When To Buy Christmas Decor On Sale?
With Christmas being one of the most celebrated holidays, many people look forward to putting up festive decorations to get into the holiday spirit. However, Christmas decorations can be quite expensive, especially if you want to decorate multiple rooms or the exterior of your home. The good news is that there are certain times throughout the year when you can score major deals on holiday decor.
In this article, we’ll provide an overview of the best times to purchase Christmas decorations on sale so you can save money. Knowing the prime shopping days and weeks for discounted decor will ensure you don’t overpay. We’ll also share tips on where to find the steepest discounts.
After Christmas Sales
One of the best times to buy Christmas decorations on sale is in the days and weeks immediately following Christmas. Major retailers like Target, Walmart, and Michaels deeply discount their holiday decorations, usually by 50-75%. According to the Saving for the Kingdoms blog, after Christmas is an ideal time to stock up on decorations for next year at incredibly low prices.
For example, Target’s after Christmas sale starts on December 26th both in stores and online. Discounts typically range from 50-70% off all holiday decor like Christmas trees, lights, ornaments, and more. According to Good Housekeeping, Amazon also offers great after Christmas sales on their Christmas trees, with discounts up to 60% off.
The key is to shop early, as the best discounts tend to sell out quickly. Checking major retailer websites for their after Christmas sales is the best way to find the steepest discounts on decorations for the next holiday season.
January Sales
January is one of the best times of the year to find deals on Christmas decorations. As soon as the holiday is over, stores start marking down items to make room for new inventory. The day after Christmas on December 26th kicks off these major sales events that run through early January.
Retailers are eager to clear out Christmas trees, lights, ornaments, and other seasonal merchandise to make way for new spring offerings. Shoppers can find discounts of 50-75% off or more on decor during this time. The selection will still be robust right after Christmas with plenty of options that didn’t sell during the holiday season.
Some of the best deals are on Christmas trees, which most families only use for one season. Expect to see fresh cut trees for 80% off or more. If properly stored, these can be used again the next Christmas. Lights, ornaments, garlands, stockings, and other decor is deeply discounted as well. This allows shoppers to stock up on decorations for the following year at a fraction of the regular price.
The key is to shop early while there is still a good selection. Some of the most popular items may sell out quickly even at reduced prices. January sales offer an excellent opportunity to get high quality, brand new Christmas decorations without spending a lot of money.
Summer Sales
Summer can be a great time to stock up on Christmas decorations for the next holiday season. Many retailers will put Christmas decor on clearance during the summer months to make room for summer inventory. You can often find lights, ornaments, and outdoor decorations for 50-75% off regular prices during the summer.
Outdoor decorations like inflatable Santas, light-up reindeer, and string lights are particularly good buys during summer sales. Since most people don’t decorate the outside of their home for summer holidays, retailers are eager to clear out inventory of outdoor Christmas decor. Watch for markdowns on light-up wire frames, projector lights, net lights, and outdoor figurines.
Ornaments are another category to look for in summer sales. Retailers need to make room for next year’s ornament inventory, so expect to see deep discounts on existing ornaments. This is a great time to stock up on basic round and teardrop ornaments. Unique glass ornaments and any leftovers from special edition ornaments will also get reduced pricing.
If you want the widest selection of deeply discounted outdoor decor and ornaments, shop early in the summer months before inventory sells out. You can then store these decorations until it’s time to deck the halls again next Christmas!
Back to School Sales
Back to school sales take place in July and August as stores try to clear out remaining summer inventory. This is a great time to stock up on Christmas decorations at discounted prices before the holiday shopping season begins.
Retailers will often discount trees, wreaths, garlands, stockings, ornaments, and wrapping paper to make room for back to school supplies. Look for sales at big box stores like Target, Walmart, and department stores like Macy’s and JC Penney. Pay attention to clearance racks or special holiday sections in the store.
The selection may be picked over at this point, so you’ll have to hunt around more to find specific items you want. But with some persistence, you can grab great deals on decor you’ll need in a few months. Buying off-season decor is one of the smartest ways to save money for the holidays.
