Too Soon? UK’s Top Date For Decorating For Christmas

Revealed: THE Perfect Time To Decorate For Christmas

October 2021: The nights are drawing in, Mariah Carey is waiting in the wings, and the C-word is on everyone’s lips…

Yes, the festive season is beginning! And whether you’re ho-ho-wholeheartedly ready for the Christmas fuss or sitting in the corner doing your best grinch impression, there’s one question buzzing around friendship groups, WhatsApp chats and highstreet shopping aisles: When are you going to decorate for Christmas?

Everyone has a strong opinion on when it is too soon to decorate. Some households go the full hog, putting their tree up just after Halloween, while others wait until exactly 12 days before Christmas Day to deck their halls. But which date does the UK population really start to decorate for Christmas?

Interior design expert Furniturebox has the answer. Through a detailed Google search volume analysis for festive decorations and terms, Furniturebox has revealed the ideal date for decorating your home at Christmas.

The Most Popular Dates For Decorating Our Homes For Christmas

The research concluded that the UK’s favourite time to decorate is between November 29th and December 7th, with both the top two date ranges appearing nine times in the analysis. And, surprisingly, all top five dates for decorating fall in or before the first two weeks of December.

How did Furniturebox uncover this? The data took into account key Christmas decoration search queries and questions such as “how to decorate a Christmas tree” and identified where yearly search trends spiked for each term over a five-year period.

Furthermore, the research unveiled that as a nation, we are more pumped for Christmas year on year with some Christmas searches increasing by +160% from 2016 to 2020!

2016 to 2020: How Have Christmas Searches Changed? 

With our Christmas hype growing and decorations being prepared for the end of November, how will the decoration timeline of 2021 compare to festive traditions?

Advent

For Christians, the start of the festive season is marked by advent, and many choose the start of the advent season as the time to start decorating their homes. This year, the First Sunday of Advent falls on November 28th — so perfectly in line with the popularity of decorating from November 29th onwards.

Twelve Days Before

For many, British tradition dictates that your Christmas decorations should go up 12 days before Christmas, meaning decoration day falls on the 13th of December. This is two whole weeks after the peak of the UK’s desire for festive decorations kicks in.

Christmas Eve

Leaving things to the very last minute, some traditions suggest not putting your Christmas tree up until the 24th of December! Roman Catholic tradition, for example, leans towards decorating your tree on the evening before Christmas.

Decorating A Real Tree: How Long Will Your Christmas Tree Last?

But what about adorning a real Christmas tree? Will it last the whole season if you bring one into your home on November 29th?

We spoke to Christmas tree expert Mark Rofe at Christmastrees.co.uk to see how long our precious firs would last.

Mark told us: “Like all plants, Christmas trees will begin to wilt a certain amount of time after being cut, but some types of trees will last longer than others.

For those that like to put up their tree earlier, the Nordmann Fir, which is known as the ‘non-drop Christmas tree’ or Fraser Fir, would be better suited because they last longer. If properly looked after and cared for, these trees can last up to one month.

Another option is a pot grown Christmas tree, these are trees that are grown inside a pot with their roots intact. This means you can have your tree up for Christmas, and then replant it in your garden, and use it again for next year!”

Early bird Christmas decoration fans, be warned if you want a real tree that will hold its pines, smell and joy throughout the season, perhaps you’ll have to hold off for a few days before bringing one in. Or, if you simply cannot wait, perhaps a pot grown tree is your best bet for a tree that keeps on giving this Christmas.

Mark weighed in, claiming “the earliest you should put your tree up is in early December”, but if you just cannot wait to smell the sweet pine smell in your home there are three rules to follow to keep your tree looking healthy right through to New Years:

“Cut the base of the tree to allow the tree to take up more water, purchase a tree stand with a water reservoir to keep the tree hydrated and keep your tree away from direct heat – so avoid rooms with underfloor heating.”

So, armed with these expert tips, how will you decorate your home this Christmas?

Commenting on how to nail your festive decor, Dan Beckles, Furniturebox co-founder told us:

“Festive decor is my favourite! Nothing says Christmas in my household quite like creating a winter wonderland the whole family can enjoy. But you don’t need the tinsel skills of Buddy the Elf, nor the bottomless budget of Harrods to nail the spirit of Christmas. A few simple and easy tips are all you need to capture the festive mood at home this December.

First and foremost, you need a welcoming colour palette, one that ushers in your family and friends from the biting cold. I’m a big fan of a classic green and red combo, which is a colour scheme rich in tradition and festivity; others might prefer an all-white Christmas, keeping things fresh and contemporary.

Next comes the decorations. Here I like to get involved with a bit of art and craft. For instance, creating a wreath using nearby foliage is a super easy activity that gives your festive decor a personal touch.”

For those who want to stay on-trend, Dan noted that Christmas 2021 will be all about sustainability:

“The big interior trend for Christmas is sustainability — a process that can be applied across the holiday, from gift wrapping to the dinner table. Think recycled glass, upcycled furniture, and DIY decorations. On the latter, this Christmas it’s important to incorporate an element of activity and community into your festive design. After all, creating decorations with friends and family can be a great source of fun, allowing you to add a personal touch to your festive interiors.”

Get ready for the 29th of November, the official start to the UK’s festive decoration season, and deck the halls with pride this holiday season!

Do you think between the 29th November – 7th December is too soon for Christmas decorations? Tell us your ideal decking time!