111 Christmas Decorations for Every Room of the House—Even the Bathroom
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With December nearing, it’s time to start transforming your home into a winter wonderland. We pulled a few (read: 111) Christmas decoration ideas to kickstart your inspiration. What’s more, we sourced ideas for every room of the house—even the bathroom! So if you want to go all out and deck the halls this year, keep scrolling because we’ve found some truly magical decoration ideas that will get you in the holiday spirit.
Our main goal? Avoid anything that feels overly cliche. Of course, all holiday decorations can (and even should) boast a little cheesiness without feeling tacky, so yes, you will discover red-and-white schemes, pinecone-adorned garlands, and all of the other classic Christmas decor you’d expect, but we took a super elevated approach.
We also searched for unexpected decorations that you’ll want to use year after year. Think an assortment of metallic ornaments (instead of colorful ones), a collection of baked goods-scented candles, and extreme maximalist trees. No matter what your style may be—farmhouse, minimal, or Scandinavian, to name a few—you’ll find a few decoration ideas that speak to you below. Our advice? Don’t wait too long to embark on your decorating journey because if you’re putting time and effort into your scheme, you’ll likely want to enjoy it for as long as possible before having to take it all down. It’s our personal opinion that you can start decorating as early as Thanksgiving weekend, so if you want to beckon the magic of the holidays sooner rather than later, start perusing some festive schemes ahead.
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 the traditional sugar cookies and opt for something a bit more elevated, like Tieghan Gerard's iced vanilla bean cookies. Take a look at the recipe and you'll be shocked 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 leave it burning (almost) all night.
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 is 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!
Put a Sheepskin Under the Tree
Fake a fresh snowfall by placing a sheepskin rug beneath your tree. In this cozy living room designed by Cathy Chapman, a sheepskin under the timeless tree flatters the existing space's neutral colors and rustic elements.
Frame an Archway
Frame a doorway with a simple pine garland to ensure that every single room, including in-between spaces, like hallways and foyers, is decked out for the holiday.
...or Drape One Over a Chair
In this modern family mountain cabin, designer Kylee Shintaffer optimized every single room for winter festivities, including the home office. A simple sheepskin draped over the chair does the winter wonderland trick.
String up Bells
Banisters can be tricky to decorate. For a light, airy, and cheerful look, try stringing red and white paper bells together with fishing line.
Bring Out the Plaids
Spoiler: Plaid is so in for winter. Opt for a grayscale take on the classic print if you want to take a more minimalist and modern approach to Christmas decorations, like on the sofa of this Wyoming home.
Splice In Copper Accents
Whether it's in the form of a mug or a glass, copper decor will add a bit of glam to your holiday display. They provide the perfect excuse for making a batch of hot cocoa or Moscow mules, too.
Deck Out Your Kitchen
We're dying over these adorable mini wreaths. Add a pink bow for an unexpected, playful touch.
Display Firewood
Corral firewood into a red basket or prop them up into an unused fireplace, as Elizabeth Pash did here.
Make a Creative Advent Calendar
Turn a kitchen garland into a advent calendar. Attach a ribbon across it and then hang little tin containers labeled with the day of the month and fill them with treats. Now that's our kind of giving tree.
Gather Pine Cones
Gather up some pinecones from your yard and place them in a bowl on the coffee table or dining room table for a seasonal centerpiece.
Hang Mistletoe
Set the holiday rom-com mood by hanging mistletoe over a doorway. We love that the ribbon in this mistletoe arrangement by Alfredo Paredes matches the florals on the entry table.
Put Your Mugs on Display
If you collect holiday mugs, make sure they're on full display during the festive season.
Match the Color Scheme
Rachel Barrett incorporated plenty of lush greenery for a festive update to this reading room, but to keep it feeling cohesive, she opted for ribbons that match the existing color scheme instead of sticking with the go-to red and green for Christmas decor.
Display Paper Snowflakes
Make a day of crafting paper snowflakes and then put them to use by hanging them from the ceiling to bring further dimension to your Christmas dinner or brunch table setting. You could also turn them into a garland and hang them over the mantel or any other type of wall decor.
