5 Common Christmas Decorating Mistakes You Might Be Making at Home

When decorating, consider the people inside your house. If you have kids around, note that the season may be particularly harmful for them. Injuries like accidentally swallowing small decorations or cutting themselves with shattered pieces of ornaments occur a lot during the holidays. Before getting too overwhelmed with decorating, remember to always put safety first.

Stay away from decorations that are made of glass or any material that can fall and shatter. Avoid displaying small ornaments, for these can be choking hazards. Children have curious minds, and they might see your Christmas decor as toys that they can play with. To keep them safe, don’t use decorations with sharp or pointed edges and ornaments that are food or candy-designed. These may be mistaken for actual food and children might ingest them. If these cannot be avoided, keep these decor off low places and out of the reach of children. Also, be wary of decorations that can irritate the skin and eyes.

Christmas is a time when everyone gets creative with their decorations, and using Christmas flowers is a trend that will never go out of style. While displaying flowers is a great way to bring your house to life, you must be aware that there are plants that are harmful not only to children but to pets as well.

Common Christmas plants like mistletoe, poinsettia, and even fir trees can be toxic if ingested and cause several health problems like intestinal disorders, mouth and stomach irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and excess drooling. As much as possible, try to avoid using real flowers as decorations in your home. Not all plants are toxic, though, so if you really want to bring in some flowers, look them up first before purchasing. And to be safe, keep these flowers out of the reach of little hands and paws.

When decorating, clean up your house beforehand. Try to give your house a sweep here and a mop there, and then you’ll see the difference. Seeing a blank room is the same as seeing a blank painting canvas: it can unleash your creativity even more.

And when you’re finally decorating, remember that you don’t have to display every single Christmas ornament that you have, and you don’t have to cover every wall space and flat surface in your home. Chances are, your house will look like one big, cluttered, and sloppy mess instead of an elaborately decorated holiday wonderland. To avoid overdecorating, try to maintain a theme. It could be a color scheme, or maybe something vintage, modern, or rustic. Having a theme can help limit the decor that you put up, as it will require you to stand back and think which ones work.

One of the most overlooked items when it comes to decorating is lighting. Although one of the most essential parts of the season, it is also one of the main causes of home hazards like fires. Take precaution this year and inspect your Christmas lights carefully before hanging them. Replace old lights with new ones, and double check each set for damages like cracked bulbs, frayed cords and wires, and sockets without bulbs.

As much as possible, strictly observe the “Rule of Three”: whenever you use extension cords, plug in only up to three sets of lights. Plugging in more than three can cause overheating and other electrical problems. Another very important thing to take note of is the “For Indoor or Outdoor Use Only” label. Not all lights can withstand the heat of the sun, which is why they should be kept indoors. Meanwhile, some bulbs emit light that is too bright to be kept indoors, making them solely for outdoor use. These labels are there for a reason, so follow them.

Scented candles improve a house’s ambiance and aroma, but they can be toxic. Candles made of paraffin can release toxic volatile organic compounds, which can cause respiratory problems like asthma and even cancer. Other than that, scented candles also contain synthetic fragrances which release compounds that may lead to health problems like headache, dizziness, and allergies when inhaled. Also, some candles have wicks made of lead, a poisoning hazard to children that release carcinogenic chemicals into the air when lit.

However, if you still want to enjoy a pleasant and well-scented home for the holidays, you can always opt for safer alternatives like non-toxic candles like beeswax candles and items that you can simmer for fragrance like cinnamon sticks, lavender, or nutmeg.

Christmas should be merry, bright, and colorful. Just remember these tips and tricks, and you’ll have a festive holiday celebration in no time!

Make sure to visit Yoorekka for more home decor tips and holiday preparation guides.