25 Christmas Decorating Ideas That'll Make the Season Feel Magical

There are as many ways to decorate your home for Christmas as there are to decorate your home in general, and it all comes down to your personal style. Whether you want classic Christmas decorating ideas that you can pull out year after year, or you want to reinvent the wheel each festive season, that's up to you.

What we can offer is an almost endless supply of inspiration for you festive decor, down to different rooms and different styles, dressed to impress for the holidays.

Take a look at 25 of the most inspiring right now, and take inspiration for your best ever festive decor.

1. Lean on florals for a magical look

Each year, interior designer Tracy Cole's Christmas tree is one of the very best you'll see on Instagram. The founder of Hello Flora is known for her elaborate decor which always include natural elements such as flowers and foliage for striking impact.

"The best flowers to use in a Christmas tree are those with big blousy heads, something like hydrangeas," Tracy tells us, "but really any botanical with a bright pop of color will work. I’ve used red rosehips from my garden before, anything that adds contrast and texture to the green of the tree."

"Dried or artificial flowers will give you the longest-lasting display. However fresh flowers can really elevate your tree. If you do use fresh flowers you can extend their life by trimming the stems short and at an angle, and then slip the ends into reusable floral water tubes to keep them hydrated."

2. Add decorations to the bedroom

So you've gone all out on living room Christmas decor ideas, but aren't you forgetting somewhere? Your bedroom is a prime candidate for a festive makeover, and can really add some magic first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

According to content creator Thomas Trust the perfect Christmas bedroom decorating plays into the cozy factor, as he did in his own bedroom pictured above. " I think it's really all about layering," he says, "layering with textures and patterns that feel cohesive. I think a luxe faux fur throw elevates any look and brings that cozy vibe to any space."

"I also think contrast brings a luxe look, if you have lots of whites, add in dark brown and black," Thomas adds. "A deep, dark brown to me is the ultimate luxurious color."

3. Take a minimalist approach

Christmas decorating ideas don't have to be overly elaborate to feel magical, and some people prefer the pared back look. Interior designer Audrey Scheck's advice? "Don’t purchase every favorite thing you find! Christmas decorations only get a few months a year to truly shine, so you want to be selective with what you're spending your money on."

There are ways that you can change it up each year, without having to buy all new ornaments, and it's all centered around minimalist Christmas decor. "If you opt for a rotating color scheme each year, try to purchase items that you can incorporate into a styling moment throughout your home in the future," Audrey says. "I always start with my tree's color scheme and then layer that color throughout the house. This year, I am leaning into burgundy, which has been achieved by using velvet ribbon and textiles sprinkled among the evergreen, year-round decor."

4. Deck the ceiling by decorating a tension rod

"Have you seen the viral tension rod garland hack?" asks Lisbeth Parada, interior designer and color marketing manager at Sherwin-Williams. This clever and affordable idea has taken social media by storm, showing just how easy it can be to create an out-of-the-box festive display. The concept is simple: install one or more tension rods in areas like doorways, windows, or between cabinets, and then adorn them with your favorite Christmas decorations, such as garlands, string lights, ornaments, or even ribbons.

When done right, the effect can be incredibly impactful, transforming any space into a cozy holiday haven without the need for nails, screws, or permanent fixtures.

Krylon partner @livingwithley shows us how it’s done, below. The beauty of this hack lies in its versatility. You can layer greenery with string lights, dried citrus slices and cinnamon sticks for a warm, glowing look, or go bold with colorful baubles and metallic accents for a more dramatic effect. You can even hang woven baskets for holding greenery or overflowing with a string of ornaments.

When shopping for tension rods, consider options that either enhance your decor – such as this satin gold Home Details tension rod, from Amazon – or one that seamlessly blends into your decor or matches your ceiling color to keep it discrete.

Whether you're going for a minimalist aesthetic or a maximalist wonderland, tension rods make it easy to adjust and experiment until you achieve your ideal holiday look.

