How to split festive decorating duties with your family without arguments – and 3 ways to manage it alone

Decorating for Christmas can be an overwhelming task – no matter if you only put up one tree, or deck out the whole house with festive lights and holiday village displays.

Doing it alone only makes it worse – but how do you split decorating duties with your family? And what can you do if you’re going it alone?

Here, expert Christmas decorators have shared their top tips to make bringing your Christmas decor ideas to life less exhausting and stressful.

How to split decorating duties with your family

Like splitting chores with a partner or introducing children to chores, splitting decorating duties requires communication and setting expectations. Here’s how to manage the load together without an argument.

1. Work out people's preferences

Before you can make a start on your ultimate Christmas hosting prep countdown, you should work out what people want to do and what they know how to do well. This makes them more likely to get the task done.

Patricia Derpinsky, professional decorator and lead designer at Hudson Holiday Decor suggests, ‘Start by talking about everyone’s strengths and preferences. If one person loves organizing, they might take charge of untangling the lights or setting up the outdoor display, while someone more creative might focus on decorating the tree or arranging centerpieces.’

Then you can start on your pre-Christmas decluttering, pre-Christmas cleaning, and festive decorating.

2. Break tasks into smaller parts

So everyone can decorate for Christmas without feeling overwhelmed, Patricia Derpinsky recommends, ‘Breaking things into smaller tasks – like tackling the tree one evening and the mantel the next – can help fit decorating into busy schedules without feeling overwhelming.’

3. Ensure tasks are age appropriate

You will never get organized for Christmas if you give tasks to family members who have no chance of completing them.

Patricia says, ‘To get kids involved, give them age-appropriate jobs. Little ones can hang safe, unbreakable ornaments or set up the nativity scene, while older kids might enjoy creating handmade decorations like paper snowflakes or garlands.’

Similarly, heavy-lifting tasks should be delegated to the fittest family members to keep children and elderly members safe – no one wants a hospital visit during the holiday period. If you live alone, buddy up with a helpful neighbor, or arrange for a friend or loved one to help you on those two-person jobs.

To encourage children to get involved, consider making decorating or decluttering into a game, such as the reverse advent calendar decluttering game (which is great for helping declutter toys before Christmas). Writing their tasks on a chore chart checklist (available at Walmart) can help keep them on track. Just be sure to put it at a height they can easily access.

4. Allow everyone a say in the scheme

Decorating tastefully for Christmas is a matter of personal preference, which is why it is so important to take everyone's preferences into account when choosing your decorating scheme, Patricia reminds us.

She says, ‘Allowing everyone to contribute in their own way makes the process more meaningful and creates long-lasting, magical memories.’

How to decorate on your own

If you live alone or your family is unable to help, don’t stress. There are plenty of ways to make decorating for Christmas easier as a ‘one-person’ team.

1. Take breaks

Trying to power through every task in one go is a surefire way to burn yourself out, making Christmas feel that little bit less magical. Unless you really love Christmas and have boundless energy, it is best to take breaks. Splitting decorating duties up over a few days is even better.

On the first day, focus on cleaning and tidying, then you can decorate a Christmas tree. Getting the centerpiece out of the way first takes some of the pressure off, as everything else is additional. The next day, move on to working through another box of decorations, and so on. Remember to declutter Christmas items you no longer like as you work to make cleaning up fast after Christmas day on your own easier, too.

2. Don’t tackle ladder jobs alone

Decorating alone can be dangerous, especially if you are lifting heavy items or need to hang decorations at heights (such as hanging Christmas lights, inside and out).

Punteha van Terheyden, Head of Solved, reminds us ‘Definitely don't go up ladders alone – no matter how quick you think the job will be, and especially if you are carrying things down from attic storage. Always buddy up with a neighbor or a friend at an agreed time that suits you both to stay safe.’

3. Consider inviting friends over for a decorating party

Just because your family can’t help or you live alone doesn’t mean you have to work alone. Christmas is the season of hosting, so consider inviting some friends around for a pre-Christmas get-together. Put on some festive music, lay out some mince pies and cookies, and have them help you decorate the space.

It can be the start of a great annual tradition where you help each other over the first week of December.

Meet our expert

Patricia Derpinski

Patricia Derpinski is the lead designer at Hudson Holiday Decor, transforming homes, businesses, and events into magical festive landscapes. With over 25 years of experience, Patricia’s work spans luxury residences, upscale office spaces, and elite commercial properties, where she creates awe-inspiring holiday experiences that perfectly reflect the unique personality of each client.

Before you start decorating – be it with your friends, family, or alone – check you have everything from our essential Christmas first-aid kit. From bulb replacements to command hooks, it holds everything you need to fix common Christmas decorating problems as they crop up to make decorating seamless.