Fabulous list of must-have items that you want for decorating your home for Christmas! Have the items ready to go for decorating!

This post has been updated for 2025!

I've been homemaking for 35 years now! That just totally made me feel old. LOL! 

Today I'm sharing my experience with a few Christmas decorating must-haves that you'll want to purchase or make sure you have before you start decorating! It will make things much easier and most are from Amazon!

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Christmas Decorating Must-Haves

As the Christmas season draws near, I love taking inventory of the pieces that make our home feel festive, collected, and effortlessly cozy year after year. Over time, I’ve learned that having a few tried-and-true essentials on hand makes decorating not only easier, but so much more enjoyable. Today’s post is an updated guide to my Christmas decorating must-haves—those timeless items I reach for season after season to create that warm, classic holiday look we all crave. Whether you're refreshing a few rooms or going all out this year, I hope these staples help inspire a beautifully decorated home filled with joy and comfort.

I shop so much from Amazon these days as opposed to going to the store. Shipping with Prime is so fast plus you have free returns.

Did you know that you can do a 30 day free trial for Amazon Prime? This is perfect for all of your holiday shopping!

Tree Skirts

A tree collar is a great alternative. It's a nice, clean look.

This is a pretty option as well.

Look for options that are in at least 2 pieces. This will give you a little wiggle room for the fit.

A faux fur tree skirt is also a lovely option. It looks fabulous if you want to display a Christmas village under your tree!

You could just opt for a faux fur throw that you can use in your decor later. I have done this as well.

This velvet skirt is perfect for a Ralph Lauren Christmas.

One thing that I do is to save my older matelassé quilts that I no longer use on beds. If they have stains or have seen better days, they are perfect for around the base of a tree.

Best Tree Stand

We purchased this Christmas tree stand back in 2019 and it is the Cadillac of stands. I promise you! We have it in the XXL size. It has worked for massive 10 foot trees down to 8 foot trees. The foot crank mechanism easily gets it straight for you. We put our real tree in it the day before Thanksgiving this year. I still have to decorate it this weekend.

I kid you not…..no fussing with this stand. The foot pedal gets it straight on the first try, no time flat. It was expensive but so worth it!!

Blankets & Throws

It's all about a Ralph Lauren Christmas this year. You can easily infuse a touch of it by incorporating throws. This cozy plaid blanket has a lovely plaid pattern.

Another Eddie Bauer throw in a classic holiday plaid pattern.

This quilt is lovely for the season and beyond. I am contemplating this for the foot of the twin beds.

Pillows

I love pillow covers for the holidays. They can go right over your existing pillows and store so easily after the season.

I used these plaid ones last year. They are perfect for the season. This year, I added a set of 18-inch to use on our covered porch. Over the last several years, I have used this technique to cover our existing front porch pillows for the season.

Even adding a solid like a green velvet pillow cover adds a touch of the season.

Our Christmas Trees

This is the second Christmas with this lovely tree. It is the 9-foot King Noble Fir (pre-lit).

I loved the 9-foot version so much that I added the 7-foot version for our dining room last year. As you can see, it has that lovely, sparse look.

This is the 9-foot King Douglas Fir Slim Artificial Christmas prelit. I'm not sure this one is still available in my size. It is a lovely tree with the option of colored lights.

This is a lovely slim tree as well!

This tree is wildly popular from Amazon. It has a gorgeous shape!

I added this slim tree from Home Depot for our bedroom this year, along with a 16-inch chinoiserie container for a tree stand. It is a 7-1/2 foot slim tree. I also added the same lights used on this twinkling tree to our other faux trees. I added 2 strands each to the 9-foot trees.

Ribbon

It can be hard to find a great wired red velvet ribbon that works outdoors. I purchased this in 2019 for the wreaths on the upper windows. They still look great. I just ordered another spool that came in yesterday to make new bows for the lower level.

This is the velvet ribbon that I use for tree bows and ornaments.

I use this ribbon for decorating and wrapping gifts.

This ribbon is a nice match for the caramel-colored velvet ribbon. It has a very nice drape. I am using it for decor and wrapping gifts.

I also have this gorgeous green velvet ribbon.

This is the ribbon that I use in our dining room.

This is the ribbon that I use for the lemon slices on our dining room tree.

Auto Plugs

The ones that I have used are no longer available, but these remote outlets have great reviews. These are much sleeker than mine. I absolutely love the convenience of remotes. I keep them all on the kitchen counter and can turn on all of the Christmas lights from one spot.

I have moved to using these plugs on all of our faux Christmas trees, mantels, and anywhere I have string lights. I still manually operate our real tree for safety reasons. It is so easy to ask Alexa to turn on the Christmas lights or to turn them off!

These are the smart outlets that I use on the front porch. I love the timer option for these in the app. I can also opt to turn them on earlier from the app or ask Alexa to do it. The secret is using the same brand of all your plugs and light bulbs.

Not Christmas-related, but since we are talking about my Kasa products……I LOVE these! I have these on our bedside tables and lamps on the table in the family room. I mainly bought them for travel so they would come on while we are away, but enjoying them daily.

Window Candles

This budget-friendly option has served us well for several years.

These window candles are a splurge, but worth it! . I ordered 2 sets. They have a nice weight to them and love the flicker of the candle.

These are not window candles, but love on our tree! I also use them in my Christmas Village pieces. They come with a remote so easy to operate when needed. I don't turn them on all the time to save battery life. They are beautiful!

Fairy Lights

I ordered these fairy lights this year, and they are fabulous!

Here is one set on the mantel. They have a lovely, warm light.

These are reader-favorite year after year. Curtain lights are so much fun for the holidays. They are hung from the curtain rod. You can also install command hooks above the frame.

Odds and Ends

Floral wire is a must-have for your holiday kit!

Command Hooks are a must for holiday decorating. Just check the weight max for each style of hook.

Just make sure you select the right weight limit for your hooks.

Elevate your ornament hooks with these dressier gold ones.

Do yourself a favor and purchase high-quality batteries for your window candles.

Flameless candles are perfect for hard-to-reach places like your mantel or if you have pets and young children.

I have purchased 3 stockings from this company, and they are gorgeous! Needlepoint stockings are classic. I bought them for new additions to our family. All of ours were handmade by my late mother-in-law. These are a great blend.

I hope this updated list of Christmas decorating must-haves inspires you to create a warm, inviting home you’ll love throughout the season. Decorating doesn’t have to be overwhelming—just a few thoughtful staples can transform your spaces with charm and ease. As you begin pulling out your bins or shopping for something new, I’d love to know what items you reach for year after year. Wishing you the most magical, cozy, joy-filled Christmas season ahead!

Find more CHRISTMAS IDEAS on the blog!

I hope you have an amazing time holiday decorating!

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