October Sales
Retailers such as Target, Walmart, and other major department stores begin their holiday sales and decor in October. This includes both Halloween and Christmas items. Though the main focus is on Halloween merchandise, you can find great deals on Christmas trees, lights, ornaments, and other decor during October.
For example, Target’s Halloween Shop often includes Christmas decor that is deeply discounted even before Halloween arrives. Shoppers can find mini Christmas trees for 40-50% off, strands of Christmas lights for up to 60% off, and Christmas ornaments discounted as much as 70%.
According to Trisha Hershberger, October is a great time of year to get Christmas decor on sale. She says, “LOVE THIS – let people have their tiny way of October Christmas decoration sales!!!”1
So if you want to get a head start on Christmas decor shopping, check the Halloween sections at major retailers in October. You can likely find great discounts on Christmas items before the holiday shopping season really ramps up.
Pre-Black Friday Sales
Early November sales can offer discounts before Black Friday. Some stores will run Pre-Black Friday sales starting in early November to jump start holiday shopping. These sales typically take place the first or second week of November.
Retailers like Walmart, Target, Kohl’s and Best Buy often have Pre-Black Friday deals both online and in stores. You can find discounts on decor like Christmas trees, lights, ornaments, and more. For example, Target may offer up to 50% off holiday decor in their early November sale.
The benefit of shopping Pre-Black Friday sales is you can avoid the crowds and frenzy of actual Black Friday. You may be able to find popular decor items in stock earlier in the month before supplies sell out closer to Christmas. The main drawback is the discounts may not be quite as steep as on Black Friday itself.
Overall, keep an eye out for Pre-Black Friday sales in early November, especially during the first week. You can score decor savings before the peak holiday rush.
Black Friday
Black Friday often has some of the biggest discounts on Christmas decorations for the year. Most major retailers like Target, Walmart, and Home Depot will mark down items like Christmas trees, lights, ornaments, garlands, wreaths, and more. It’s not uncommon to find artificial trees for 50% off or more, strands of lights at a fraction of the normal price, and decorative holiday figurines at steep discounts as well. This makes Black Friday weekend one of the best times to stock up on decor if you plan to heavily decorate for Christmas.
According to sources, some of the top Black Friday deals on Christmas decorations include:
- 50% off select artificial Christmas trees at Target (HouseBeautiful, 2022)
- Up to 60% off Christmas lights at Home Depot (HouseBeautiful, 2020)
- BOGO 50% off Christmas ornaments at Michaels (HouseBeautiful, 2020)
The key is to look for doorbuster deals and early access sales to find the biggest discounts. Make a list of must-have items and shop early before supplies run out. With the right strategy, you can deck out your home for the holidays without breaking the bank.
Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday lands on the Monday after Black Friday and has become one of the biggest online shopping days of the year, with many retailers offering online-exclusive deals. This makes it a great opportunity to save on Christmas decorations. Retailers like Wayfair, Home Depot, and Target often have Cyber Monday deals on artificial trees, ornaments, string lights, wreaths, and more.James Brains
Some of the best Cyber Monday deals for Christmas decor include:
- Up to 60% off artificial trees at Wayfair
- BOGO 50% off Christmas ornaments at Michaels
- 25% off holiday wreaths at Bed Bath & Beyond
- Sales on Christmas string lights and projectors at Home Depot
The online-only nature of the deals on Cyber Monday makes it easy to shop from home. Be sure to browse the Christmas decoration sections on major retailers early on Cyber Monday to take advantage of discounts before items sell out.
Conclusion
In summary, the best times to buy Christmas decorations on sale are right after Christmas in December, January clearance sales, summer sales in July, back to school sales in late summer, pre-Black Friday sales in October and November, Black Friday in late November, and Cyber Monday in late November to early December. The biggest discounts are typically found in the post-Christmas clearance sales in December and January where retailers are trying to get rid of leftover holiday inventory. Paying attention to sales at craft stores like Hobby Lobby and online retailers can also yield great deals on Christmas decorations. Being strategic about when you shop for holiday decor can allow you to get the items you want at significant discounts.
