112 Christmas Decoration Ideas That Will Get Your Home Feeling Festive
Deck every room in the house—even the bathroom.
When it comes to decking the halls, there are plenty of creative directions to consider. If you’re looking for inspiration to help kickstart your journey, peep the Christmas decoration ideas ahead. We searched high and low and discovered more than 100 concepts that will certainly get your home—from the front porch to the powder room—in the Christmas spirit.
We even asked quite a few renowned interior designers for their own decorative schemes when December rolls around. Though some stick to the traditional motifs and palettes, others take a totally unexpected approach. Intrigued? You’ll have to keep scrolling to see the most out-of-the-box decorating ideas. If you have time, we suggest going big with the decorations and outfitting more than just the living room. Otherwise, take a minimalist route and enlist only a few pieces of decor.
No matter which option speaks to you, we have a scheme for you. What’s more, we even included shopping links to trees, garlands, wreaths, and more so that you can start decorating your rooms as soon as you wish. Now that December is right around the corner, it’s never too early. All 112 of our suggestions are equally elegant and will surely make your home the most cheerful on the block. If you’re in an apartment, rest assured that plenty of our top picks are small-space friendly as well. All of the ideas, below, are pretty easy to master—at least with some patience—so go ahead and start brainstorming.
Stay Outside
Though Christmas has no strict color scheme, red and green tend to get the job done when it comes to spreading holiday cheer. Whether you use these shades throughout the whole home or just outside, your space is bound to be the most festive on the block. In our personal opinion, the oversized red bows really make this look, so feel free to start there when recreating it.
Go Overboard
Speaking of bows, how magnificent is this tree that's completely decked out in colorful ribbons? So if you don't have enough baubles to cover your tree, worry not. There are other options. Just don't forget to tack on a few twinkly lights to let them shine.
Set the Table
If you're hosting the Christmas feast this year, don't hold back. After all, there's only one day of the year on which a table decorated with holly, red, and berries works.
Play With Metallics
Christmas may be famous—among many reasons—for its red-and-green color scheme, but there's something to be said about going the metallic route. Mixing tones ups the sophistication factor without losing the whimsical and festive feel of the holiday.
Bake Festive Shapes
Give Santa something to rave about. Skip traditional sugar cookies and opt for something a bit more elevated, like these iced vanilla bean cookies from Half Baked Harvest's Tieghan Gerard. Take a look at the recipe: You'll be shocked by how easy these sweets are to whip up.
Decorate Your Garland
Garlands are plenty festive on their own, but if you want to take it a step further, attach a few ornaments, lights, and pinecones to the branches and let it shine.
Light a Fire
Nothing feels cozier than a crackling fire on Christmas Eve, so if you want to bring the warm and welcoming vibes, stack some firewood before the hearth and keep it burning (almost) all night. Just be sure to put it out in time for Santa to shimmy down the chimney.
Customize the Scent
If you don't plan on baking Santa any cookies this year, we won't hold it against you. Just be sure to fill your home with a sweet scent that's as delicious as it is cheery.
Don't Neglect the Porch
Don't use all of your decorations inside! The front porch is just as essential as the living room, so if you have extra garland or bows, bring them outdoors.
Appoint Poinsettias
Though any florals can work for Christmas, poinsettias are in season from Thanksgiving to New Years, so if you want to add a touch of color that feels on-theme, you can't go wrong with these bright red flowers.
Let It Snow
You don't have to live in a cold climate to enjoy a white Christmas. Just sprinkle some faux snow wherever you could use some festive spirit.
Dress Up the Dessert Station
If you're hosting a big Christmas feast this holiday season, give guests an extra reason to love the dessert station by decorating it! Rachel Barrett wove some branches around her platters and scattered a few ornaments to match the wreath ribbon. We're also loving how she stacked the cake stands to alternate the heights of each and add visual intrigue!
Go Small
In this pantry designed by Jim Dove, a seasonal garland animates the doorway and mini wreaths dress up the display cabinets. A small collection of holly brings good cheer to the surface counter.
Try on Some Tassels
Elizabeth Pash hung miniature stockings and tassels from the tree. To spread the cheer throughout the house, consider hanging on-theme tassels from doorknobs. Festive tassels adorning your doors, desk, or chest of drawers can be a finishing touch that is also budget-friendly.
Have Extra Fun in Kid-Friendly Spaces
If you have a backyard playhouse, don't forget to deck that out for the holiday, too! Since it's where kids go to play, Rachel Barrett leaned into more imaginative decor with rainbow lights and big wreath with a classic red velvet bow.
Swap Your Tree Stand for a Planter
"More is more," says Matthew Bees, decorator behind this eclectic room. "The holidays are meant to be extravagant! Instead of a tree skirt, try a vintage fishbowl or planter. It heightens the tree and gives you more room for Santa's surprises," he adds.
Add Some Sparkle
It's Christmas, so literally anything and everything can get away with having some extra sparkle. In this timeless bathroom designed by Rachel Barrett, a sparkly gold wreath brings some Christmas magic to the bubble bath zone.
Incorporate Your Artwork
Decorate your mantle with greenery, then add ribbons and ornaments for a pop of color. Match your garland accessories to wall art and decor throughout the space rather than using the classic Christmas colors for an understated yet festive look.
Exchange Existing Items for Christmas Ones
Swap out kitchen towels and plating to make your kitchen look festive, too. Candy cane motif decor gets this small kitchen nook in the Christmas spirit without taking up too much space.
Have a Sense of Humor
A minimalist approach can offer elegance with a hint of whimsy if you nail the look. We're also loving the subtly cheeky approach here. A small garland becomes a makeshift boa or scarf for the busy!
Hadley Mendelsohn is the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.
Jessica Cherner is House Beautiful’s Associate Shopping Editor, a role she’s honed since joining the editorial team in September 2022. She routinely tests and reviews viral products, carefully curates timely gift guides, and taps her vast network of interior designers to weigh in on decorating debates that often have the Internet divided. Though most of her day-to-day is product focused, she also curates and publishes home tours, which are the types of features she has written throughout her eight-year career in previous roles at 1stDibs and Architectural Digest. In her current role as a shopping editor, Jess has mastered the art of swapping decor in and out of her own New York City apartment to fulfill her seemingly never-ending quest for the perfectly styled space.
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