With only two months left of the year, Christmas is just around the corner. While I tend not to decorate the house until nearer December, I always plan my Christmas decor and interiors ahead of time to make sure that I have all the items I need before they sell out and to get everything delivered without any delays. If you want to make sure you’re prepared for Christmas in advance, here are five things that I do to get organised and ready to style my home for the festive season.

PLan Christmas crafts and Seasonal Arrangements Ahead of Time

Every year, I always create a lot of my own Christmas decor: handmade door wreaths, paper decorations, decorative bows and table centrepieces are just some of the seasonal decorations that I DIY at Christmas. If you want to do the same, be aware that homemade decorations take time and you’ll have to plan ahead to make sure that you have everything to hand ready to get crafting.

If you intend on making your own wreath, order your wreath ring, moss and natural pine in advance. Many of the floral wholesalers will sell out of these items by the middle of November as they are bought up by trade and once they are gone, they don’t restock.

If you are making your own paper Christmas tree decorations, give yourself enough time to practice and perfect your designs.

Decide on Your Decor

Each year my Christmas tree decorations will differ slightly from the last. While this doesn't mean going out and buying all new baubles, I tend to change up my colour ways and I'll use different shades of ribbon or fabric patterns. I’ll always decide on my decor scheme early, so I know what I need to order in advance to achieve my final look.

Whether you're someone who prefers to decorate two weeks before Christmas or as soon as November comes around, once your tree is up, make sure you have everything to hand. You might be looking for realistic artificial Christmas trees or even a table centerpiece to adorn, either way, decide on this year’s colour scheme and style way ahead of time.

PLan where everything will go

Make a mental note of each area of your home that you want to decorate. Think about what type of decor would look good in that space and consider how you are going to achieve it. Focal areas like fireplace mantels are good areas to dress for Christmas, as these are key areas of the room that draw the eye. Staircase bannisters also look good adorned with seasonal garlands, while windows and cooker hoods are also great places to hang festive wreaths.

Think Outside The Box

Some of the best Christmas decorations are those which feel surprising and unexpected. Garlands hanging over internal doors or baubles and ribbons draped from light fittings are not traditional, but they can create a lot of impact.

Decorating On A Budget: Use Natural Materials For Authentic and Sustainable Christmas Decor

There is a lot of pressure to spend money at Christmas, but you can decorate your home stylishly and affordably using only natural decor. Cut up slices of orange and dehydrate them in the oven to create pretty real orange garlands which can be strung together with twine. You can also make decorative indoor wreaths using only gypsophila or dried hydrangea heads.