5. Opt for non-traditional holiday plants

If you can't find room for a Christmas tree, why not just dress up existing houseplants with a festive feel? In the home above, cacti have been dressed up for the holidays, which delivers a unique touch.

This extends to other Christmas houseplants too, which can all set the tone for the season. While poinsettias remain a classic choice for holiday decor, there’s no reason to limit yourself to tradition. This year, why not explore non-traditional holiday plants to bring a fresh, festive touch to your home?

"Bring in winter bloomers such as the Christmas Cactus, or the Amaryllis that stands out due to its flowers,' recommends Guillaume Drew, interior designer and founder of Or & Zon. "The Christmas Cactus offers unique cascading blooms, while the Amaryllis stands out with its striking, trumpet-shaped flowers. Both plants not only add vibrant color but also serve as living, natural decorations that perfectly align with the spirit of the season."

These alternatives can complement your festive decor – especially when they are decked out with string lights or smaller, light ornaments, such as these paper ornaments from Wayfair – while creating a cozy, botanical atmosphere. Whether placed on a mantle, dining table, or near a twinkling tree, these plants make a stylish and meaningful addition to your holiday celebrations.

6. Go for rainbow brights

The easiest way to invert Christmas traditions - and to make your home feel super-fun - is to adopt a kaleidoscopic approach to decor. Multi colors in a rainbow of shades are not classically Yuletide, but they sure are festive.

"If you can't be maximalist at holiday time, when can you?" asks Livingetc's executive editor Pip Rich, "and filling a Christmas fireplace or mantlepiece or entryway with paper balls is the perfect way to inject a little fun. It says grown up ball pit, and what could be more joyful than that?!"

7. Play with scale 

Old fashioned paper decs have been a Christmas decor trend for years now and they just keep getting bigger. Affordable, eco-friendly, and really effective, these traditional decorations can work with any scheme from a soft, neutral style to something bolder and brighter like this lovely living room.

With honeycomb ball decorations, make the most impact by grouping them together, hanging them from the ceiling, gathering them around the hearth, or going for a simple, statement look and use only these to decorate your tree. Paper garlands also look lovely hung up anywhere and everywhere – over mantle pieces, door frames, or dining room tables – adding instant color and texture.

Be inspired by this Christmas decorating idea and once finished decorating your tree, artfully cover it in oversized paper garlands to make the look instantly more fun and festive.

8. Go for a rustic theme with toasty tones

When deciding on how to decorate your home for Christmas, the first thoughts go to color. Green and red have long reigned as the holiday hues and silver and gold are always a go-to if you are after a more elegant look, but if you after a more rustic look this year, experiment with warmer more earthy tones like deep oranges, browns, and mossy greens.

Consider layering textures too, see how in this tree paper decorations mix with ceramic ornaments and wooden beaded garlands to create a very natural display that has a very on-trend Nordic vibe.

And consider the base. "Of course, nothing says Christmas like a tree – and real or fake, my main concern is the basket it sits in," says the interior designer Minnie Kemp. "My basket fetish knows no bounds: woods, willows or grasses, it doesn’t matter."

9. Adorn a kitchen with hanging decorations

A traditional Scandinavian Christmas decor idea that's made a comeback is the straw ornament. They add such a lovely rustic touch to a scheme and work so beautifully hung in groups as can be seen in this kitchen.

They are just hung to the light fitting with clear thread and yet the effect is magical as they float above the dining room table. Pick different sizes and hang them at different levels to turn the simple decorations into a real focal point.

10. Create a traditional feel with rich colors

Reds and greens are the colors of Christmas for a reason, these rich jewel-like tones are filled with nostalgic, cozy times of Christmases past and this classic combination is just guaranteed to fill a room with joy and warmth. For a fresh take on this traditional scheme, bring in some bold hues like a brighter green or a few pink tones to give those darker reds a lift.

And for a touch of glamorous add some gold accents too. We love how this tree has been decorated with large gold magnolia leaves, a nice way to make a Christmas tree feel fuller and bring in more unusual natural shapes and textures to sit among the pine.

