And don’t let taking down the Christmas decorations add undue stress into your life, says therapist Braquelle Murphy, MS, LCPC. “You can be attached to Christmas decor, especially the pieces that have been passed down. They can bring up a sense of joy, happiness, and nostalgia [and] it can be hard to take down Christmas decorations from a psychological perspective.” So, don’t rush it if you’re just not ready.
On the other hand, Murphy adds: “Removing the holiday decor can bring a sense of closure for some. They can feel a definitive shift that shows that the holidays are over and it’s time to return to normal everyday life. It can also feel good to remove some clutter and have a fresh start.”
Ellen Flowers of the Perennial Style sums it up nicely: “Whether it’s the social norm or simply when the holiday cheer fades, the perfect time to take down your decorations is when it feels right for you and your home.”
From our sources’ design perspective…. just be sure to shut things down outside by the second week of January, in the name of good taste.
How long does a cut Christmas tree last?
As mentioned above, a freshly cut Christmas tree can last between four and five weeks with proper care. Some varieties may last longer, others shorter, but any cut pine tree can have its “life” extended with proper care. To maximize the time before your cut Christmas tree starts dropping needles all over the house, you can consider re-cutting it, removing about two inches off the bottom of the trunk, right before you put the tree into its stand. Then add water to the stand daily until the tree stops “drinking.”
Keep the tree as far away from heat sources as you can. That floor vent is more likely to dry out the tree than your fireplace—granted, the tree’s positioning in relation to your fireplace merits plenty of care and concern.
Is it legal to leave Christmas lights up all year?
Yes, it’s perfectly legal in most areas in the United States to leave holiday lights up all year round—even though it’s certainly in violation of many unwritten social compacts. That said, it may be in violation of certain HOA rules, of local town or city ordinances, or of other regulations that do limit the use of holiday lighting at certain times. Also, unless you have purpose-built permanent decorative lighting, even lighting designed for seasonal outdoor use will break down over time if left exposed to the elements for months on end.
What is the best way to dispose of a Christmas tree?
As soon as real Christmas trees start to dry out and drop needles, they transform from the heart-warming anchor of your home’s holiday decor to a serious housekeeping headache if they are not disposed of properly. The best thing you can do is to remove all fragile ornaments adorning the tree, then wrap the tree in a large tarp (a painter’s drop cloth or old sheets will work too) and bring it outside, stand and all. Then, you can remove all the rest of the nonbreakable ornaments and the lights outdoors; those string lights can be the worst offenders for causing needle shed upon removal. If you must do all of the un-decorating inside—as may be the case for apartment dwellers—prepare the floor with tarps or drop cloths to catch needles as they fall, then wrap the tree and carry it outside. A few minutes of removal prep will save you lots of cleanup later.