The holiday season is here and I’m doing things differently for our 2023 holiday decor. Since we moved into our house in 2020, I’m “go big” on holiday decorations. This is the only holiday I “decorate” for, and I’ve been thinking about adding pieces to our holiday displays and growing our collection for a few years now. Although it was expensive at first, I now have a great collection to build on for years to come. And with two young children who appreciate the magic of the season, it seems very meaningful to decorate in a way that makes our home a holiday paradise for them.
This year I don’t plan on adding many more pieces to my collection. I’m mostly thinking about little touches I might want to incorporate, like fresh ribbon to decorate and nice gift wrapping for gifts under the tree.
Depending on your phase of life, there will be some years where you stock up on basic Christmas decorations, years where you simply add a few accent pieces to the mix, and others where you only bring a few more. special details. The idea is that you make these purchasing decisions thoughtfully, purchasing certain items that you can’t wait to display and leaving the rest behind.
I’ve put together this 2023 holiday decorating article around this intentional framework, so you can shop for your specific holiday decorating needs right now. The post is organized into three categories: basic decor, accent pieces, and special touches. I made sure to include a number of decorative items that I own and can vouch for, which are shown in the list below.
My favorite Christmas decoration products for 2023
Foundation decor
Basic elements like trees, garlands and wreaths form the basis of any holiday decor. These are the pieces to buy first if you’re just starting your decor collection or want to replace a weathered item you’ve had for a while. If we think of dressing our home as putting together an outfit, these pieces are akin to a great sweater or classic pants. While these elements don’t necessarily make a statement on their own, they still have a significant impact. I always recommend purchasing high-quality foundation decor pieces and investing a little more if possible, depending on your budget. This way, these essential items will stay looking and feeling new year after year.
Items that I own and were gifted to me by the brand are marked with an *.
- Balsam Hill 6.5′ Classic Blue Spruce $325+
- Balsam Hill 6.5′ Alpine Balsam Fir
$549currently on sale for $399 – I have this tree. - Health and Hands with 12′ Magnolia Pine and Snowberry Garland $45 – I have an older version of this garland.
- Real Touch Lebanese Cedar Garland 48″ Afloral $68 – I have a similar version of this garland.
- Wooden bead garland for school*$39 – I have this garland.
- Faux Cedar Field Wreath*$118 – I have this crown.
Accent pieces
Christmas decor pieces are secondary items like stockings, tree skirts, ornament sets and festive pillows that bring the base pieces to life. With these items, your style can shine through. I generally like to buy accent decor pieces in classic styles with a unique twist. I love mixing and matching different pieces from my collection and creating a distinct look each year.
- Winter Plaid School Heirloom Stockings*$59 – I have this bottom.
- Blue velvet CB2 stockings $25 – Similar to the tan stockings I have from CB2.
- Hearth and Hand with Magnolia Woven Tree Collar $70
- Schoolhouse Folk Garland Tree Skirt $150 – Currently out of stock, similar option here.
- Essenceliving Mushroom Decorations Set of 6*$14 – I have this set.
- Jipi Campana Ornament Set of 10 via Goodee $175
- Set of 9 West Elm Modern Glass Ornaments
$39currently on sale for $31 - Etsy Agnes Store Goods Striped Ruffle Cushion $44
- Sarah Sherman Samuel Velvet Disc Cushion*$78 – I got them in blue.
Special keys
Special touches are items such as keepsake ornaments and decorative ribbons that you might add to your collection once you’re ready to put together base and accent pieces. Our family gets a few new ornaments each year, and I will tie beautiful velvet or silk ribbons on trees or garlands to add a little something extra. We also display a beautiful reusable Advent calendar each year, an amazing activity to do with the kids. We’re planning to take a different route when it comes to what we put in the Advent calendar this year. We could incorporate something like a joke of the day, everyday activities (e.g. building a snowman, watching a classic movie), or perhaps small candies from different places around the world.
- Framebridge Ornament $30
- Anthropologie Tennis Ball Glass Ornament $32
- Red Long Curve Holiday Floral Ornament by Sara Swanson via Minted $38
- May Arts Wide Ribbon 3/8″ $17 – I have this ribbon.
- Terrain Antique Frayed Velvet Ribbon *$38 – $54 – I have this ribbon.
- Small Gathre Advent calendar *$99 – I have this Advent calendar.
- West Elm Illuminated Pure Wood Advent Calendar
$120currently on sale for $72 - Land Concordville Zinc Château*$78 – I have this product.
- 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 to play tennis and it’s forever test the limits of your creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
