What Are Americans’ Favorite Holiday Decorations?

The top five most popular holiday decorations this year are Christmas trees, mistletoe, Christmas lights, snowflakes and snowmen, according to Lombardo Homes. 

In Pennsylvania, which was ranked no. 12 for states that decorate the most for the holidays, window candles took the cake (or cookies) for the most popular decoration. 

Fun fact: This tradition dates back to colonial times, when a lit candle in the window signified that a building or home was open and welcoming to those passing by, sometimes offering shelter and food, according to Southern Living. It’s also a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition – not just around Christmas, but year-round. This may be due to Pennsylvania’s clandestine ties to the Underground Railroad, when a lit candle meant safe shelter to those seeking freedom.  

Regardless of decoration choices, Lombardo Homes found that nearly half (49%) of Americans planned to spend less on décor this year due to inflation/tariffs. To save money, they said they planned to: 

1. Reuse old décor 
2. Shop earlier 
3. DIY more décor  
4. Look secondhand 
5. Use simpler décor 

Still, despite financial cutbacks, 88% said they still planned to decorate for the holidays this year. Respondents reported spending an average of $148 on decorations and an average of four hours on decorating.  

Christmas trees were reported as the most popular holiday decoration, as 84% said they’d decorate a tree this season – 69% choosing a fake tree, and 15% going for a real one.  

So, how long do the festivities last? 

The majority said they take down their holiday decorations after the first week of January (45%), followed by those with a strict deadline of Jan. 2 (23%). For 5%, the decorations stay up until February.