The holidays are upon us and we are decorating differently for the 2023 holidays. Since moving into this home in 2020, I have been “going big” on decorating for the holidays. The holidays are the only holidays I “decorate” for and over the last few years I have been carefully adding pieces to my holiday displays and growing my collection. It was expensive at first but now I have an amazing collection that I can use for years to come. And with two young children who love the magic of the season, decorating our home in a way that makes it a holiday wonderland for them feels so meaningful.
I don’t plan on adding many pieces to my collection this year. I’m mainly looking to incorporate some little tweaks like these: Fresh ribbon For decoration and Beautiful gift wrapping For presents under the tree.
Depending on your stage in life, some years you might buy a ton of basic holiday decor, some years you might just add a few accent pieces, and some years you might just add a few special details. The idea is to be mindful with your purchasing decisions, only buy items that you’re excited to display, and leave the rest behind.
I put together this 2023 holiday decorating post with that intentional framework so you can start shopping right now based on your own specific holiday decorating needs. This post is broken down into three categories: foundational decorations, accent pieces, and special touches. I made sure to include some decorating items that I own and can vouch for, which you can find in the list below.
My favorite 2023 holiday decor products
Basic Decoration
Basic items like trees, garlands, and wreaths are the foundation of any holiday decorating scheme. They are the first items you should buy if you are just starting your decoration collection or want to replace some old pieces you’ve had for a while. If you think of outfitting your home like an outfit, these items are like a nice sweater and a classic pair of pants. These elements don’t necessarily make a statement on their own, but they still have a big impact. I always recommend buying quality basic decorating items according to your budget, and investing a little more when possible. That way, these core items will still feel and look like new for years to come.
Owned items gifted by the brand are marked with an *.
- Balsam Hill 6.5′ Classic Blue Spruce Tree Over $325
- Balsam Hill 6.5 ft. Alpine Balsam Fir Tree
$549Currently on sale for $399 – I have this tree. - Health & Hands, Magnolia 12 Foot Faux Needle Pine and Snowberry Garland $45 – I have an older version of this garland.
- Afloral 48″ Real Touch Lebanese Cedar Garland $68 – I have a similar version of this garland.
- Schoolhouse Wooden Bead Garland* $39 – I have this garland.
- Terrain Faux Cedar Wreath* $118 – I have this lease.
Accent Piece
Accent holiday decor pieces are secondary items that add vibrancy to foundation pieces like stockings, tree skirts, ornament sets, and festive pillows. Your style shines through these items. I usually like to buy accent decor pieces that are classic styles with a unique twist. I love mixing and matching different pieces from my collection to create a unique look each year.
- Winter Checkered Schoolhouse Heirloom Stockings* $59 – I have these stockings.
- CB2 Blue Velvet Stockings $25 – Similar to the ochre stockings I bought at CB2.
- Hearth & Hand and Magnolia Braided Tree Collar $70
- Schoolhouse Folkloric Garland Tree Skirt $150 – currently out of stock, Similar options here.
- Essenceliving Mushroom Ornaments, Set of 6*$14 – I have this set.
- Jipi Campana Ornaments, Set of 10 (via Goodee) $175
- West Elm Modern Glass Ball Ornaments, Set of 9
$39Currently on sale for $31 - Etsy Agnes Store Goods Stripe Ruffle Pillow $44
- Sarah Sherman Samuel Velvet Disc Pillow* $78 – I have the blue one.
Special touches
Special touches are keepsake ornaments, decorative ribbons, and other items that you add to your collection once you have all the foundation and accent pieces. Every year, we buy a few new ornaments and tie beautiful velvet or silk ribbons around our tree or garland to add a little something extra. We also decorate a beautiful reusable advent calendar every year, which is a great activity to do with the kids. This year, I’m thinking about doing things differently in terms of what I put in my advent calendar. I might include a joke of the day, a daily activity (like building a snowman or watching a classic movie), or even little candies from different places around the world.
- Frame Bridge Ornament $30
- Anthropologie Tennis Ball Glass Ornament $32
- Holiday Red Floral Long Curve Shape Ornament by Sara Swanson (via Minted $38
- Mayarts 3/8 inch wide ribbon $17 – I have this ribbon.
- Topographical antique frayed velvet ribbon * $38-$54 – I have this ribbon.
- Collecting small advent calendars * $99 – I have this advent calendar.
- West Elm Purewood Light Up Advent Calendar
$120Currently on sale for $72 - Terrain Concordville Zinc Chateau* $78 – I own this item.
- Williams Sonoma ‘Twas the Night Holiday Cookie Cutter Set $28
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Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning tennis and will forever be Testing the limits of her creativity. Follow her on Instagram Follow.
