People who stop by during the holidays take in details about your place much faster than you might recognize. As soon as they arrive at the front door, they’re judging your decorations, and their opinions only get stronger once they see what’s on the inside. In fact, there are some decorations that practically everyone judges once they see them. Here are seven of them. Just a heads up, this isn’t meant to be a criticism of anyone who has them. Feel free to keep these decorations if you wish.
Wreaths with tired bows and flattened greenery
The very first thing most people will see is a wreath on the door, and they’ll take in every detail of it while they’re waiting for you to open up. They’ll notice that the greenery became squished in storage, or that the bow started drooping because the wire inside lost its shape.
A missing berry and a pinecone that’s barely attached are also things that are rather easy to see close-up. Even a ribbon that has faded from last winter tells visitors that you couldn’t be bothered to fix things up a little. Don’t forget about the kind of hanger you’ve used, too. Metal ones with scratches or plastic ones that tilt slightly are quite noticeable.
Outdoor inflatables that lean or stay half-deflated
But there’s something your guests will notice before they even make it to your door. They’ll see what’s going on with your lawn. Big inflatables show all their issues, like when a stake is loose or the character falls down. It’s quite obvious when the fabric has faded from the sun.
Cords stretched across the grass, as well as sandbags poking out from the bottom, stand out immediately, and they tell everyone that you’re disorganized. They’ll register a deflated inflatable lying flat on the lawn almost straight away, and they’ll judge you for it.
Holiday doormats that greet everyone
People notice what’s on your doormat because they’re quite literally standing on it while they wait for you. They’ll recognize fading right away, and they’ll especially notice it when the printed letters look soft around the edges or the glitter coating has thinned out.
Any corners that won’t stay flat or a mat that moves every time someone steps on it gets a lot of attention, too. They’ll also notice bits of pine needles or old leaves stuck in the fibers. The tiniest details in a doormat stand out, even if you think that they might seem like nothing.
Overloaded entryway console displays
Once the guests have entered the house, they’ll likely see the entry table next, and that means whatever’s sitting on there will get a look over. People notice when the display is stacked with too many small pieces, like little trees or candles. They’ll see that there are more than enough mini figurines or faux snow.
There are also the lights. People will catch on when the string lights are pushed behind something, or you have a few items leaning forward because they don’t fit. They see all the chipped edges and glitter that fell onto the floor. And when there’s a lack of free space for keys? That comes off as bad planning.
Mantel garlands with visible tape and cords
It’s natural for the fireplace area to draw attention, and that means that a garland stretched across the mantel will immediately catch everyone’s attention. Visitors will notice that a section sags more than the rest, and they’ll see when a light strand stops glowing halfway through.
It’s also quite easy to see any tape that might be holding the greenery in place or cords that start sliding down the side toward an outlet. Uneven stockings are also quite obvious, as are candle holders with price stickers still underneath. They’re all details that people pick up on without actually trying to look for them.
Tree skirts hiding or exposing the stand
A Christmas tree is the most obvious kind of decoration, and the area around its base gets a lot more scrutiny than most homeowners expect. Your guests can see when the skirt doesn’t fully cover the metal stand. They’ll also be aware that it’s bunched up in one spot, or that it’s too small for a wide tree.
Another clear problem is when there are pine needles or glitter flakes on the floor because these make you look untidy. Don’t forget about any stray gift ribbon sitting on the fabric. You should really make sure to clean these things up, unless you want people to judge your decorating skills.
Dining table centerpieces and runners
The majority of guests look at the centerpiece first on a holiday table, and then they start judging. They notice when the runner shifts to one side, and they notice when the main arrangement isn’t centered on the table, along with any candles that burned unevenly.
They’ll be able to see pieces with chipped paint, even from a few steps away, while artificial greenery with dust on the leaves stands out quite a bit. Can you blame people for noticing? When the setup takes over practically every inch of space, the guests can tell there’s no room left for actual dishes.
9 Holiday Behaviors That Drive Everyone a Little Crazy
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9 Holiday Behaviors That Drive Everyone a Little Crazy