TL;DR
There is no universal etiquette rule for when holiday decorations should go up, according to etiquette expert Lizzie Post. Designers disagree on whether to wait until after Thanksgiving or start earlier, while homeowners’ association rules may limit outdoor displays.
Designers and etiquette experts disagree on whether holiday decorations should wait until after Thanksgiving, but they say there is no universal etiquette rule setting a start date. For homeowners, the practical answer may depend on personal tradition, time with family and homeowners’ association rules—especially for outdoor displays.
Get furniture and decor delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Lizzie Post, co-president of The Emily Post Institute and co-author of Emily Post’s Etiquette—The Centennial Edition, says customary timing is not the same as a binding etiquette rule. Many people consider it tasteful to decorate during the weeks or month of a holiday, she says, but no rule dictates when someone must put decorations up or take them down.
Interior designer Wendy Kerrigan takes a stricter view of the calendar. She says decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving can distract from the fall holiday and its seasonal traditions. Vermont-based designer Joshua Smith also encourages people to enjoy one holiday at a time, arguing that anticipation is part of what makes an annual celebration feel special.
Other designers favor using the Thanksgiving weekend to decorate. New York-based designer Mikel Welch says his family begins after Thanksgiving dinner, turning the work into a group activity. Smith has also made decorating a family event, dividing relatives into teams to decorate trees. Designer Tan France takes a much earlier approach: he says he and his husband have put up their tree on Halloween for the past decade, and keep it until Valentine’s Day.
When to decorate?There’s no set date
Etiquette experts identify no official start date for holiday decorations. Household traditions and local rules shape the choice.
Designers disagree
Their views reflect personal preferences, not a shared professional rule.
Give Thanksgiving its time
Wendy Kerrigan and Joshua Smith favor enjoying fall and one holiday at a time.
Decorate on Halloween
Tan France says he and his husband put up their tree then and keep it until Valentine’s Day.
Decorate together
Mikel Welch’s family starts after Thanksgiving dinner; Joshua Smith has made decorating a family event.
Etiquette has no deadline
Lizzie Post says customary timing is not a binding rule.
- No formal start date is set.
- People may still have opinions about timing.
- Households may follow religious customs.
- Personal and family preferences can guide the choice.
Outdoor displays may have rules
HOA requirements can make timing a compliance issue for residents.
Some associations limit when decorations can be installed.
Rules may cover placement, lighting, noise and safety.
Some communities can issue fines for displays put up too early.
Timing Depends on Home and Household
The disagreement matters because decorating is both a personal choice and, for some households, a shared neighborhood issue. An early display may bring a household enjoyment or make use of time off with family; waiting can preserve space for Thanksgiving traditions and fall décor. The designers’ comments point to different preferences, not a single professional consensus.
Outdoor decorations can involve rules beyond etiquette. The source material says homeowners’ associations may set limits on where displays go, their noise and lighting, safety issues such as open flames, and when decorations can be installed. It also reports that some communities can issue fines for displays put up before their permitted dates. Those rules can make the timing question a matter of compliance rather than taste for residents covered by them.
Products Worth Considering
Levoit Vital 100S-P Air Purifier with Washable Pre-Filter
Bose Smart Dolby Atmos Soundbar, All-in-One Soundbar for TV, A.I. Dialogue Mode, Voice Control and Amazon Alexa Built-in, Supports Bluetooth
Ring Battery Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen) and Spotlight Cam Plus Battery Bundle
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Etiquette Has No Set Start Date
The source frames the question as a familiar seasonal divide: some people prefer to wait until Thanksgiving has passed, while others begin decorating as soon as Halloween ends. Post’s distinction is that social expectations exist, but they do not amount to a formal etiquette schedule. Her comparison is that people are generally free to make unusual choices, though they may need to decide whether they are comfortable with others’ reactions.
Religious customs may also shape when decorations appear or come down. The source gives placing the Baby Jesus in a nativity on Christmas Day and keeping a tree until Epiphany as examples. These traditions are separate from the general etiquette question and vary by household. The article also cites an example of a Florida homeowner fined $1,000 after putting up lights on November 6, 2002, but does not identify the community or provide details of its governing rule.
“There is no etiquette that dictates it.”
— Lizzie Post, co-president of The Emily Post Institute
Local Rules May Differ
The source does not provide a nationwide picture of HOA decoration policies or specify how common early-season fines are. Rules vary by community, and the reported 2002 Florida case does not establish what restrictions apply elsewhere. Residents should check their own association’s current governing documents before putting up outdoor lights or other displays.
There is also no settled answer to the etiquette question: Post says no formal rule sets the date, while designers express personal views that differ sharply. The source material does not establish that one approach is more widely accepted, nor does it give evidence about how neighbors generally respond to early decorations.
Check Rules Before Decorating
For anyone planning an outdoor display, the next step is to review applicable HOA rules for installation dates, placement, lighting, noise and safety. Those living outside an HOA can make the choice according to their household’s preferences and traditions, while recognizing that neighbors may have different views.
Families who want to decorate after Thanksgiving can use the holiday weekend to share the work; those who prefer an earlier start can follow their own schedule if local rules allow. No official etiquette deadline is identified in the source, so the debate is likely to continue as households settle on the timing that suits them.
Key Questions
Is there an etiquette rule against decorating before Thanksgiving?
No formal etiquette rule sets a start date, according to Lizzie Post. She says people may have opinions about timing, but decorating early is a personal choice.
Can an HOA restrict when outdoor decorations go up?
Yes. The source says HOA rules may cover installation dates, placement, lighting, sound and safety. Residents should check the rules for their own community because requirements can differ.
What do the designers recommend?
They do not agree on one date. Wendy Kerrigan and Joshua Smith favor giving Thanksgiving and fall their own time, while Tan France says he enjoys decorating on Halloween. Mikel Welch describes decorating after Thanksgiving dinner as a family tradition.
Could decorating early lead to a fine?
The source reports that some HOAs can fine residents for putting up decorations before permitted dates and cites a $1,000 fine in a 2002 Florida case. It does not identify the community or establish that the same rule applies elsewhere.
Source: housebeautiful.com