11. Opt for a dramatic black and gold color scheme 

Black may not sound like the most festive shade but used sparing it can create a really glamorous, dramatic color scheme. Be inspired by this Christmas dining room decor idea and black decorations with pops of gold and a heavy dose of white for a scheme that's got all the festive feels but still feels chic and contemporary.

"Black and gold is a favorite Christmas color combination of ours," says designer Juliette Thomas. "Perfect for an opulent, grown-up and glamorous look, whether on the table or around the mantel, this classic combination should be completed with berries, bows, baubles in abundance in the same elegant hues."

"For an even bolder look, we suggest mixing in tones of turquoise with gold accessories for a pop of color. Think peacock feathers combined with frosty, white accessories and matching turquoise fluted glasses for your table which pairs perfectly together. Touches of gold bring in warmth to this wintery scene. Complete the look with a decorative bowl filled with complementing baubles and foliage for a showstopping centerpiece to admire."

And we can't ignore the display of paper decorations suspended from the ceiling. Such a simple idea that would be really easy to recreate but looks so impressive, the perfect way to make a Christmas table even more of a focal point.

12. Create a cohesive theme throughout the house 

Once you've decided on your theme and color scheme, bring that into every room, or every room you spend a lot of time in over the festive season at least. Take those same colors used on your tree into a garland that snakes around the staircase, hang some of the same decorations or sprigs of greenery on your door handles, bring the decor upstairs too by hanging subtle decor above mirrors or from the light fixtures. Ensure there's a pop of Christmas cheer in each room, creating a lovely cohesive festive theme that runs through the whole house.

"Decorations look fabulous wrapped and draped around the normal household objects like chandeliers, banisters, mirrors, mantle pieces, and front doors. So work out how many decorative items you need and then keep the tree in the same color and theme to connect them," continues Juliette.

12. Make an oversized wreath

Supersized wreaths seem to be a bit of a trend this year, and rather than banish them to the door to only be enjoyed by guests and passers-by, bring all that lovely decorative greenery into your home too. An oversized wreath makes the perfect festive but simple, backdrop for a Christmas table, or bring it into your living room for a festive touch, alternatively hang a large wreath in your hallway to make an impact as soon as guests enter your home.

Festive foliage will work with any scheme too and you could always add extra sparkle by nestling in some decorating and winding fairy lights in and around the wreath. Plus you can pick greenery that's going to suit your style best, so for a more traditional look you might want to stick with fire, ivy, and holly but for a more contemporary look try eucalyptus or large waxy magnolia leaves.

13. Overflow a stair rail with an ornate garland

No staircase should be left bare at Christmas. They were made to be draped in foliage and lights and baubles and it's a Christmas decorating idea you can DIY too and potential to forage everything you need from your garden too. The best looks always have lots of depth to them, forget a sad green string of artificial fir winding through the spindles, you want your banister to almost be sagging with the weight of all that greenery.

Out top advice for creating the best Christmas garland is to make your own, but start out with a really nice quality fake one to give you the structure then you can add to it with plenty of real greenery and decorations.

14. Create a tablescape to remember

The dining table is where all the action happens over the holidays, so give its decor as much consideration you would your tree. And we say don't wait till the big day to adorn your table, especially if it's a space you use daily, start introducing a few festive flourishes like a Christmas table cloth, some elegant taper candles, and a large vase of foraged evergreen.

"Our favorite part of Christmas is getting family and friends around the table to feast. Whether you live in a small rental flat or a spacious country home, whether you're entertaining for 20 or two, table decor is an absolute must, as well as a fun way to experiment with and infuse creativity into your home," says designer and co-founder of Wicklewood Rosie Axford.

"Remember to layer up – start with beautiful, eye catching placemats and layer up from there, adding texture, pattern, and color via items that aren’t going to be removed from the table by the end of the meal like placemats, bud vases and ceramic tea lights. Be playful – a Christmas tablescape should be playful, creative, and relaxed. Think one-of-a-kind accessories and unexpected pieces, as they make great conversation starters too."

