Christmas in New York City is full of excitement — festive lights, family gatherings, beautifully decorated homes, and the joy of wrapping up another year. But the holidays also bring unique seasonal hazards that can lead to fire damage, home accidents, or costly repairs. With Christmas-related injuries affecting an estimated 18,000 Americans each year, it’s crucial to decorate safely and protect your home.
Below are four major Christmas decoration safety tips to help prevent fires, protect your floors and walls, and keep children and pets safe during the holiday season.
1. Watch Out for Fire Hazards
Fire damage is one of the most common holiday risks, especially with Christmas trees, string lights, candles, and busy kitchens. These steps can help keep your home safe:
- Choose the Right Christmas Tree
Natural/live trees must be watered daily to avoid drying out and igniting. If choosing an artificial tree, check for a UL fire-resistant rating. - Choose the Right Placement
Place your tree close to an outlet to avoid long cords, and keep it safely away from fireplaces, radiators, and heaters. - Use Flameless Candles
Battery-powered candles reduce the risk of accidental fires or burns from open flames. - Choose Christmas Lights Carefully
Avoid overloading outlets, use heavy-duty power strips, replace burned-out bulbs, and turn off lights when leaving home or going to sleep. - Decorate the Fireplace Mindfully
Secure garlands, stockings, wreaths, and other décor using sturdy, heat-safe materials like zip ties or adhesive hooks. - Use the Right Disposal Methods
Never burn wrapping paper or Christmas trees in the fireplace. Recycle materials properly and upcycle artificial tree branches for décor. - Pay More Attention When Cooking
Kitchens are a major holiday fire source. Keep flammable items away from the stovetop and avoid leaving pots unattended.
A Leejec Christmas Tree Stand with Water Reservoir
2. Protect Your Floors and Carpets
The floor takes a lot of home damage during the holidays, not just from the additional foot traffic but from Christmas trees. A Christmas tree tends to leave indentations in the carpet and scratch wooden floors. To avoid expensive damage restoration after the holidays, keep these tips in mind:
- Place your Christmas tree in a sturdy basket to shield the floor. You can disguise it with wrapping paper or a tree skirt.
- Put a plywood slab under the tree, either on its own or paired with a waterproof, non-slip mat.
- Water the tree carefully to prevent excess moisture from seeping into the carpet or flooring.
- Seal glittery ornaments with clear sealer or hairspray to stop loose sparkles from embedding into floors and carpets.
- Use Christmas-themed area rugs in high-traffic spaces such as doorways or your main entrance. These protect against dirt, water, scuff marks, and scratches.
- If you’re hosting holiday gatherings, clean floors with gentle solutions. Mild soap and water can handle most spills and stains. Avoid harsh cleaners that can damage hardwood surfaces or tile grout.
Plywood Under Christmas tree Protecting Carpet Floor
3. Protect Your Walls and Windows
Holiday decorating often leads to accidental wall and window damage when adhesives, nails, or screws tear paint, drywall, or insulation. Instead, try these safer alternatives:
- Use self-adhesive hooks or removable hanging strips. Always check the weight rating before adding decorations.
- Use suction hooks for smooth surfaces like windows and tiles.
- Hang lightweight decorations using clear fishing line with clips or pegs. This method only requires securing two ends instead of drilling holes.
- Removable mounting putty is ideal for wall décor. It holds up to a pound, leaves no residue, and is reusable.
- Use water-based spray snow for windows. Cover surrounding walls, the floor, and the window frame before applying it so cleanup stays easy.
Self-adhesive hooks Preventing Peeling Paint
4. Keep Children and Pets Safe While Decorating
Pets and children love holiday decorations, but their curiosity can cause accidents or home damage. Pets may pull down the tree or drag lights around, while kids can easily trip, unplug lights, or interact with unsafe décor. These tips help keep everyone safe:
- Install a baby gate or puppy pen around the Christmas tree to block access to presents and decorations.
- Secure your tree to the wall or ceiling so it can support lights, ornaments, and even the occasional climbing cat.
- Avoid tinsel, angel hair, fake snow, and fragile ornaments. Use twine instead of metal hooks to attach ornaments.
- Cover electrical outlets to prevent children from unplugging light strands.
- Give younger kids their own small tree made from felt and let them decorate it with paper ornaments.
- Wrap and unwrap gifts away from fireplaces, candles, and heat sources so children don’t trip on paper or accidentally throw it into the fire.
Chrsitmas Safety Gate for Children and Pets
Additional Outdoor Decoration Safety Tips
- Keep lights and power strips away from snow and water.
- Use only outdoor-rated decorations.
- Avoid overloading outdoor circuits.
- Secure lights firmly to prevent wind damage.
- Keep all decorations at least 10 feet from power lines.
Have a Safe Festive Season This Year and Every Year
At New York Total Damage Restoration, our goal is to help you enjoy the holidays without worrying about home damage. Use this guide to protect the areas most vulnerable during the festive season. If you want to prepare your home ahead of time, NYTDR handles restoration for fire, smoke, water, mold, and asbestos damage. We manage the full process, including insurance adjustment, design, contracting, and construction.
NYTDR can get your home holiday-ready again. Contact us online or call 212.206.1300 to discuss the best restoration plan for your timeline and budget.
