Preparing For Christmas Decorating

How I am preparing my home, my ideas, and my inspiration for Christmas this year

As soon as November arrives, my mind quietly turns toward Christmas. Not in a frantic or rushed way, but in a gentle, intentional sense of preparation. I have always believed that the magic of the season is created long before a single bauble is hung. It begins with thought, with a little imagination, and with the quiet joy of preparing the home.

I have been thinking about leaning into a more pared back, Scandinavian inspired Christmas this year. Instead of my usual full sized tree, I am drawn to the idea of a real tree placed in a beautiful pot on top of my round table. For the past five years I have used a Balsam Hill faux tree because it was easy and reliable, but I have begun to miss the natural beauty of a real tree. There is something about the shape, the soft irregularity, and that unmistakable scent that fills a room with such comfort. A smaller tree feels simple and understated, but still deeply charming, and it might be the change I am looking for this year.

This Scandinavian aesthetic is really speaking to me this year

But before anything comes out of storage, I like to prepare the house itself. For me, Christmas decorating always begins with a clean and decluttered space. I polish surfaces, clear unnecessary bits away, and create a calm foundation. It makes the whole process feel more purposeful and it allows the decorations to shine once they are in place.

Then I turn to the boxes. This is never as glamorous as the finished result, but I enjoy it. I check the lights to make sure they work, I look through baubles to see what needs repairing or replacing, and I make a mental note of anything I might need to buy. There is something lovely about rediscovering pieces I have collected over the years. Each one holds a little memory.

Inspiration is a huge part of this stage. I save ideas online, browse Pinterest, watch videos, and visit local shops for a spark of creativity. Here in Edinburgh, places like Jeffrey’s Interiors are transformed into wonderlands at this time of year, and a simple walk through the showroom leaves me brimming with ideas. I like seeing how different colours and textures are used, then bringing those ideas home in my own way.

Finding inspiration at Jeffreys Interiors in Edinburgh

All of this is part of the ritual. The planning, the clearing, the sorting, the dreaming. Christmas decorating is not something I rush. It is an act of care for the home and for myself. A way of inviting beauty into the depths of winter and making the season feel special long before the tree even arrives.

So yes, the beauty of Scandinavian elegance is very appealing to me this year, especially as the layout of my room feels perfect at the moment and I do not want to disturb the balance. There is something refreshing about trying a new approach and seeing how a subtle shift can change the entire atmosphere of a space. I am genuinely excited to experiment, and the lovely thing about Christmas is that it returns year after year. It is never a one off moment like a wedding. We always have the chance to refine, to rethink, and to try something completely new when the next season arrives.

Pinterest inspiration