Get Ready for Guests
In another Christmas decor masterpiece by Matthew Bees, vibrant reds dress up moody chocolate browns. One wreath above the bed and a bouquet of roses is all it takes to prep a bedroom for holiday guests.
Swap in Seasonal Candles
Swap out summery candlesticks with moodier, winter-friendly, or full-on Christmas-y options. In this formal hallway designed by Ann Pyne, green candles animate the wall-mounted candle holders.
Be Whimsical
This holiday dining scene by Elizabeth Pash inspires us to embrace our whimsical side. Everything is polished and grownup, but look closely and you'll notice that each table setting is topped off by a playful butterfly motif.
Spruce Up a Garland With Plaid Ribbons
A simple harvest garland adorned with plaid ribbons gets this contemporary living room in the home of CB2 president Ryan Turf ready for a stylish holiday season.
Honor a Family Tradition
"My family celebrates both Christmas and Kwanzaa," designer Nikki Klugh tells us. "We choose a different theme every year, but you'll always see a thread of blue running throughout—my father always used to hang blue lights on our house because it was my mother's favorite color," she shares.
Collect Figurines
Instead of hanging stockings on the mantel, deck out your fireplace with mini Christmas figurines, like Emily Henderson did here. Keep collecting your miniatures so that one day, you'll eventually have an entire mini Christmas village to display.
Use Special Wrapping
Coordinate your gift wrapping to complement the color scheme in your living room. Use the same techniques for your ornaments for a cohesive whole.
Swap Out Planters
"The planter in our entryway changes with the seasons. In the winter, I incorporate moss, princess pine, and berries—I want my guests to feel like they've been transported elsewhere," Charlotte Moss says of this holiday entryway setup.
Classic Always Scores
It doesn't get more timeless than a Fraser fir trimmed with an angel topper, red ribbon, and classic ornaments.
Stick With Blue and White
Forever committed to your favorite color palette? This room is proof you don't have to give it up for Christmas.
Layer, Layer, Layer
Decorate using objects of different heights. Start by hanging oversized snowflakes, and building up the table with tall candlesticks. For the mantel, hang a garland made with olive branches.
Add a Surprising Color
Choose an accent color that will modernize the traditional Christmas decor without clashing. We're loving the pops of sky blue in this living room decked out for the holidays by Matthew Bees.
Sprinkle In Carnations
Styled by House Beautiful contributing editor Sara Rodrigues and former senior style director Robert Rufino, this festive Christmas brunch table is easier to create than it looks. Pair grocery-store carnations with tartan patterns, cinnamon candy, classic holiday motifs, and a pattern-packed tablecloth.
Think Large-Scale
Have giant windows? Think how amazing they'll look with a garland draped over them.
Play With Color
Opt for non-traditional colors. Instead of the typical red-and-green palette, mix metals with retro elements, like the pair of little gold votive lamps.
Use a Ladder
Instead of opening a flimsy cardboard box, hang up a DIY Advent calendar on a ladder or the tree. Decorated muslin craft bags conceal treats, toys, and messages from Santa—and you can fill them again next year, too.
Get a New Tablecloth
Drape a plaid blanket over a white table to add color and creativity with basically zero work involved.
Don't Forget the Nursery
Baby's first Christmas? Deck out their room without breaking away from the current color palette with a metallic Christmas garland. Emily Henderson hung one right above the crib here.
Decorate the Bar
If you're entertaining this holiday season, don't forget to the prep bar. Aside from stocking it with the necessary beverage ingredients, take note from Emily Henderson's styling here by adding some greenery and a festive candlestick holder.
Stock the Bar
Bar carts are the one design element that still need to be functional, so make sure you have all of the merry-making essentials ready to go. Accessorize with greenery and glassware.
Greens on Greens
Layer pine, spruce, and juniper for a fuller garland. Birch twigs, winterberry, and silvery pinecones add sparkle.
Keep It Neutral
You don't have to go bold to make a statement. This classic dining room with a simple garland on the mantle is insanely chic.
Decorate With Candles
Candles give a Christmas old-fashioned charm—but to avoid a serious fire hazard, use candle lights instead of the real deal.
