Good suggestion about decorating the tree in conjuction with the Novena of the "O Antiphons." I'll suggest that to Der Prinz. We try to put up our tree as late as possible, partly because (expletives deleted) it's not Christmas yet, and partly because it gives the toddlers (and until this year, the cat) less time for destruction. However, by the last week before Christmas, it can be hard to find a tree at all, so some flexibility is in order. We leave it up until Epiphany, unless it's dangerously dry or I'm ready to stomp the people who won't leave the ornaments alone.
We clear away all our usual decor and clutter after Thanksgiving, and put up the Advent wreath, the Advent calendar, and a few purple or blue candles. That's it until the last few days before Christmas. Well, we have poinsettias, too, because our daughter's Girl Scout troop sells them :-). We avoid Christmas music as long as possible, too.
Now that's a challenge! They began playing Christmas music here, the day after Halloween.