15. Keep it simple with foraged mantel decor

A mantelpiece really comes into its own over the festive season, these spaces were made to be adorned with evergreen, covered in twinkling lights, and crowded with stockings. But there's a lot to be said for keeping Christmas fireplace decor simple, especially if you've been blessed with a beautiful, ornate surround.

Get into the garden and forage for the best evergreen you can find and just effortlessly trail it along your mantle. Fill in any gaps with taper candles at varying heights and if you want a full look add in some fir or holly. For a twist on the traditional, throw in something unexpected like this oversized houseplant. It adds that all-important height and throws off the symmetry to give this classic look a more contemporary feel.

16. Bring in pops of zesty hues

While red and green may ever reign as the colors of Christmas, every year a new color palette creeps through as a twist on the original combo. We've been seeing a rise in more vibrant tangerine tones. They still work as part of a more traditional scheme, so don't be worried about bringing orange into your greens and reds, as can be seen in this dining space, those zesty shades just give the richer tones and lift creating a more contemporary look.

"Everyone is looking to put the magic back into Christmas this year as they look at cosseting friends and family and surrounding those they love with the sheer beauty of the festive season. Zesty Colours such as orange and yellow are joining the two major winter palettes of wintry white and green or more traditional red and gold," says Sue Barnes, Founder and Creative Director Lavender Green Flowers. 'These color accents modernize the traditional and add warmth and vitality to the frosted winterscape.'

17. Decorate with vases filled with berries and fir

In rooms where a tree wouldn't be practical like in a kitchen or a hallway, big vases of evergreen and winter berries can have a similar effect on a smaller scale. In this kitchen designed by Marie Flanigan a group of antique jars provides the perfect home for wintery foliage, and we love how the blue looks with green and the small pops of red from the berries. This would make for a beautiful Christmas table centerpiece too or as an alternative to a garland on a mantel.

"I love keeping holiday décor organic with soft touches of metallic. Beautiful greenery, branches, and berries are a wonderful way to pay homage to the season and when you add fun lacquered brass or oil-rubbed bronze, it creates a wonderfully subtle contrast," says Marie.

“Don’t forget to look up too! Sometimes the most magical decorations, like snowflakes, wreaths, bells, and mistletoe, are hung from chandeliers, light fixtures or doorways. Wire-edged ribbon is a must-use for any holiday ribbons or bows that you plan to incorporate. The ability to manipulate the bow loops and tails creates wonderful texture and keeps the décor in place.”

18. Layer up textures to create a wintery escape

How beautiful is this Christmas mantelpiece idea? All those textures and shapes creating a dreamy wintery landscape. The key to this look is layers, that lovely mix of materials, and plenty of depth.

The detailed metallic gold wings used on the mantle and in the hearth create an instant focal point, and the huge spray of eucalyptus adds another layer of natural shapes, there's the snowy brush trees too which add yet more texture and vertical shape to the design.

19. Go overboard with lighting

One of the easiest Christmas decorating ideas is just to introduce plenty of festive lighting. String lights over anything and it instantly feels more festive, cover surfaces in candles and you're guaranteed to create that warm Christmassy glow. Fill your garlands and wreath with lights, wrap them around door frames and windows or just trail them along shelves or furniture. Honestly, you can never have too many lights at Christmas.

"Lighting is crucial when trying to create that warm and inviting atmosphere around the festive season, especially with the cold weather you want to make a real effort to create a haven when you walk in the door of your home," advises designer Sara Cosgrove. "Some simple ways to do this would be adding fairy lights to your garland along the banister, a festive candle or two on the coffee table, a candelabra on the mantlepiece with red candlesticks and if you’re one of the lucky ones, a roaring open fire to beside to relax after your day."

Designer Benji Lewis agrees that "String lights are also a great Christmas addition and bring twinkling warmth to any room. For example, why not loosely arrange them along the mantelpiece or place them over a lemon or orange tree instead of a traditional Christmas tree, and of course – maintained appropriately - a citrus tree will flower and scent your room forever."

