Early Christmas Decorations: Get a Head Start on Festive Cheer 2025

If you want a realistic artificial tree up early with minimal fuss, the Balsam Hill 6.5‑ft Pre‑Lit Alpine Balsam Fir delivers a convincingly lifelike silhouette. Owners note the sectional design clicks together quickly and the warm-tone lights set a cozy glow right away. At $649 it’s an investment, and reports suggest the pre‑installed lights can be a long‑term weak point, with occasional section failures. Some units also show visible wiring, and customer service reviews are mixed when issues arise.

If you’re planning cozy decorating nights, the Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Doubled Stripe Blanket is the snuggly upgrade we keep recommending. It feels plush and buttery, delivering that just-right warmth without getting heavy or overheated during long movie marathons. From owner reports and our review, it washes well and stays soft, though we suggest a first wash to reduce the noticeable initial shedding. The premium brand usually runs high, so this $69.97 Nordstrom Rack price makes it a smarter splurge for early holiday nesting.

When space is tight, the Kingswood Fir Pencil Tree slides neatly into corners while still giving you room for ornaments. We found the pre‑lit clear lights and hinged branches made setup fast, perfect for early decorators who want minimal fuss. Some buyers say the tree looks sparse or uneven at the top; thorough fluffing and ribbon or garlands help fill gaps. Because there are occasional quality-control issues, assemble and check parts early so replacements can arrive well before December.

We found the Thymes Frasier Fir Pine Needle Candle nails that true holiday pine scent without veering into artificial. The seasonal glass jar with its pine‑needle design looks giftable and blends right into mantle or kitchen decor, and in our review the burn was even with a lasting fragrance in medium rooms. Do note the $35 price is premium, and the throw can feel faint in large, open spaces. To avoid tunneling, follow care basics—let the top fully melt on first burn and keep the wick trimmed.

For a budget-friendly tree scent, Yankee Candle’s Balsam and Cedar Large Jar throws a bold, authentic pine that instantly sets a festive mood. The 22‑ounce size burns for ages in typical use, and the classic glass jar doubles as simple holiday decor you can repurpose later. At $14.99 at Walmart it’s good value, though pricing does bounce around by retailer. Be aware the fragrance can overwhelm small rooms, and some buyers note batch variations that skew slightly soapy.

NEST’s Classic Holiday Candle is our go-to for jump-starting the season, blending pomegranate, mandarin, pine, cloves, and cinnamon into a festive, balanced scent. During our review, the 8.1‑oz glass jar burned cleanly for close to its 50–60 hour estimate and looked gift-ready on a mantle. It’s a premium price for a single-wick candle, and the throw can feel light in large rooms, so consider two for open layouts. If ordering from marketplaces, inspect packaging on arrival, then repurpose the decorative vessel afterward.

We found Pottery Barn’s Mini LED String Lights perfect for wreaths, shelves, and tabletop vignettes when you want a cozy glow early. The 5‑foot strand is battery-operated for plug-free placement and the built-in timer (6 hours on/18 off) handled daily schedules in our testing. Coverage is limited for bigger projects, and you’ll need to supply three AA batteries and replace them periodically. Rated for indoor or covered outdoor use, it’s not for fully exposed installations, but the LEDs are efficient and long-lasting.

Getting your porch lights on a schedule early is easy with the Kasa Smart Wi‑Fi Outdoor Plug, which gives you two independently controlled outlets. In our testing, the weather-resistant IP64 housing handled seasonal setups, and Alexa/Google voice control plus app scheduling made timers effortless. Note there’s no native Apple HomeKit or energy monitoring, and the right‑angled, bulky body can be tight in some in‑use covers. Still, it’s a reliable way to run separate decorations without extra extension cords.

For lamp-based holiday scenes, the Lutron Caséta PD‑3PCL‑WH plugs into a standard outlet and can control two lamps with smooth, reliable dimming. In our testing, it worked best with dimmable LEDs above the minimum load and integrates with the broader Caséta ecosystem and voice assistants when paired with the Smart Hub. Note that advanced automations require that hub, and very low-wattage string lights may ghost or fail to turn fully off. Some users report occasional HomeKit/Pico hiccups, but day-to-day operation was solid.

Ready to choreograph your tree? Philips Hue Festavia 65‑Foot 250‑LED Smart String Lights bring individually addressable LEDs that paint smooth multicolor gradients and dynamic effects that stand out in our guide. Integration with the Hue app and major platforms makes scheduling and voice control simple, and the IP54 rating suits porch railings and covered patios. Downsides: the black cord stands out on green branches, the $241.99 price is steep, and some reviewers report early reliability hiccups to watch for.

The Meross Outdoor Smart Plug is a budget-friendly way to automate yard displays early, offering two independently controlled outlets and no hub requirement. We connected it to HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant during our review and found voice and app control convenient, though Wi‑Fi access occasionally dropped. For best results, keep it within strong 2.4 GHz range and mount it so water can’t pool, since it isn’t submersible. Setup can be finicky with firmware updates, but once paired it’s versatile and capable.

Twinkly’s RGB LED String is the showstopper we recommend when you want personalized animations that wow neighbors before December hits. Individually addressable bulbs plus the clever mapping feature let the app paint designs that match your exact layout, and the colors are bright and punchy indoors or out. Our research shows the app can be buggy and setup finicky, with occasional Wi‑Fi drops. At $119.99, factor in potential durability concerns too, as some users report controller or LED failures after a season or two.

If you love a traditional theme, these Kurt Adler 12 Days of Christmas glass balls bring colorful, detailed artwork in a compact 2.5-inch size. In our experience, the glossy finish catches tree lights beautifully, and the smaller profile tucks neatly on fuller branches or mini trees. Do handle with care—glass is fragile—and inspect on arrival as some buyers report faint or missing lettering. A few pieces feel similar, so we like mixing them with textured ornaments or ribbons for variety.

Looking to start decorating early without going full tinsel? The Meri Meri Felt Rainbow Garland adds cheerful color fast, with soft, durable felt pieces strung on a white cotton rope that’s easy to hang on mantels, railings, or kids’ rooms. In our testing, the organza bag made off-season storage tidy, though the roughly 8-foot length means larger areas may need multiple strands. It’s pricier than DIY or bulk options and the fixed Meri Meri palette won’t match every scheme, but it’s charming and reusable year after year.

Ring’s Solar Pathlight is a smart way to guide guests on dark evenings, with up to 80 lumens brightening walkways more than basic solar stakes. During our review, motion detection and app scheduling worked well, and linking with Ring cameras created handy arrival alerts. Our experience shows battery life can dip in winter or shady spots, and the mostly plastic build feels less premium for the price. If you have solid sun exposure, it’s a convenient, app-connected upgrade for holiday paths.

Start the season with a cleaner entry: L.L.Bean’s Everyspace Recycled Waterhog grabs slush, pine needles, and salt before they hit your floors. In our testing, the heavy rubber backing kept the mat planted, and cleaning was easy—just vacuum, hose off, or power-wash. The medium size can run smaller than expected, so measure your doorway, and the price is higher than basic mats. Still, the durable construction and recycled materials make it a long-lasting, eco-minded upgrade for winter traffic.

As holiday baking ramps up, the Le Creuset Signature Spoon Rest keeps counters tidy with durable, chip‑resistant glazed stoneware that cleans up easily in the dishwasher. We like that it comes in classic Le Creuset colors, so it matches existing cookware for a coordinated look on the stovetop. The footprint is on the smaller side and won’t corral multiple ladles at once, and $32 is definitely a brand premium. If ordering online, inspect on arrival—some shoppers report minor scratches or shipping dings.