Holiday Decor Burn Out? Avoid Decision Fatigue With These Tips From Interior Designers

If you find yourself struggling to find last-minute decor ideas, you might be burnt out from all the noise surrounding holiday decorations. As everyone chimes in with the latest trends and this season’s “must-haves”, decision fatigue can settle in fast. And especially as a renter, you might be surrounded by tricks that you cannot implement in a rental apartment. 

That’s why we reached out to expert interior designers to help cut through the clutter. They shared fresh ideas, from creative color combos to unconventional decor that’s renter-friendly and adds a touch of elegance to any space. Here’s what they told us.  

Transform your bookcase into a winter wonderland 

Garrison Hullinger of Studio Garrison had a few recommendations that would turn any bookcase into a beautifully decorated piece for the holidays. “Start by tucking battery-operated fairy lights into clear and colored glass vases, creating a magical glow without needing outlets.” He also suggested adding faux greenery among your books and decorative items to enhance depth and bring a natural vibe.  

“For a splash of color, fill bowls with vibrant ornaments that reflect the holiday spirit’” he said. “This festive arrangement not only elevates your space but also serves as a stunning focal point, sure to delight family and guests alike. Embrace the season by making your bookcase a charming centerpiece in your home.” 

Build yourself a starry night sky 

“One of the standout elements in holiday decorating is the addition of twinkling lights in any space,” said Amy Owens, owner and principal designer at Hidden Gem Design Group. “To make adding lights more renter-friendly, command strips (or any removable adhesive hooks) and fishing line will be your best friend! Look for interesting, unexpected spots that need a little sparkle — like the ceiling or at the end of a hall — and hang rechargeable, battery-operated lights to bring a little holiday cheer. Couple the lights with lightweight, paper stars strung up with the fishing line, holiday-scented candles and cozy throw pillows in your holiday palette, and you will have a magical, festive space in no time!” 

Also focusing on the ceiling is the advice we have received from Shaofeng Li, founder and designer at PopMaison. As the owner of a furniture store, I’ve learned that one of the most overlooked ways to decorate a rental space for the holidays is focusing on the ceiling. It’s an untapped space that can create a big impact without touching the walls. For instance, clear fishing line with detachable hooks can be used to hang fabric snowflakes, paper lanterns, or lightweight ornaments. Without inflicting any harm, it instantly generates a festive feeling and creates the appearance of floating decorations.”

Decorate your doorways and windows 

If you want to create an inviting atmosphere without overwhelming the space in your rental, focus on spaces that create a transition between the inside and outside. Shanna Eilers, owner of Ashby Road Studio, had some great tips for this. “Add dimension and charm to your doorways and windows with lightweight garlands or string lights,” she said. “Take it a step further by draping festive scarves or textured fabric as a faux mantel on a console table or bookshelf. Command hooks will be your best friend for hanging décor like this without leaving a mark. Get creative and you can craft a renter-friendly holiday look that’s uniquely yours while keeping your space festive and functional.” 

Use removable adhesive hooks and command strips 

One of the easiest ways to hang holiday decor without damaging walls is to use the tools that are a renter’s best friend: adhesive hooks and command strips. Bethany B. Palmer, CEO and principal director of Interiors by Bethany, recommended that you use them “to hang lightweight decorations. This gives a festive appearance and adds holiday charm. Think about hanging wreaths, garlands, ornaments, string light, and frames displaying past family Christmas pictures.” Additionally, “nothing adds holiday elegance better than a beautiful wreath on a window or front door,” Palmer said, so use removable wreath holders that won’t damage those surfaces.  

Also, if you are renting a house, Joseph DiGangi of Artisons Painting told us that “on exteriors, there are clear plastic gutter clips that are removable from a pole to hang lights.” Make sure that you don’t interfere with the functionality of these elements when adding your decor.  

Rely on seasonal decor that can easily be packed away

Beyond all DIY tips and tricks, the classic freestanding decor is not to be overlooked. Seymen Usta, co-founder and interior design specialist at Seus Lighting, told us: “I also love including freestanding decor with things like vases, table runners, and holiday pillows—the things that can completely change the look of a room yet are easily packed away when the season is over.” Similarly, Josh Qian, COO and co-founder of Best Online Cabinets recommends relying on fabric and cloths: “An unconventional decorating hack for rental spaces is to use decorative fabric or tablecloths as wall hangings. Simply draping a festive fabric in rich colors or patterns can create a cozy atmosphere without damaging the walls. Renters can easily add texture and warmth while completely removable after the holidays.”

