Yes, we’re those people.
I get annoyed when stores skip over holidays too. Seeing Christmas merch out before Thanksgiving always feels premature. Let me get through Turkey Day before you roll out the santas and snowmen. And yet this year we did something a little wild…
…we put up our Christmas tree before Thanksgiving. Yes, it’s early. Yes, we felt a tiny bit guilty. But we also felt excited — and a little sentimental — so we pulled it out and started decorating.
We gave our Thanksgiving guests a heads-up, and they treated it like a fun novelty. That means we’ll be able to report back on whether turkey and mashed potatoes taste any less Thanksgiving-y when served in front of a glowing Christmas tree. For now, it’s all part of the holiday cheer.
Why the rush? Normally we decorate in the first week of December, sometimes the second if things are busy. This year we’re moving in mid-December, and since it’s Clara’s first Christmas we wanted to enjoy the tree for the usual three-week stretch before the chaos of packing begins. So, early decorating it was.
Our color palette this year leans soft and festive: champagne, metallic green, silver, and pink. It felt appropriate for celebrating a baby’s first Christmas without going overly saccharine. We already owned many silver and champagne ornaments, so we picked up pink and metallic green bulbs at Michael’s during a half-price holiday ornament sale — about $20 or so for what we needed. The look is frosted and gently feminine but still comfortable in a living space shared with the guys in the house.
We resisted the urge to go overboard with pink feather boas as garland (the men and the chihuahua, Burger, would probably have opinions), but a few playful and sentimental ornaments made the cut. There’s a festive chihuahua ornament from John’s godmother that’s too hilarious to leave off the tree, even if it doesn’t strictly match the palette.
We also included our just-married moose ornament — a sentimental keepsake from our Alaskan honeymoon. It may not be glamorous or overtly baby-themed, but it’s meaningful, so it belongs on the tree.
Other personalized ornaments snuck in as well, like a silver Empire State Building that reminds us of our early days in New York City. Those small, memory-filled decorations help the tree feel like ours — a mix of style and story rather than a purely themed display.
Overall we love how soft and sweet the tree looks. John approves, Burger looks blissfully unaware, and the palette ties into our modern living room — a geometric rug and a clean-lined sofa — without feeling too pastel or fussy. For a tree skirt we kept up our quirky tradition of using faux sheepskin rugs, which keeps the base cozy and consistent with past years.
We did run into a common pre-lit tree problem: the bottom strand of lights was out. The easy fix was to wrap an extra strand around the bottom to brighten it up. We could hunt for a burned-out bulb and replace it properly, but the added strand solved the problem quickly and cheaply since we already had one on hand.
So that’s our tree this year: early, a little sentimental, soft in tone, and ready to celebrate Clara’s first Christmas. What are your plans? Are you dreaming of edible ornaments, jewel tones, vintage finds, or something totally unexpected for your tree this season? Whether you’re ready to decorate now or you’ll wait until after Thanksgiving, share your ideas — it’s fun to trade inspiration and decorating tips.
Psssst — if you’re eager to dive into holiday decorating, check the Projects page for festive ideas and past posts showcasing different tree themes and seasonal projects.
Update: We’ve also rounded up favorite holiday decor finds in one place — many affordable and under $15 — for easy inspiration while you shop and plan.