With summer behind us, your thoughts have likely turned to pumpkin patches, changing leaves, Halloween decor, and other joys of the fall season. As they should! Let’s enjoy the seasons as they come and not skip ahead to Christmas, right?!
Well.. as you’re sipping that pumpkin spice latte and enjoying all things fall you might want to also take a quick look ahead to the holidays and snag the few Christmas decorations that sell out super early every year. Today I’m sharing the five holiday decorations that would be a good idea to grab now! Then once they arrive, put them away in a closet until November when it’s a more civilized time to talk about the holidays – ha! (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here})
1. Artificial Christmas Trees
Retailers never want to be left with extra Christmas trees at the end of the holiday season so the best ones often sell out early. If a new artificial tree is on your holiday must-have list, don’t wait too late to get one! I’ve been happy with both of our Balsam Hill trees including their prelit 6.5′ Noble Fir tree:
and their 7.5′ frosted fraser fir:
They’re both gorgeous, realistic trees but they’ve not cheap! If you’re looking for a tree that looks beautiful with nothing but lights, either of these two trees might be worth the investment because both are beautiful even when bare. But if you’re going to be loading on plenty of ornaments, ribbon, garlands, etc. (I share my step by step of how to decorate a Christmas tree {here}), you can get away with buying a less expensive artificial tree since the ornaments and ribbon fill any gaps.
As a mid-priced option, you can actually get Balsam Hill brand trees as Amazon exclusives at a much lower price than the ones sold directly by Balsam Hill. For example, {this Amazon exclusive 6.5 ft. Balsam Hill tree} is similar to my noble fir but about $400 less! You can shop Amazon’s Balsam Hill trees based on the tree height you’re looking for {here}.
Best Choice brand trees on Amazon are also great trees and super well priced too! Last year I put up {this 7.5′ flocked Christmas tree} in our family room and was really happy with how nice and full it was:
It’s also available in 6′ and 9′ options. My favorite star tree topper is from Amazon too – you can snag it {here}.
2. Tabletop Christmas Trees
There are two specific tabletop trees that I LOVE that go fast each year. One is {this 2.5′ tabletop tree} from Target that’s super cute and the perfect size for an entryway console, on top of a dresser, or on a media console or dining room sideboard.
Another early sell-out each year are {these pre-lit Birch trees} that I bought 3 years ago and Pottery Barn has brought back every year since:
Sources: Round mirror (I used Rub ‘n Buff to change the color to gold) | Bust planter | Black & white bone box | Snowy forest art print | Acrylic lamp | Pre-lit birch trees (small and medium) | Dresser is old one I painted with Farrow & Ball “Worsted” | Dresser knobs
They would look great on a fireplace mantel too!
3. Christmas Tree Collars
I first tried using a Christmas tree collar instead of a tree skirt about five years ago and have never looked back! I love that tree collars don’t take up nearly as much floor space as tree skirts. And I especially love them for artificial trees because they cover the trunk of the tree which is the biggest giveaway for whether your tree is artificial versus real. If you have a real tree, I’ve had some readers tell me they love them because it keeps their pets from drinking the tree water. I’m not sure why but Christmas tree collars sell out well before the holidays every year so the time to snag one is now.
One of my first Christmas tree collars is {this woven tree collar} – I love the look of it! It’s completely neutral so goes with any colors that you use on your Christmas tree and it adds great texture to the room:
Other natural weave options I love include {this open weave zig zag tree collar}, {this chevron weave tree collar}, and {this chunky braided seagrass tree collar}:
I also have and love {this white rope tree collar} that I’ve used around the base of the Christmas tree I decorate in my girls’ room (mine looks slightly different because it’s the 3-years-ago version):
While this one’s a little harder to see with the presents piled around it, I also have a hammered silver tree collar (a HomeGoods score) that looks identical to {this tree collar}:
4. Flocking Powder
If you make a product that is pretty much only bought around the holidays, you would think you would stockpile the heck out of it so you had plenty to sell all the way up to the end of the year right?! For whatever reason, that doesn’t seem to be what happens with flocking powder which commonly sells out as we approach the holidays. Two years ago, I used it to give my Christmas tree a new snowy look:
Flocking is a great way to give new life and a new look to an artificial tree that you might’ve had for years. Adding flocking powder to our tree was easy to do (see {this post} on how to flock a Christmas tree for the step by step!) and I love that by doing it yourself, you’re able to control whether you want a lightly or heavily snow covered look. I wanted just a light flocking of snow and was so happy with how it turned out:
You can use flocking powder to add the look of freshly fallen snow to things other than Christmas trees too, such as wreaths and garlands. The flocking powder that I recommend is SnoFlock which you can find {here}. Just don’t wait too long to buy it because if you wait until it’s time to put up your tree, there’s a good chance it will be gone.