Use an alternative to your Christmas tree

Arnold Riedel, strategic interior design advisor at Real Estate Bees, encourages us to get creative. “Christmas is all about creating this festive mood and ambiance. While a spruce or a fir is a popular choice, there’s an unconventional and often forgotten hack: decorating your houseplants! They provide a beautiful green backdrop and all you need to do is add some festive ornaments to transform them into additional Christmas trees. And what about those empty boxes piling up in your garage? The bigger, the better! Wrap them in Christmas paper, add a bow and scatter them around your place to create a cozy and festive atmosphere.”

Use a tension rod to display a beautiful garland 

One of the trends that has been around lately is to create a magical garland on a tension rod, and Erica Lugbill of Lugbill Designs recommended just that. “Use tension rods in doorway openings to wrap garland around,” she said. You can add fairy lights, small hanging decorations, and dainty ribbons to create a beautiful decor piece. Use realistic faux greenery and, if you want to go the extra mile, add a few drops of essential oils to make it smell like the real thing.  

John Gluch, owner of Gluch Group San Diego, also mentions this hack. “This hack is a great renter-friendly home decor option because it requires no drilling and is such an easy DIY that anyone can do it. If you have any awning in your home or entryway in between two spaces, you can take a cheap shower curtain rod and use the tension between each wall to create a really nice effect with some green garland. You can wrap garland around the pole as well as lights and other lightweight decor. This creates a drapery effect and helps to elevate any space and make it feel more holiday ready. You can also hang dried citrus slices, which also helps to make your space smell good too.”

Ditch the red and green for fresh and luxurious color combos 

We’ve also asked these interior designers what other color combos they like to use during the winter holidays, and we got some refreshing options.  

• Midcentury luxury 

Hullinger went for a sophisticated palette incorporating “lustrous peacock blue ornaments, shimmering gold accents, and delightful pops of burnt orange. The deep peacock blue adds drama, while metallic gold brings a touch of glamour. The burnt orange adds warmth and a playful retro vibe,” he said. “What I love most about this palette is its versatility. I extend it beyond the tree with velvet throw pillows, gilt-edged ornaments, and vintage-inspired glass vessels filled with twinkling lights. To make a real statement, I skipped the traditional star topper in favor of a sculptural gold sunburst — because holiday decor can be both festive and fabulous!”  

• Mulled wine aesthetic 

“Traditional red and green are classic colors, but mixing it up can create a bold statement perfect for those who love to break the mold,” said Eilers. “Try using burnt orange and deep burgundy — a rich, cozy palette reminiscent of holiday spices and mulled wine. Start by wrapping burgundy velvet ribbon around your tree to set the foundation. Enhance the festive feel by adding dried orange slices as ornaments or garland accents, layer throw pillows in these rich hues on your sofa, and place wine-colored candles on your table or mantel for a warm, inviting atmosphere.” 

• Make it your own 

“Christmas is a great time to be bold and creative and do what you love!” said Owens. “This year I am using (and loving!) a deep, saturated teal blue, a coppery-rust color and a rich, velvet-y burgundy! Together, they create a warm, luxurious vibe that is a little edgy and unexpected.  When it comes to holiday decorating, almost any color combination can work — just remember to repeat the colors in the palette in multiple spots (i.e. ornaments on the Christmas tree, on your mantle and again in your tabletop decor) and try to stick to three to five colors maximum to create a cohesive and pulled-together look. Some of my other favorite, unexpected color combos include blush pink, antique gold and olive green as an elegant but whimsical option and hot pink, bright turquoise, and chartreuse green with accents of shimmery silver for a fun, bold and cheery space.” 

Remember to enjoy the process 

As you get your home ready for the festive season, don’t let the pressure take away the joy. This is a time to unwind, reflect on the past year and look forward to the new one. So, while decorating, treat yourself to a warm drink, put on some holiday music, dim the lights, and savor the moment. Happy holidays!