Does Contents Insurance Cover Christmas Decorations?

Contents insurance usually covers your Christmas decorations, but the details matter. Inside your home, you’re likely sorted. Tucked away in the loft or a garden shed, the picture’s a little less clear. Here’s what you need to know before you start decking the halls.

At a glance

• Contents insurance typically covers Christmas decorations inside your home against insured events like theft, fire, and water damage.
• Decorations stored in lofts or outbuildings within your property boundaries are covered, but high-value items need to be listed separately to be fully protected.
• Accidental damage isn’t usually included as standard. It’s an add-on worth considering.
• Individual items valued over £2,000 may need to be listed separately. Collections are not insured as a whole.

When does contents insurance cover Christmas decorations?

Your Christmas decorations belong to you and live in your home, so they’re generally included under contents insurance. But cover only kicks in when the damage or loss results from a specific, unexpected event.

Contents insurance is designed to protect the belongings in your home, from your furniture to your gadgets, and that includes your festive bits and pieces. The rule of thumb? If you could pack them up and take them with you when you move, they’re classed as contents.

So if someone breaks in and your decorations are taken, or a burst pipe soaks the box of baubles in your living room, your insurer will likely step in. Dropped a precious ornament while trimming the tree? That depends on whether you’ve got the right cover in place.

What types of damage or loss are covered?

A standard Lemonade contents insurance policy covers your Christmas decorations against a range of unexpected events. Here’s a closer look:

Theft and burglary

Your base policy covers theft or burglary inside your home. If someone breaks in and your decorations are taken or damaged in the process, you’re covered.

Fire damage

If your decorations are damaged or destroyed in a house fire, or if the fairy lights cause one, your contents insurance will cover the cost of replacement. Report the incident quickly and gather as much evidence as you can.

Water damage

Sudden water damage from a burst pipe or an unexpected flood is typically covered. If the damage has crept in gradually due to a known issue you didn’t address, your insurer is unlikely to pay out.

Accidental damage

Knocked the tree over and smashed your favourite decorations? That kind of mishap isn’t covered under a standard policy. But with Lemonade’s Accidental Damage add-on, you would be. It covers sudden and unexpected damage, even if it’s your fault.

Just note: this add-on doesn’t apply to mobile devices or gadgets like smartphones, laptops, or tablets.

When is damage or loss not covered?

Here’s the bit you don’t want to miss. While your Christmas decorations are generally included under contents insurance, there are limits:

• Wear and tear: Decorations that have faded, frayed, or simply stopped working after years of use aren’t what insurance is for.
• Negligence: Damage caused by careless storage or misuse may not be covered.
• High-value items not listed on the policy: Individual items worth over £2,000 that haven’t been added as scheduled personal possessions may not be covered for their full value. And remember: collections aren’t insured as a whole.
• Gradual damage: Any deterioration that’s built up slowly over time, rather than from a sudden event, is unlikely to be covered.

Contents insurance covers your decorations against unexpected events, not the inevitable wear of putting them up and taking them down every year.

What about decorations stored in the loft or outbuildings?

Good news: decorations stored in outbuildings or a loft are covered under your contents policy, as long as the outbuilding is within the boundaries of your insured property.

That said, there’s an important caveat. If any individual item is worth over £2,000, it needs to be added as a scheduled personal possession on your policy to make sure it’s covered for its full value. Without this, your payout could be capped at a lower limit. It’s also worth noting that Lemonade does not insure collections as a whole, so each high-value item needs to be listed individually.

If you’re not sure whether your outbuilding falls within your policy’s boundaries, check your policy documents or get in touch with Lemonade directly.

What about high-value or sentimental decorations?

Got vintage ornaments, hand-blown glass baubles, or decorations that are genuinely valuable? Worth flagging to your insurer. With Lemonade, individual items valued over £2,000 need to be added as scheduled personal possessions to make sure they’re covered for their full value. Collections are not insured as a whole, so each item needs to be listed separately.

Adding this cover is straightforward and can be done via the Lemonade app. Keep receipts or proof of purchase handy. You’ll need them if you ever make a claim.

What add-ons should you consider?

Lemonade offers a handful of add-ons that can give your Christmas decorations a bit more protection:

• Accidental Damage cover: Covers sudden, unexpected damage to your belongings, even if you caused it. Knocked the tree over? Smashed a bauble during decorating? You’re sorted. Excludes mobile devices and gadgets.
• Theft and Loss cover: Your base policy already covers in-home theft. With this add-on, you’re also covered for theft and accidental loss outside your home, as long as you’ve taken reasonable care to protect your belongings.
• Home Emergency cover: Available to homeowners with a contents-only policy, this add-on gives you access to a 24/7 emergency helpline for urgent home issues, think electrical failures, broken boilers, or lost keys. Worth considering if you want extra back-up when things go wrong. Note: this add-on isn’t available to tenants.

Before we go

Most Christmas decorations are covered under a standard contents insurance policy, but the devil’s in the details. Where they’re stored, how they were damaged, and whether you’ve got the right add-ons in place all make a difference. If any individual item is worth over £2,000, make sure it’s listed separately. And remember: collections aren’t insured as a whole.

Take a few minutes to review your policy before the festive season kicks off, and you’ll know exactly where you stand.

Lemonade’s contents insurance is designed to be clear, not confusing. Flexible add-ons, straightforward claims, and cover built for real people. Explore Lemonade’s home insurance options to find the right cover for you.

Christmas decoration insurance FAQs