5 Tacky Holiday Decor Items That Instantly Make a Home Look Bad, Designers Say

As the festive season inches closer, we’ll all soon start breaking out decor for the upcoming holidays. From themed color palettes and decorative lighting to kitschy displays and sentimental pieces, it’s the most wonderful time of year to show off all of your favorite collected items. Whether it’s thrifted holiday finds or passed-down, heirloom tchotchkes that your loved ones have been stringing up year after year, it’s hard not to give into the urge to display everything, everywhere, all at once. Give into that temptation and before you realize it, what started out as a whimsical display of holiday charm can quickly devolve into tacky and too much.

While we’d never yuck anyone’s design yum (and you should always do what makes you feel most like you in your space, especially when it comes to holiday decor and traditions), we did tap a few design experts to get their take on on-trend versus over-the-top holiday decor. If you’re not sure what to put out this year, they gave us their top recommendations for figuring out when your decor reads as tacky or tasteful. And if you find yourself leaning way too far into the former, here’s what to try instead.

Oversized Inflatables

They might already be all over the shelves at your favorite big-box department store, but Jessica Davis, the founder and designer of Atelier Davis, says oversized inflatables definitely fall on the “tackier side of the spectrum,” as far as she’s concerned.

While oversized inflatables can be seen as festive (and truly, who doesn’t love the sight of an extra, extra, extra large Frosty the Snowman so long as it’s in somebody else’s front yard?!), their size alone can often be an eyesore to an otherwise well-decorated yard or home. Not to mention, they can be incredibly expensive and challenging to manage, especially when weather conditions are unfavorable.

Instead, Davis recommends swapping out those costly inflatables and plug-ins with natural materials or wood.

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Mismatched Plastic Ornaments

While ornaments often steal the show on holiday trees or displayed in creative ways around the house, Davis says that mismatched plastic ones aren’t exactly her favorite. However, this doesn’t mean you have to stick to neutral ornaments that all look the same. “I know kids tend to love the over-the-top decorations, but I think there are exciting, natural alternatives that are just as fun,” says Davis. “For example, instead of plastic ornaments, consider using colored cotton ribbons as tree garland and wreath decor.”

Purchasing poorly made, plastic items that are prone to breaking is a big concern, especially if you’re looking to be more sustainable when it comes to your decor choices. “Using natural fabrics like cotton for decor is a great way to reduce your impact during the holidays. It doesn’t shed microplastics and is incredibly durable, so you can invest in higher-quality pieces that will last from season to season,” Davis says.

If you’re unwilling to part with your favorite plastic pieces, consider displaying them in different rooms—this way you’re not clashing styles, materials, or colors.

“Themed” Trees

Holiday ornaments can be a great way to personalize a tree and showcase your particular taste. However, Alex Thies, the owner and creative director at Adelyn Charles Interiors, warns that you can cross the line from whimsical to “what happened?!” While Thies isn’t a fan of “‘themed’ trees,” she does say she’s a “sucker for the classics when it comes to the holidays.” So how do you keep things traditional without tipping overboard? Easy. Rather than devoting an entire tree to a particular theme, showcase a few statement ornaments front and center so that your interests are visible, without dominating the entire space.

 Holiday-Word Related Pieces

Another decor piece that can potentially come across as tacky? Decor that displays holiday-themed words or slogans (think: phrases like “sleigh all day” and “there’s snow place like home”). While it really does come down to personal preference, Davis says that this type of trend-driven decor can read too one note. “I generally prefer to stick to blank items and focus more on fun colors and natural materials” rather than buying trend-focused pieces every year. Plus, when those phrases go out of style, you’ll be creating more clutter.

All-White Holiday Trees

The decision between real, faux green or faux white holiday trees is a yearly debate in many households, but according to Thies, all white trees are not the move. While Thies says that many of the faux trees have come a long way (even the flocked tree options, too)—and have even fooled her into thinking they were real once or twice—”all-white trees are a big no” when it comes to picking her own holiday decor. When used year after year, they can read a bit dated and too kitschy. Thies says her main frustration is that all-white trees “lack the warmth and charm” and can come off as cheap.

If you are committed to an all-white or neutral aesthetic, try all-white lights on a spruce (real or faux) tree instead. You’ll still get a traditional look with a more sophisticated holiday feel.