6 holiday decor mistakes to avoid this season

With the holiday season upon us, it's hard to avoid the constant barrage of seasonal decor ideas. Social media pages are constantly promoting the latest trends, while store aisles are covered in ornaments, wreaths, and other products. But how much decor do you really need?

Before dusting off the decorations, here's what the experts have to say about the most common holiday decor mistakes — and how to avoid them.

Don't go over the top

"Burying the holiday spirit in too many things can be counterproductive at the end of the day," said Vy Truong, co-founder of Very Handsome Studio. Too many focal points can overwhelm a space and favorite decorations will get lost in the sea of decor.

Go for a "less is more" approach. There's a practical benefit to a more minimalist approach to holiday decorating too — you'll have fewer pieces to put away once the festivities are over.

Avoid a dimly lit Christmas tree

Interior designer Bianca Ecklund stressed the importance of lights when it comes to holiday decor. "An under-lit tree can be dull," she said. Have plenty of strands of both indoor and outdoor lights for a festive feel and to brighten the dark, dreary days of winter. "Light it up for all to see — you can never have too many lights," Ecklund said.

Skip the pressure to embrace every new trend

Adding new pieces to Christmas collections every year is part of what makes holiday decorating fun, but don't feel pressured to embrace and incorporate every single new holiday trend. "New and beautiful things grace our feeds hourly once September starts rolling around, but don't fall for every trendy wreath that you see," Truong said. She suggested picking a color palette and added, "Try desperately to stick with the design parameters you've set out for yourself."

Don't buy holiday decor that doesn't last

"Don't buy something just because every store you go in is screaming at you to do so," said Annie Oberman, principal designer at Forge & Bow. Instead, be intentional and make thoughtful choices that make sense for the overall collection of Christmas decorations.

"Make sure your purchases really enhance your overall home for the holidays," Oberman said. She pointed out the importance of opting for timeless pieces instead of overly commercialized decor. "I think it is a gift to allow your house to evolve overtime, finding the classics that you love and building on that year over year," she said.

Don't forget about the environment

"Avoid purchasing chintzy decor that will end up in a landfill," suggested interior designer Amy Youngblood. She recommended choosing pieces that will last and are meaningful, and can be passed down as a special holiday heirloom.

"Not only will it elevate your space and look nice, it is much better for the environment," she added. Investing in timeless and high-quality decor also saves money in the long run, since you're not forced to add to or replace decorations every year.

Avoid using all the decorations you own

While it can be tempting to put up all the holiday decorations you've ever purchased, this typically just makes a space look cluttered. "Pick a theme or color scheme and stick with it, and keep everything else tucked away for next year," Ecklund said.