Christmas Decorating Mistakes: 12 Things Designers Spot Right Away and the Cheap DIY Fix for Each

Christmas Decorating Mistakes happen in almost every home, and the good news is that most of them cost very little to fix. Interior designers say they can spot a few classic slip ups in seconds: a skinny garland, a tree that looks lost in the room, ornaments only on the front, or cords snaking across the floor. None of this means your home is not lovely. It just means a few small tweaks can take it from nice to wow. We gathered 12 of the most common problems along with a simple, budget friendly DIY fix for each one, so your rooms look styled and cozy without a single trip to a fancy store..

Christmas Decorating Mistakes Designers Notice First

A room like this looks expensive, but it follows a few simple rules that fix the most common Christmas Decorating Mistakes. The tree is full and tall, the ribbon wraps all the way around, ornaments sit deep in the branches, and the mantel garland is lush and trailing. Readers on MSN react to designer mistake stories again and again, like one MSN interior design card that drew hundreds of likes for a mistake designers can spot in seconds. Ready to check your own rooms..

You will need: A notepad, your phone camera, an hour to walk through each room, and an open mind.

How to make it: 1. Take a photo of each decorated room; photos show gaps your eyes miss. 2. Compare against the fixes below. 3. Pick the three easiest fixes and do them first.

Christmas Decorating Mistakes: Skimpy Garland

One thin garland draped across a mantel can look sad and flat, and it is one of the Christmas Decorating Mistakes designers see most. The fix is cheap: twist two inexpensive garlands together, fluff every branch, and tuck in eucalyptus, pine cones, berry picks and a strand of fairy lights. Let the ends trail down the sides for drama. It instantly looks like a designer did it. How many strands do you have in the attic?

You will need: 2 or 3 inexpensive faux garlands, floral wire, eucalyptus or pine sprigs, pine cones, berry picks, battery fairy lights, removable hooks.

How to make it: 1. Fluff each branch of both garlands. 2. Twist them together and wire them in place every foot. 3. Tuck in picks and lights, then hang so the ends trail down.

Tree Too Small for the Room: Raise It on a Crate

One of the sneakiest Christmas Decorating Mistakes is a small tree in a big room, where it can look lost, but you do not need to buy a new one. Set it on a sturdy wooden crate, an upturned basket or a small table, then wrap the base in a plaid blanket so it looks intentional. Suddenly the tree stands tall, and the gifts have a cozy spot below. Grandma’s old crate works perfectly. What could you stand your tree on?

You will need: A sturdy wooden crate or small table, a plaid blanket or tree skirt, a few wrapped gifts.

How to make it: 1. Set the crate in the corner and check it is steady. 2. Place the tree stand on top. 3. Drape a blanket over the crate and stack gifts around it.

Ornaments Only on the Front: Fill the Inside

Hanging every ornament on the tips of the branches leaves the inside of the tree dark and hollow. Designers fill that space first with clusters of cheap shatterproof balls tied together in threes. Push them deep toward the trunk, then add your special ornaments on the outside. The tree looks fuller, richer and glows from within. Do you have a box of plain balls you could use?

You will need: A pack of shatterproof ball ornaments in 2 or 3 colors, floral wire or ornament hooks.

How to make it: 1. Wire three balls together into a cluster. 2. Tuck clusters deep into the tree near the trunk. 3. Add your favorite ornaments on the outer branches.

Christmas Decorating Mistakes: Too Many Colors

Mixing every color in the box can make a room feel busy, one of the Christmas Decorating Mistakes that is easy to fix. Pick a simple palette of two or three colors, like green, white and wood, or red, cream and gold, and pack the rest away for another year. A calm palette makes even budget decor look polished. You can see how peaceful this room feels. Which three colors would you choose?

You will need: Your existing decorations, a few storage bins, and a decision on 2 or 3 colors.

How to make it: 1. Sort your decorations into color piles. 2. Keep only the 2 or 3 colors you love most. 3. Store the rest and decorate with your chosen palette.

Cords on Show: Hide Them With Ribbon

Nothing breaks the magic like a tangle of cords across the floor, and it is one of the Christmas Decorating Mistakes guests notice first. Run them along the baseboard and cover them with a strip of velvet ribbon held on with removable tape, or tuck them behind a basket. A cord cover painted the wall color works too. It takes ten minutes and makes the whole corner look tidy. Have you ever tripped over a light cord?