20. Go big with the festive folliage

A just like lighting you can never have enough greenery around the house at Christmas. And a mantel is a prime spot for going all out with a really show-stopping garland. The design in this Christmas living room is a beautiful example – oversized, full of texture, and a lovely natural shape the extends beyond the mantel, spraying out in tendrils at either end. And there's height too, rather than just thinking horizontally when designing your garland go vertical too with sprigs of foliage. And note the subtle metallic accents nestled within the greenery too, adding a touch of glamour and sparkle.

21. Embrace a cozy Scandi aesthetic 

Rustic Scandi style really comes into its own at Christmas. Neutral color schemes, simple decor, plenty of natural textures, and all the candlelight, it's an easy look to achieve and is guaranteed to create a warm and welcoming home

Be inspired by the Christmas tree idea in this dining room and keep it minimal with the tree decor, just a few larger decorations with different shapes and textures will create a lovely pared-back look. And don't just stick with one tree, dot smaller firs (fake or real) on window ledges, shelves and tables too for more natural textures.

As Chrissie Rucker, founder of The White Company, says, "If you can have more than one tree! When it comes to our main tree, I like to keep it quite simple, white fairy lights go on first and then a mixture of glass and white baubles are always a favorite for me. I’ve collected them over the years, including a few vintage ones and we always do the tree all together with the children. I also love to use smaller pre-lit faux trees on the windowsills in the kitchen and in guest bedrooms. They are brilliant for adding an easy but extra special touch of Christmas all around the house and because they are small they are very quick to decorate, they even look beautiful with just our cluster lights on or a single type of decoration."

22. Create a contemporary festive glow with neon lights

Festive foliage needn't be limited to the usual evergreen, this beautiful floral arrangement created by Titania's Garden is filled with unexpected exotic blooms but still hits with those classic warm, rich Christmassy shades. And all those different textures, it's that mix of really shiny leaves layered with the soft matte eucalyptus, and all the various shapes and sizes too that really make a festive floral arrangement or a garland. You want there to be lots of depth and have a natural shape to it.

"Be bold this year at Christmas," says Michael Wareing founder of Titania's Garden. "At Titania’s Garden, we feel colors and textures need to be explored in the home to brighten up at this festive time. Use a mixture of tropical flowers and foliage to give an electric style. Full of joy!"

And this beautiful setup makes a convincing case for neon at Christmas too. As you can see it's far less garish than it sounds. Neon can be elegant and classic and ensures a lovely warm glow that feels incredibly festive.

23. Adorn a door frame with a minimalistic garland

Simple, chic and a really easy look to recreate, draping a garland around a door frame is a nice alternative to a mantel or a staircase. Pinch this look and rather than take the garland all the way around the frame, create a more contemporary, asymmetrical look by hanging it down just one side.

This is a lovely way to add decor into a hallway without having to use up any floor space, adding an instant warm and welcoming feel that leads guests through your rooms.

"When it comes to the entrance hall at Christmas time, you want it to be impactful and inviting. This can be done with garlands, fresh will always give an extra punch of that gorgeous smell of pine that we associate with this time of year. A scented Christmas candle is always good as an entrance hall element as it welcomes people and creates a seasonal vibe," says Sara Cosgrove.

How can you decorate a house for Christmas?

We always think it's best to start off with a theme in mind. Gather together your inspiration on a Pinterest board or good old school with a mood board and start deciding on the overall look you want to achieve. Some of the most popular themes are traditional, minimalist, rustic, Scandi and more quirky themes like kitsch has been a growing trend for years too. But don't get too stuck on a theme either, make sure your decs are a reflection of your personal style and suit your home.

Then think about colors. Classic green and red? Or do you want to go bold and colorful? A neutral scheme can look lovely too if you are into a more minimalist style. And of course, gold and silvers always look elegant.

Once you've got an idea of your theme and color scheme go room by room, making a plan of what you want to do with each space. Try and have a bit of cohesiveness between each room too whether that's through styles or colors.