you! But for those of you who may still have stockings in boxes instead of on the mantel, maybe this post will be a help to you.

First, let me begin by saying I like to keep my Christmas decorating simple as a mom, homeschool teacher, business entrepreneur, and busy church musician/director. Decorating isn’t necessarily my main business although it’s something I enjoy. So in order for me to decorate, I need it to be simple and efficient.

In years past, especially as a newlywed, I had Christmas tubs everywhere and Christmas stuff exploded all over the house. I don’t have the mental energy or time for such chaos right now. So here’s how I kept it simple and was able to decorate most of my house in a few hours one day and then a solid morning the next day.

Plan a Theme

Before I even pulled down my Christmas tubs from the attic, I planned my overall theme and look that I wanted. Last year, I tried a blue and white theme, and while it was lovely, I just craved the traditional reds, greens, and creams this year. I wanted a classic look that’s relaxed, layered, and old-fashioned.

To pull in more old-timey elements, I bought some LED battery-powered taper candles and some Victorian inspired candle bases. I just love the warmth that they bring to our home, especially in the evenings. The candles even came with a remote control which is quite handy! I also bought some red ticking ribbon for a traditional, farmhouse style look that gently pulls in reds.

Plan How I Want to Decorate Areas

After nailing down a theme, then I mentally went around our rooms and thought through basic ideas for each area that I wanted to decorate. In my mind, I tried to envision how I wanted to decorate each shelf, dresser, tree, etc. Even though I didn’t do exactly everything that I planned, I at least had an idea to get me started in each area instead of just standing blankly in front of a dresser, shelf, or Christmas tree.

In the past I used to pull out my boxes, open them up, and then hope for inspiration to hit me. What usually ended up happening was a lot of time wasted and me being frustrated because I didn’t know exactly what to do in each area.

Use What I Already Had

Instead of reinventing the wheel, as the old saying goes, I chose to reuse as many vignettes as possible and simply switch them out with a few Christmas elements. For example, on my kitchen counter I always keep a 2-tier stand. I switched out the blue elements with a holly teacup, a red mercury glass, and a snow globe. I tucked in a little fresh boxwood, and voila! instant Christmas in about 10 minutes.

On my staircase landing, I took out the hydrangea from the hanging basket and replaced it with boxwood and tied a small ribbon for a touch of red. I switched out some blankets and added a hand-crocheted red one by my mom. A pair of vintage skates on the doorknob, and it’s Christmas!

Lay Out the Décor

Okay, now that we have mapped out the décor, let’s talk about how to actually quickly set up the decorations. Before even decorating, I did a quick tidy up of my kitchen and living room, and I also scrubbed my kitchen cabinets.

After a quick tidy and clean, I took the Christmas décor out of the boxes and then laid the items out in front of where I was going to decorate. So for example, I laid the garland for the mirror (over my sofa) on the sofa. I put the garland for the armoire in the kitchen on the kitchen table. I laid out all my dishes for the shelf and tier stand on the counter. By laying all the décor out in its (almost) proper location, this made moving around my home and setting up the décor very efficient.

After setting all the décor out in front of its final destinations, I then began installing the décor in its proper homes. I couldn’t believe how quickly everything came together this year! By simply planning ahead and then getting everything ready, I was able to decorate quickly and with very little stress.

Don’t Be a Perfectionist

In my efforts to present a lovely home for you, I found myself stressing a few times. But then I remembered to chill. I appreciate Lisa Bass from Farmhouse on Boone and her laid-back approach to Christmas. It’s not about being perfect but just enjoying the process!

Well, friends, I hope this was a help! Merry Christmas!

-Ashley

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