what gets decorated first when christmas hits?

When Christmas hits, the thing that most often gets decorated first is the Christmas tree , since it’s seen as the “centrepiece” of the season in many homes and is often the first big sign that the holidays have officially started.

Quick Scoop: What gets decorated first?

In a lot of families and online forum chats, people treat the tree like the starter pistol for Christmas decorating: once it’s up, Christmas has truly begun. Some folks even say they’ll leave other rooms bare for a bit, as long as the tree is glowing in the corner.

Common “first to be decorated” picks when Christmas hits:

• The Christmas tree – lights, baubles, topper, then garlands and ribbons.

• The living room around the tree – side tables, TV unit, cozy throws and cushions.

• The front door/porch – a wreath and maybe a garland or some lights so the house looks festive from outside.

• The fireplace/mantel – stockings and garlands once the main tree is in place.

An example order many people follow at home is: put the tree up, decorate it (lights first, then ornaments), then move on to the mantel and entryway so both the inside “hub” and the first impression from outside feel Christmassy.

How people actually do it (forum flavor)

Online discussions and casual forums show a lot of personality and light disagreement about what gets done first.

You’ll see people say things like:

“Obviously it’s always lights first. That’s a given.”

On tree-decorating order, a common pattern is:

1. Put the tree up and fluff it (especially artificial trees).

2. Add lights all over – this is nearly always “first” on the tree itself.

3. Add the topper , then garlands/tinsel.

4. Finish with ornaments and baubles , plus any ribbons or picks.

On whole-home decor, forum users often recommend:

• Starting with the main room (where you relax most),
• Then moving outward to hallways, fireplace, and porch , so the core of the home feels festive first and the rest “catches up” over a few days.

Different viewpoints: Tradition vs. “as soon as possible”

There isn’t one universal rule; it’s more like a set of traditions and habits people argue about in a friendly way.

More traditional / structured:

• Many people wait for Advent or around 1 December to start decorating.

• They’ll usually put up the tree first , then add other decorations in stages over the next days or weeks.

More “modern / do-it-early” decorators:

• Some start right after Halloween or early November and slowly build up the decor.

• They might begin with subtle things – winter candles, fairy lights, a neutral garland – and save the heavily themed Christmas tree for a little later.

In both camps, though, the tree still tends to be the symbolic “first big thing,” even if a stray wreath or candle sneaks in earlier.

Mini timeline example (how it might look)

Here’s a simple example of how someone might roll out decorations once “Christmas hits”:

1. Day 1–2: Put up and decorate the tree ; get the lights and main ornaments done.

2. Day 3–4: Decorate the mantel and living room – stockings, garlands, cushions, throws.

3. Day 5+: Add porch and door decor – wreath, outdoor lights, maybe some lit figures.

In practice, lots of people treat this like a mini tradition: same order every year, with the tree always “going first” so the house instantly feels different once it’s up.

TL;DR: When Christmas hits, the first thing that usually gets decorated is the Christmas tree , followed closely by the main living room area and sometimes the front door or mantel.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.