So I’m gonna let you in on one of my little home decor secrets… Did you know that one of the best times of year to shop for home decor is during holiday clearance sales? And I’m not even talking about shopping for great deals on decor for the holidays next year (though that’s certainly a great idea as well).
I’m talking about getting insane deals on home decor that you can display all year long, and nobody will ever be able to tell it was a “holiday” decoration. It all comes down to shopping the holiday clearance aisles. After the holidays are over, retailers are looking to unload all those holiday and seasonal decorations. And that, my friend, is your gold mine!
I know you might be thinking “how is a bunch of stuff covered in candy canes or hearts going to help me decorate my home all year long?” But trust me, just read on and you’ll come to see how shopping the holiday clearance section can be like hitting the jackpot for home decor!
How to Shop Holiday Clearance for Year-Round Home Decor
The key to shopping the holiday clearance section for year-round decor is to avoid anything that is overly “holiday-specific.” You don’t want to buy a red vase with Christmas trees on it, because you won’t be able to use it all year long. As long as you buy items that are more neutral themed, you’ll be able to use them all year long!
Sparkly Christmas vase? Not anymore!
And trust me, there are lots of these types of items to be had! You’ll find table cloths, vases, candle holders, frames, jars, and tons of other decorative knick-knacks just ripe for the choosing! They’re deeply discounted because they’re considered “holiday decorations,” and retailers just want to get rid of them to make room for the next season or holiday.
It’s all about that color!
So we all know there are certain colors associated with every holiday, and when you shop the “holiday” section at the store, you’ll find a ton of items in those colors. For example, a green tablecloth and red vase in the Christmas section. But here’s the best part… you can buy those items for a fraction of the retail price and use them for decor all year long!
Just a Christmas tablecloth? I think not!
Does your home have a color scheme? (It’s a great idea to come up with one if you don’t have one yet, as it makes decor decisions so much easier!) Chances are, you’ll be able to find some amazing decor pieces for it during one or more seasonal clearance sales during the year.
RELATED: How to Color Coordinate Your Home on a Budget
I must say, there is nothing quite like adding beautiful pops of color to your home decor to really draw attention to details around the home. Shopping seasonal clearance is one of the best ways to find those unique pieces of decor for a steal!
Here are some colors to keep an eye out for based on the holiday and season:
- Red: Christmas, Valentine’s Day, 4th of July
- Blue: Summer, 4th of July, winter
- Orange: Halloween, fall
- Brown: Halloween, Thanksgiving, fall
- Green: Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, spring
- Yellow: Easter, spring, fall
- Purple: Easter, spring
- Pink: Valentine’s Day
- Silver: Christmas, winter, New Year’s
- Gold: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s
- Black: Halloween
This little trick also allows you to mix and match decor for holidays all year long and cut down on your holiday storage. For example, you can use the same red tablecloth for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, the 4th of July, etc.
RELATED: How to Maximize Your Holiday Decor and Minimize Your Holiday Storage
When to Shop for Clearance
The best times to hit up the holiday clearance sections will vary depending on your area and the different store schedules. Generally speaking, the closer the holiday gets, the better discounts you’ll find. Once the holiday is over, items are usually highly discounted. And the discounts usually get better and better the further you get from the season.
Definitely not just for Easter!
The risk with waiting too long is that things will be picked over, and there might not be much left. So for this reason, I like to shop right after the holiday is over. I get great deals and still have a decent selection of items to choose from. Pay attention to the stores and their schedules in your area, and you should start to have a pretty good idea of the best times to shop for holiday clearance!
The amount of items the store will have usually also depends on how big the holiday is. Christmas is a huge holiday, so you can typically find Christmas decor on clearance for weeks after it’s over. However, you might not find as much stuff for a smaller holiday like St. Patrick’s Day.
So what do you think? Are you itching to shop the holiday clearance section at your local stores now? Let me know what holiday clearance sections you’ll be staking out in the comments! And if you enjoyed this post, you’ll love my newsletter. Sign up below for weekly craft, DIY, and home projects and tips!
Very smart thinking Celeste. If we choose our colors right and stay away from the obviously holiday stuff we should be able to decorate for the whole year! You are absolutely right!
Thanks, Mary! It’s a great way to save money on home decor. And I am all about being as thrifty as possible!
Thank you for the great tip! Made a copy to keep on hand.
Glad to hear it! Hope it helps!