5. My Holiday Bells
If you’ve been following my blog for any length of time, you know that {this set of three bells} is my favorite holiday decor piece:
I’ve used them every Christmas we lived in CT as part of a greenery swag for our front door (see my Christmas swag tutorial {here}). And last year I used two of the three bells on the twin wreaths on our front doors:
along with {this Moravian star} hanging from my front porch ceiling:
You can use them in places other than your front door too such as tied to the post at the bottom of your staircase or added to shelves in your home or your fireplace mantel. You can snag your own holiday bell trio {HERE} (mine are the cylinder bells – 10″, 8″, & 6″ in bronze) before the price goes up (which has happened in past years as we get closer to the holidays) or they sell out.
As far as holiday gifts go, I always share my family’s favorite things in an annual post to give you a few gift ideas – look for my 2023 version soon! Until then, you can check out my Christmas Wish List Ideas post from last year {here}.
And with that we’ll get back to all things fall! 😊 Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!
Ann says
Great post, Kris. Could you please fix the hyperlink for the woven hyacinth tree collar? Presently, it just links back to your page.
Thanks, Ann
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Ann – I checked it and it’s linked appropriately so I’m not sure why it’s not working. Sorry about that! Here it is: https://rstyle.me/+B9VSha-ccbgOgezCAWtzgg
Laurie says
FYI it’s not working for me either, either in the post of the link here in the comments.
Jennie says
Kris, on a note not related to Christmas (although I am about to order those bells!), I’m curious to know if you had shutters on your red brick house, and if so, what color were they painted? I noticed the brick in the picture of your daughter holding the fire pit. I have the same brick and currently the shutters are a dark shade of green that I did not choose, and am ready to change.
Thanks so much!
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Jennie – we actually don’t have any shutters on our house but as boring as it might be, I think black usually looks best with this color brick. We did repaint our front door and I like how it looks with the brick but I’m not sure it would work for shutters – you can see that here: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/how-paint-front-door/
Linda says
Thanks for this post Kris! Got me thinking ahead, which I don’t usually do. Thanks to you, it will be different this year!!
Oh, how did Cricket like the ocean??
Kris Jarrett says
She wasn’t sure what to think at first with the noise of the ocean and the rolling waves but by the end of our short walk, she was just chugging along! I think if we get her down to the beach every week or so she’ll be a beach dog in no time! 🙂
Rebecca Noot says
I LOVE my Solo Stove. Just want others to know that the next morning, there’s literally about a tablespoon of ash to clean out. We met outdoors all winter during 2020/2021 with friends as we were social-distancing. It was such fun to wrap up in blankets by the fire on our patio, drink our wine or hot cocoa, eat crackers and cheese or a cookie or two. Some wonderful memories which we’ll continue to do this year just because we had such a great time.
Karen says
Kris,
I’m happy to see this. It will serve to get me going at least into the planning stages.
We know Christmas will be here before we know it.
xo,
Karen
Tonya Cato says
Where can I find the lovely ribbons you have esp the blues ? Also Im considering a solo firepit but am wondering if its ok for a covered porch (not enclosed just a 9′ roof )
Felena Bartlett says
Wonderful blog..thank you
Suzanne Carrier says
Hope you feel better! 🌻
Teresa says
Hi Kris – what size are the bells on the wreaths. They look great and I want to duplicate the look. Thank you in advance.
Kris Jarrett says
Sure – my bells are the cylinder option – 5″, 4″, & 3″ in bronze (even though they are more gold than bronze in appearance!).
Stacey says
Hi Kris,
Hope you feel better soon! I want to get the trio of bells that you recommend so highly – they always look so pretty in your photos! Do you have the bronze or the gold? There are multiple colors on Amazon. Thank you!
Kris Jarrett says
My bells are the cylinder option – 5″, 4″, & 3″ in bronze (even though they are more gold than bronze in appearance!).
Maggie says
Hi! Same question, which color bells do you use? The bronze or the gold? Thanks!
Barb says
Is there a garland for decorating a fireplace that you recommend? I currently don’t have room for a large tree, but I want to build a holiday decorating collection.
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Barb,
For a fireplace garland, it depends what type of greenery you prefer but two great options are this pine garland: https://amzn.to/3Sy3EAa
and this mixed greenery garland with pinecones: https://amzn.to/3SvSdsZ
I’ve used both and love them!
Susan D. says
Kris, I love that you give us this info now, when we have time to plan. I have two of the crate and barrel tree collars and I love them…one in traditional red and the other in gold hammered. This year I’m using gold and white in my decor. Help me choose which set of bells will go best – the bronze (like you), or the gold, or even the brass?? I’m stuck!! I trust your judgement so I thought I’d ask.
Michelle says
I made your greenery swag by grabbing Christmas tree limbs my neighbor left curbside to throw away! It turned out gorgeous, full and much better than a wreath. I received soo many compliments! Be careful not to get water on the bells when you spray the wreath though as the bells will rust! It lasted the entire month. Can’t wait to make another one-easiest project ever!
dawn says
Thank you for this post. It seems everything sells out so fast so it’s great to plan ahead. Great tips…btw, can you please send me a link to sputnik style flush mount light in the bedroom with the Serena and Lily blue wallpaper? Thank you!
Kris Jarrett says
Sure – I got it from an Etsy shop that is currently “taking a break” so their shop is temporarily closed but here’s a link to it that you can check in the next few weeks that will work once they reopen: http://rstyle.me/n/cteffe7wbe