Holiday Decorations That Make Your Home Look Tacky

From sentimental mementos to store-bought trinkets, natural evergreen garlands and artificial trees, your holiday decoration options seem limitless. While there are no right or wrong ways to decorate for the holidays, some methods are more visually appealing than others. Some houses have elegant and chic holiday decorations, while others can look downright tacky.

Some holiday decorations that make your home look tacky include neon and mismatched lights, overly shiny and glittery decor, inflatable lawn decor, and cheap plastic decorations. Avoid using too many mismatched colors, and try to stick with a single theme. Cluttered decor can look messy, and wrinkled bows look cheap. Try to purchase real evergreen garlands and wreaths whenever possible, and consider using warm, softer tones.

There are many ways to develop your holiday decorating style. As you shop, remember these seasonal decorations are like clothing — trendy themes cycle in and out of fashion. If you are starting to plan your next holiday display, keep reading. While there are amazing ideas and holiday themes, there are also several decorations that can do more harm than good to the the overall aesthetic of your space. Below is a list of tacky holiday decorations to avoid, so your home won't look cheap and unfashionable this festive season.

10 Holiday Decorations That Make Your Home Look Tacky 

1. Inflatable Lawn Decor

Inflatable lawn decorations are easy to spot because they are often huge, colorful, and tacky. This is one holiday decoration that was once a novelty and is now considered more of an eyesore than anything else.

Unless you are sticking to a cartoonish and children-themed Christmas motif, it’s best to avoid inflating these giant monstrosities, as they rarely help your home’s curb appeal. If you already own one and want to get use out of it, consider inflating it in your backyard near a window when you host a holiday gathering.

2. Neon Lights

Christmas lights are an excellent example of how fashion trends can influence everything, including holiday decorations. Neon Christmas lights first gained popularity in the 1940s and 1950s. They made a comeback in the 1980s, both in a retro and artistic sense, as everything seemed to be dominated by neon during that period.

Nowadays, neon lights often appear out of place. Unless your Christmas theme is a throwback to one of these eras, then it’s best to opt for a more subtle lighting scheme this holiday.

3. Aggressively Bright Decor

The color of holiday lights isn’t the only thing that can make lights tacky. The intensity of the light can also be off-putting. When you purchase decorations that light up, pay attention to their brightness.

While bright items are enticing, they can also be overwhelming and even off-putting. Instead of choosing the brightest lights that money can buy, consider more subtle options. Even dim lights create a lovely ambience in the winter, so don’t feel the need to go with the most intense bulbs on the market.

4. Conflicting Themes

Sometimes holiday decorations look fine on their own, but are a complete disaster when displayed in the wrong setting. One major holiday decorating mistake you should avoid this season is displaying conflicting themes.

If most of your decorations are evergreen and gold-themed, adding random blue porcelain decorations or other random colors and objects will look chaotic and tacky. When you decorate for Christmas, avoid showcasing decorations that conflict with each other in terms of color and theme. 

5. Cluttered Decor

With the plethora of holiday decorations available on the market, it can be tempting to buy and display them all. Resist this temptation. While there is nothing wrong with decking the halls with tons of decorations, try to keep things tidy. 

Cluttered decor can make your home look unkept and dirty. It can even attract pests and dust mites into the home. Instead of using everything, start by displaying your favorite decorations that complement each other, and go from there.

6. Wrinkled And Old Bows

There is nothing wrong with reusing holiday decorations for many years. It’s essential to save money during the holidays whenever possible. It's important however, to recognize when decorations have seen better days and would look better in the trash than on the wall.

Old and wrinkled bows are all too familiar during the holidays. You see them on storefront windows, and hung on doors and walls. If your old bows or any of your decorations have clearly passed their prime, then it’s time to get rid of them. Sometimes, no decorations are better than tired, worn-out ones.

7. Illuminated Plastic Figures 

Prominent plastic figures had their heyday in the 1960s through 1980s, but have since been replaced by more modern decorations — and there is a reason for that. These illuminated plastic decorations might be nostalgic, but unless they are well-preserved, they look cheap, tacky, and sometimes even dirty.

Unless you are intentionally going with a nostalgic and retro holiday theme, it’s best to avoid these cheap-looking, old-school plastic decorations.

8. Too Much Glitter And Shine

Tinsel, glitter, gold, and silver are all staples of the holiday season. While these bright and shiny objects can look lovely in moderation, it’s also possible to have too much of a good thing.

Gold and silver decor looks best when it accents more natural tones and colors. If your holiday decorations are so shiny and bright that they start resembling the Las Vegas strip, then it is time to start rethinking your decor.

9. Mismatched Colors

Just as you can have conflicting themes, it’s easy to have mismatched colors. Specific colors, such as green and red, and white and gold, pair well together. Others, like blue, yellow, green, gold, and silver, can all begin to clash when combined.

If you want to incorporate different colors into your home this holiday season, keep each room and façade color-coordinated. This will help you avoid color clashing.

10. Cheap Fake Plants

There is nothing wrong with using an artificial tree and plants as holiday decor, but some of these fakes look more realistic than others. Before purchasing artificial plant decor, such as a wreath or tree, ensure it looks authentic.

Avoid buying cheap artificial plants and trees, as they will look just as tacky to those who visit your home as they do to you. Furthermore, once a fake tree or wreath is showing signs of age and looks lackluster, it’s time to start looking for a replacement.

Four Tips To Remember When Decorating For The Holidays

1. Less Is More

As you hang your holiday decorations, always remember that less is more. If you want your decor to look classy, opt for fewer but higher-quality decorations. Having too many decorations can make a space look cluttered and unkempt. Furthermore, the more items you display, the higher the risk of mismatched decor.

2. Choose Real Over Artificial Whenever Possible

While artificial plants can be used for years and save you money over time, there is no substitute for the real thing. Whenever possible, try to purchase a few genuine evergreen decorations and holiday plants. Displaying even just one evergreen wreath at your front door can go a long way to elevate the aesthetics of your holiday decorations.

3. Consider Softer Tones 

Unless you have a particular vision that involves bright lights and loud colors, it is usually a smarter idea to opt for subtle and soft tones. Choosing creamy, dim holiday lights, candles, and muted golds and shimmer tends to look more regal and chic. Remember that your decorations don’t need to be loud to get the point across. Sometimes the best decorations are the ones you hardly notice.

4. Stick To Your Theme

Before you decorate for any holiday, it’s always best to decide on a concrete theme and color scheme before you hang a single decoration. Once you have your theme, try your best to stick to it. When you stay true to your vision, you won’t have clashing objects and colors. Instead, you’ll have a beautifully decorated space that looks effortless.

Summing Up Holiday Decorations That Make A Home Look Tacky

Decorating for the holidays is a project the whole family can enjoy. While you can decorate any way you choose, there are certain faux pas you should steer away from so your decorations don’t look cheap and tacky. 

Avoid using neon and bright lights, as well as dated plastic decorations, including cheap-looking artificial plants. Using too much gold and silver can be off-putting, as can cluttered decor in general. Opt for a “less is more” approach, and always come up with a concrete theme before you start decorating.

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