It’s the holiday season and what better way to end a crazy year than going over the top with holiday décor!? We’ve seen a rather large number of people start decorating early this year because, let’s face it, we can all use a little extra joy right now.  You are ready to join in the fun but worry about having to hire a handy man to repair the extra holes in the walls and scuffs on the paint when the decorations come down.  We’ve got some tips to make your home festive without excessive cleanup when the holidays are over.

  1. 3M Hooks

They’re strong, sturdy, and can hold several pounds.  You can use them to hang garland around your windows and doorways, hang stockings on a wall (if you don’t have a fire place), and even hang holiday signs.  The best part is once you are done, simply pull the tab to release the hook from the wall! Do note that some paints, like latex, tend to peel easier and may not be as worry free during cleanup.  Test one in an inconspicuous area to see how your paint responds. You can also get the kind that are appropriate for glass to hang wreathes in the windows.

  1. Use already installed hooks and screws

If you have a holiday print or sign that requires something stronger to hold it up, consider taking down one of your family pictures and using that already anchored screw.  If the screw spacing is different and you need to make an additional hole, find a place where it can easily be hidden behind your typical year round art.

  1. Double sided tape

This is another item you may want to test with your paint first but it can be very helpful for hanging light weight items.  Some ideas include wrapping your doors to look like giant presents, finding a space on the wall to hang all the holiday cards you receive, and hanging DIY art- like snowflakes and paper link garland.

  1. Removeable, Re-usable wall decals

We all know about the vinyl window clings you see in store displays but did you know there are now many similar options for your walls?  Choose a wall to create a winter wonderland scene or if you don’t have space for a tree, hang a flat one on your wall. After the holidays, simply peel it off. Now that’s a time and space saver!

  1. Just leave the walls alone

You can also decorate every thing but the walls and still create a beautiful festive space.  Use holiday pillows and throw blankets in your living room, hang bows or bells around your door knobs or wreaths on the doors, buy cute décor for your shelves and countertops, put holiday towels in the bathrooms and kitchen, hang ornaments or snowflakes from chandeliers (when safe to do so), buy a free-standing stocking holder, decorate multiple trees in various sizes, etc.  The possibilities are endless!

If, however, you do end up with a little wall damage, here are our tips. First, you should always have some extra touch up paint in whatever color your walls are, stored at a stable temperature.  This makes touch up easy.   If you do not have any and aren’t sure of the color, you can rip off at least a one inch square sample from your wall and bring it to your local paint or hardware store for color matching.  To fill in any holes you may have created, use a sandable, paintable joint compound.  Use as little as possible to make sanding easier and to make the patch less noticeable.  You may want to do the same over an area where paint has peeled.  If you happen to end up with a large hole, you can buy a patch kit which typically includes a little piece of mesh tape to cover the hole.  Let the patch dry completely, sand with a fine grit (120+) sandpaper, and paint.

We hope you have fun decorating this holiday season.  Get inspired, get creative, and go over the top!