Real candles give the Christmas tree in artist Clare Potter's home an old-fashioned charm, but for safety reasons you should use lights at home; all-silver ornaments from Christopher BaKer
Put up a Playful Mailbox
Try Purple
Incorporate Yellow
Choose Colorful Gift Wrap
Get Lit
Instead of a garland, dress up a mantel with a mix of candlesticks—tall, small, mercury glass, crystal. Instead of ivory candles, opt for red, cranberry, and shades of green.
Fake Your Fireplace
Instead of putting candles in your lanterns, fill them with string lights. It's a great idea to make a non-working fireplace feel cozy.
And you can set this scene in five minutes flat.
Channel Your Inner Artist
Draw a fake fireplace with chalk on canvas, hang it from the wall, add stockings, and then surround it with floor cushions and blankets. Then place a tiny tree in a small planter to create a cozy nook. This will be a total lifesaver if you live in a small apartment but still want to go big on the Christmas decor.
Add In Holly
Attach holly leaves to napkin rings. Add a garland as a runner and you've got a super easy but totally festive table. See more at Sugar and Charm.
Play With Pattern
You don't have to limit yourself to matching the ribbon to the paper. Put polka dots and checks on a flowery filigree, like this one.
Double Up
Two wreaths are better than one. Stacked on a front door, your entryway will look twice as merry. Peep more at Good Housekeeping.
Use Citrus
Dress up your garland by crafting a wreath out of three gold rings. Add in fresh citrus, like lemons or oranges, for extra color. Get the full tutorial on Sugar and Charm.
Put a Bow on It
Tying a ribbon on your mirror is the stupid-easy decorating hack you never knew you needed. Lark and Linen shows us how it's done.
Wrap up Your Tree
If you're skeptical about replacing your traditional lights and ornaments, try this gorg floral wrap on a smaller second tree. Just cut down silk flower stems and stick them in—the more the merrier. See the full tutorial at Design Love Fest.
Go Minimalist
You don't have to go all out for your festive display to look amaze. This year, try a pared down, minimalist vibe.
Make a Garland out of Pine
All you need is wire, floral string, and pine to create this minimal holiday arrangement.
Make a Two-in-One Garland
Not only is this super colorful strand of string lights gorgeous wall (or tree!) decor, but it's also an adorable advent calendar. Need some pointers? Watch The House That Lars Built create it first!
Bring Planters Indoors
Stuff galvanized flower buckets with fresh pine, draw on a festive message, and light it all up with twinkly lights!
Combine Pink and Red
We're not just trying to make fetch happen here—pink can look totally festive. This DIY advent calendar is made out of red and pink paper bags. Get the tutorial at Tell Love and Party.
Stack Your Books
Pine is so 2017, anyway. Stack your books in the shape of a Christmas tree, then string some lights on them. It's not easy to build, so see how it's done at Family Sponge.
Keep It Clean
You don't have to stick to red and green for a festive mantel display. Keep your palette all white, then add in metallic accents. Gold feels celebratory, but still cool enough to not cramp your normal decor style.
Add in Cozy Patterns
Hello, sheepskin and buffalo check. Break out your coziest textiles and your display will feel even more festive. See more at Hello DIY.
Choose a Wintry Color Palette
Who invited you, red and green? We're loving this icy winter color palette. Get the tutorial at House and Home.
DIY Candles
Place cut sprigs of pine in skinny-necked, water-filled bottles and top with tapered candles for a stunning and simple arrangement, á la The Merrythought.
Use Bold Gift Wrap
You may not typically think of presents are decor, but they totally are. Use bright and colorful paper and bows to make your tree stand out even more.
Upgrade Your Flowers
Get creative with the base filler of your winter floral arrangements—try filling a square vase with fake cranberries before inserting cream colored roses.
Use Real Branches
This adorable "tree" will look chic on any surface around your home, and it's stupid easy to make. Just find a sturdy tree branch, apply spray paint, set it in a small glass bottle or vase, and decorate!
Hang Garlands Everywhere
Want something unexpected, but over-the-top festive and fun? String garland from your chandelier! See more at Emily Henderson.
Go Farmhouse
A mini tree in a pitcher = the farmhouse Christmas of our dreams. Keep a minimalist aesthetic and it'll feel even lighter and airier. See more at Dreamy Whites.