You will need: Velvet ribbon, removable tape or cord clips, a basket or tree collar, a power strip with a timer.

How to make it: 1. Route all cords to one power strip near the tree. 2. Run the cord along the baseboard. 3. Cover it with ribbon or clips and hide the strip behind the basket.

Wreath Too Small for the Door: Stack Two

A small wreath on a big door looks like a postage stamp. Instead of buying an extra large one, hang two matching wreaths stacked on a long velvet ribbon from the top of the door. It looks grand, custom and very welcoming from the street. Add potted evergreens on each side to frame it. For more ideas for the front of your home, see our Christmas porch planters. Would you try the double look?

You will need: 2 matching wreaths, a long wide velvet ribbon, an over the door hook, zip ties.

How to make it: 1. Hang the ribbon from an over the door hook so it runs down the center. 2. Zip tie the top wreath to the ribbon. 3. Attach the second wreath just below and tie a bow at the top.

Christmas Decorating Mistakes: Uneven Stockings

Stockings hung at different heights look messy, one of the small Christmas Decorating Mistakes that people notice in photos. Stretch a ribbon or string across the mantel or shelf as a level guide, then hang every stocking at the same height and spacing. Matching stockings, or ones in the same color family, look even neater. A row of even stockings feels like a magazine page. How many stockings hang in your home?

You will need: Stocking holders or removable hooks, a ribbon or string, a small level, a tape measure.

How to make it: 1. Stretch a ribbon across the mantel at the height you want. 2. Mark even spacing with a tape measure. 3. Hang each stocking on its mark and remove the guide.

Lights Only on the Outside: Wrap the Branches In

Lights swirled only around the outside of a tree make it look flat. Designers wrap the lights along each main branch, from the trunk out to the tip and back again. It takes longer, but the tree glows from deep inside and looks twice as full. Use warm white lights for a cozy look. Plan about 100 lights for every foot of tree. Will you rewrap yours this year?

You will need: Warm white string lights, about 100 per foot of tree, an extension cord, a timer.

How to make it: 1. Start at the trunk near the bottom. 2. Wrap lights out along each branch and back to the trunk. 3. Work up the tree branch by branch.

Tree Skirt Too Small: Use a Basket Collar

A tiny tree skirt that shows the metal stand is an easy fix. Set the tree in a big woven basket or a tree collar, then tuck a cozy knit blanket around the top. It hides everything and adds warm texture. Thrift stores often have large baskets for a few dollars. It looks so cozy with gifts stacked around it. What would you use to hide your stand?

You will need: A large woven basket or tree collar, a knit blanket or throw, a sturdy tree stand.

How to make it: 1. Place the tree stand inside the basket. 2. Set the tree and check it is straight and stable. 3. Tuck the blanket around the stand inside the basket.

Christmas Decorating Mistakes at the Table: Go Low

A tall centerpiece looks pretty until guests have to lean around it to talk. Keep table decor under about 12 inches so everyone can see each other. Use low flowers, a line of greenery, or small jars and ornaments down the middle. It feels more welcoming and leaves room for the food. Our Christmas table ideas have more low centerpieces. How tall is your centerpiece now?

You will need: Low vases or jars, short flowers or greenery, ornaments, a table runner.

How to make it: 1. Measure your centerpiece and keep it under 12 inches. 2. Spread greenery down the center of the runner. 3. Add low flowers and ornaments in small groups.

Leaving Out Scent and Texture: Dried Orange and Wool

A room can look perfect but still feel cold if everything is shiny and plastic. Add natural texture and scent with a garland of dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks, a chunky wool throw and a bowl of pine cones and cloves. These cost very little and make the house smell like the holidays. It is the final touch that fixes the last of the Christmas Decorating Mistakes on our list. Which cozy touch will you add first?

You will need: Oranges, cinnamon sticks, twine, a large needle, a wool throw, pine cones, whole cloves.

How to make it: 1. With adult help, slice and bake oranges at about 200 F for 3 to 4 hours until dry. 2. Thread the slices and cinnamon sticks on twine. 3. Hang the garland and add the throw and pine cone bowl.