How to Prepare and Decorate Your Farmhouse for the Holidays

It may still feel like summer, but the air is turning crisp, and the days are growing shorter. If you’re not yet ready to think about the holidays and all the hosting that comes with them, you’re not alone. But it’s better to get a head start!

Rather than scrambling to organize and decorate the day before your guests arrive, prepare your home and plan out your decorations now to make this holiday season a breeze. When you’re proactive about your holiday prep, you can focus on creating memories with your family. Over the last few years, I have made it a goal to get my Christmas decorating started by mid-November! Radical, I know, but I’ve found that I am truly able to enjoy the holiday season so much more when I’m not trying to squeeze everything in during the few short weeks following Thanksgiving!

Read on for tips on how to prepare and decorate your house for the holidays.

Clean out clutter
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the holidays if your space is as chaotic as your schedule. Not only that, but it’s more challenging to curate your holiday decor when there are excess objects throughout your space. Take some time to go through each room, tidy up, and purge it of anything you no longer use or need. It is also a good idea to go through your decorations to get rid of any broken light strings and toss or donate any decor pieces that no longer fit your space or style. With a clean foundation, you are ready to decorate for the season.

Shop for decor early
Preparation is the key to a stress-free and successful holiday season, so why not start early? Getting an early start is especially beneficial when shopping for new decor, as it’s likely that things will be sold out and you won’t have as good a selection the closer you get to Christmas. Before you go online or stop by a store, plan what kind of home decor you want to emphasize for each holiday and keep your ideas in mind year-round. Some decor pieces don’t have to be specifically holiday-themed. For example, trays, centerpieces, and table linens have a lot of versatility that allows you to use them all season long. You can also customize a beautiful vase or bowl as a centerpiece for each holiday with different objects placed in them, such as seasonal flowers or fruits.

Pick a theme
While decorating with an assortment of eclectic pieces collected throughout your life, picking a theme or color scheme is a great idea. Not only does this allow you to curate your decor for a more cohesive look, but it also makes it easier to choose new pieces since they need to fit into a specific criteria. For example, red and gold accents are a lovely option for the winter holidays, and farmhouse decor works throughout autumn and Thanksgiving, giving the season a warm, homey feel.

Don’t forget the details
It’s easy to get preoccupied with decorating your living room and dining areas, but don’t neglect the other rooms in your house. Not only will this carry the holiday spirit throughout the entirety of your home, but it will add cohesiveness to your decor. Add a few seasonal pillows to your guest bed. Swap your usual bathroom candles for seasonal scents. Replace standard dish towels with holiday-themed or patterned ones. When you make these simple swaps, your guests will feel the holiday spirit everywhere in your home. If you want to do something special for yourself, consider adorning your bed in seasonally inspired bedding like our Timeless Ticking Red, Market Place Red, and Farmhouse Ticking Red collections.

Go outside
The exterior of your home is just as important as the interior. It is the first thing your guests will see and creates a welcoming and festive atmosphere before they even enter your home. As such, don’t be afraid to bring plenty of holiday decor outside. Besides lights, look for wreaths and garlands in seasonal colors and foliage. Gourds are a great option to line your steps in the fall, while poinsettias and small evergreen trees look lovely in the winter.

We hope the tips above help inspire you to prepare and decorate your farmhouse for the holidays early, with minimal stress and maximum fun. Check out our wide selection of seasonal farmhouse decor and decorate your home for the holiday!

-Brenda & Janine, Owners of Piper Classics