Origami Some Trees
The chicest origami has ever looked. Choose black, gold, and white paper for a display that can last through New Year's. Watch the experts at Bird's Party make them before delving in.
Make a Village
Turn your advent calendar into a village. Bonus: It can double as mantel decor.
Grab Your Toy Soliders
Keep it simple and flank your mantel with two tiny toy soldiers or nutcrackers. Anchor it with a statement wreath in the middle.
Fake Out
Mix faux garland with real greenery, weaving in pine cones and a matching thick ribbon. See more at Atta Girl Says.
Grab a Sled
Instead of a traditional tree stand, set your tree up on a sled. Add a sheepskin rug underneath and turn your living room into a winter wonderland.
Go Gingham
The classic white-and-black checkered pattern looks totally rustic when paired with wooden chargers. See more at The White Buffalo Styling Co..
Put out Some Lanterns
Can you even believe these gorgeous lanterns are made out of paper? This takes origami to the next level.
Decorate Your Walls
If it just isn't Christmas without fresh greenery for you, try this DIY. Just glue greenery to wooden dowels, then stack on your wall in the shape of a tree. Get the tutorial at Almost Makes Perfect.
Head to Your Backyard
Bleach pinecones first before stringing them alongside real cranberries. For their golden effect, submerge pinecones from your backyard in bleach for two days. It's easier than it looks, so be sure to follow the leaders at Clean and Scentsible.
Keep It Elegant
Stripes will never go out of style—especially when they're black, and paired with gold and white.
Fake Your Flowers
This is not a drill—these are flowers made out of actual paper. Now they'll last you all season long. Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.
Get Drawing
This small, hand drawn tree becomes 3D by hanging ornaments on appropriately-placed nails.
Grab Some Plastic Spoons
This plastic spoon project is dominating Pinterest right now—and we can 100 percent see why.
Add Antlers
Want an elegant table that's also fun and modern? Try white and gold everything. Hang some antlers on the wall for a wintry touch. See more at Inspired by This.
The Bigger, the Better
You could buy a standard paper advent calendar, but this giant wooden DIY is so much more fun. Get the tutorial at Sugar and Charm.
Make a Festive Coffee Bar
Complete with cinnamon sticks, candy canes, and chocolate-dipped peppermints. See more at Sugar and Charm.
Float On
These festive vases take mere minutes. Simply fill various jars with water—stop just a few inches below the brim—and add American and Michigan holly. Purchase floating candles for an added glow. Get the tutorial at 33 Shades of Green.
Spread The Word
Put season's greetings on full display. A rustic ladder can also hold cozy throws and blankets for chilly nights. Country Living shows us how it's done.
Go Color Crazy
Skip traditional crimson to put a fresh spin on a Christmas wreath. Branch out with pink and green baubles, and add in a few silvery accents.
Hang Up Your Candy Canes
Keep treats on display (and out of kids' and pets' reach) by hanging them along the top of a window. Hooked on matching ribbon, the peppermints look extra sweet. See more at Good Housekeeping.
Lighten Up
This easy-to-make candle wreath is classic for the holidays.
Up Your Wreath Game
Use birch bark sheets to craft a handful of leaves that can be turned into a frosted, seasonal wreath. See more at Country Living.
Think Beyond Your Tree
Place a few branches of holly inside of a vase and then add a pop of color with bright ornaments.
There's Nothing String Lights Can't Do
Turn a common winter scene—firewood, evergreen branches, and pinecones—into a dazzling display with some string lights. See more from Julie Blanner.
Stick With Tried & True Classics
Poinsettias, cinnamon, and candy canes will literally never go out of style. This decoration is another Julie Blanner find.
All the Holiday Scents Please
Recreate this sweet smelling wreath with star anise.
DIY Your Runner
Bright red pomegranates make a festive addition to a table runner.
Turn On Your Oven
Cinnamon applesauce dough comes together quickly to make this cute strand of cookies. See more at Lovely Little Kitchen.
Make It Mini
Go all out for a holiday table centerpiece, and place a miniature evergreen—topped with a ribbon—in the middle of your spread. See more at Domestically Speaking.
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