The most wonderful time of the year will soon be upon us, with the run-up often even more exciting than the big day itself: from drinking mulled wine at the Christmas markets, to trimming the tree, and attending the annual office party, there are so many things to look forward to over the festive period.
With millions of households across the USA getting ready to deck their halls, we wanted to find out which states love to start celebrating Christmas as soon as possible… and which states leave it ‘til the last second; as well as showing you how to decorate your home for Christmas.
The average American puts their Christmas décor up on 28th November
Just mere days after the Thanksgiving celebrations are over, and all the deals have been bought from Black Friday, Americans are spreading festive cheer by trimming their trees, and hanging up their decorations.
In fact, over half of Americans say they put their decorations up in November, with almost one in 10 doing so two months ahead of the big day!
South Dakota puts their decorations up the earliest
The citizens of South Dakota don’t hang about, with 17th November the key date for getting the decorations out of the loft – that’s a whole week before Turkey Day!
The top five states to put up their decorations the earliest are:
1. South Dakota – 17th November
2. Alaska – 19th November
3. Arkansas – 23rd November
3. Nebraska – 23rd November
3. Tennessee – 23rd November
Hawaii leaves their decorations ‘til last
In a state where temperatures hover around the 80-degree Fahrenheit mark in December, it makes sense that Hawaiians would leave it until the last moment to put their decor up. However, with 6th December Decoration Day, it still gives them plenty of time to spare to get into the festive spirit.
Hawaiians aren’t the only ones to wait until December to put their decorations up, with 29% of Americans saying they do the same thing. In fact, these are the top five states that leave it until the last minute:
1. Hawaii – 6th December
2. Delaware – 5th December
3. Iowa – 4th December
4. Montana – 3rd December
4. Rhode Island – 3rd December
Top tips on decorating your home for Christmas
If you’re ready to spread some festive cheer, then one of the best ways to do so is by adorning your home with some opulent decorations. But if you’re a little unsure of which theme to go for, or how to deck your halls in a suitably classy way, then you’ve come to the right place…
1. Make your dining table the centerpiece
Nothing screams Christmas quite like a traditional dinner with all the trimmings, and that takes place at the table. So, it makes sense to focus your efforts on dressing your dining table, seeing as it’s where your guests will spend a good few hours.
Make seasonal flowers and foliage the focal point of your table, and adorn your guests’ placemats with elaborate bows, crackers, and perhaps even a giftbox with something special inside just for them.
2. Choose a theme for your tree
Whether you prefer the real deal or opt for a trusted artificial version, trimming your tree is one of the most fun things about Christmas (especially if you do so with a glass of eggnog in hand!). But, step away from the mismatched decorations and tacky tinsel. What you want to do instead, is choose a theme – and stick to it.
Whether you opt for a classic white and silver color scheme, add a dash of glitter, or prefer a rustic feel with rattan reindeer and pinecones, run with the theme you choose – and you can even continue it in the rest of the room.
3. Create a cozy atmosphere with candles
When the wind is brisk and the snow is falling, there’s no better feeling than being holed up somewhere cozy, with a cup of hot cocoa.
An instant way to hygge your home is by dimming the lights and lighting a load of candles. For extra coziness, pair your candle collection with wax melts in a series of festive scents such as cinnamon, nutmeg and gingerbread.
4. Bring the outside in
Whether you create your own rustic wreath to hang on your front door, or display some decorative holly or mistletoe above your fireplace or on your staircase, Christmas is the time to go foraging and find the perfect foliage to decorate your home with.
Still wondering how to decorate your home for Christmas? We’ve already touched on it, but pinecones are a great addition to your festive décor – whether you incorporate them on your dining table, or hang them on your tree.
5. Wrap your gifts early
A Christmas tree is meant to be adorned with beautifully wrapped gifts, so if you’ve bought your gifts early, get them wrapped up so you can place them proudly under your tree.
And if you’ve bought an excess of gifts? Pile a few up in the corner of a room to add to the festive feels.
