Decking the halls a little earlier

Irish households are embracing the festive season earlier than ever!

That’s according to new research from Woodie’s which this week revealed that one in five (20%) people start decorating before the end of November. The survey found almost one-third of the nation begin getting their homes ready and ‘decking the halls’ three weeks before Christmas, while 16% wait until two weeks before, and 11% waiting until the final week before decorating.

Despite all the preparation in the lead up to Christmas, many Irish households find themselves unexpectedly needing key items. The Woodie’s survey found that more than half (52%) of respondents said batteries are the item they most often forget, followed by extension cords (32%), tape (26%), and spare bulbs (19%), proving that even the best-laid decorating plans sometimes need a last-minute dash to the shop.

When it comes to how long people spend decorating, 43% say they spend between two and four hours on the task, while almost a fifth (18%) dedicate five to seven hours to Christmas decorating. One in ten people in Ireland commit to spending eight hours or more creating the perfect festive feel! The national average is 3.8 hours spent decorating - proof that Irish households take the tradition of Christmas decorating seriously.

A huge 88% of people said they plan to shop with an Irish retailer this Christmas, showing strong support for local businesses and a continued desire to keep the spirit (and spending) close to home.

When it comes to hosting or visiting for Christmas, 39% of people plan to go to someone else for Christmas, with 30% of respondents saying that they plan to host and visit on Christmas Day.

With 35 stores nationwide, Woodie’s is a one-stop shop for Christmas décor, preparation and hosting items.

From lights, trees, wreaths, ornaments and glassware to the tools and essentials that make decorating easy, visit your local Woodie’s or shop online at Woodies.ie.