Yes, we’re those people.
I get annoyed when stores skip straight to the next holiday—Christmas displays the week before Thanksgiving drive me nuts. Give me Thanksgiving first. Let me get through turkey and stuffing before you bombard me with Santas and fake snow. And yet, this year we did something a little out of character…
…we put up our Christmas tree before Thanksgiving. There, I said it. You can react however you like—scold us, tease us, or offer a playful eye roll. We warned our Thanksgiving guests ahead of time and they treated it like a quirky novelty. So, we’ll soon find out whether holiday food tastes any different when eaten in a room with a glowing Christmas tree.
Why the early setup? Typically we decorate in early December—sometimes a little later if life gets busy. This year, because we’re moving in mid-December, we wanted to enjoy the tree for our usual three-or-so weeks before the packing begins. Plus, it’s Clara’s first Christmas, so we wanted to give her time to notice and enjoy the decorations before the move adds chaos to the schedule.
Our color palette this year is champagne, metallic green, silver, and pink—a soft, slightly frosted mix that nods to Clara’s first holiday. We already had plenty of silver and champagne ornaments, so we picked up pink and metallic green bulbs during a sale. I aimed for a look that feels girly and gentle without being overly saccharine or excluding the guys in the house. I even resisted the urge to add pink feather boas, keeping things tasteful for everyone—John, Burger, and the rest of the family included.
Some ornaments are sentimental and don’t exactly match the palette, but they belong on the tree anyway. A festive chihuahua ornament from John’s godmother made the cut because it’s hilarious and personal, even though it isn’t strictly pink, silver, green, or champagne.
Another keeper is our recentlywed moose ornament—a bride and groom moose we brought home from our Alaskan honeymoon. It’s not glamorous, but it’s full of meaning, so it earns a special place among the branches.
You’ll also notice a few personalized pieces that blend in nicely, like a silver Empire State Building ornament that nods to our early days in New York City. Small reminders like that help make the tree feel like ours—part decoration, part memory board.
Overall, the tree reads soft and sweet. John likes it, Burger doesn’t seem to care, and the palette works well in our living room even with a geometric rug and a modern sofa. I used faux sheepskin rugs as a makeshift tree skirt—an odd little tradition we’ve kept for several years now—and it ties the whole corner together with cozy texture.
We did run into a familiar minor problem: the pre-lit tree’s bottom strand of lights wasn’t working. The quick fix was wrapping an extra strand around the bottom to straighten things out. We could hunt down the faulty bulb, but the extra lights did the trick and saved time.
So that’s our tree this year—early, sentimental, and a little more pastel than usual. What about your plans? Are you leaning toward a classic red-and-green tree, something edible and whimsical, a jewel-toned look, or something totally unexpected? Whether you’re ready to decorate now or waiting until after Thanksgiving, I’d love to hear about your ideas and color schemes.
Psssst—If you’re itching to go full holiday mode in your PJ’s and deck the halls early, check our Projects page for festive ideas and inspiration.
Update: We’ve also compiled a list of favorite holiday decor finds—many of them budget-friendly—if you’re shopping for ornaments and seasonal accents.