Deck the Halls with These 22 Christmas Decorating Ideas

There’s nothing more magical than the holiday season. The family gathers around beautiful tablescapes to engage in warm conversation. The snow dusts the mountaintops and temperatures are pleasant by the seaside. The spirit of the season is reflected in glittering Christmas trees, Hanukkah displays, and colorful lights on rooftops.

Decorating for the magic of the season is one of the most fun parts of the year. And with this list of Christmas decorating ideas, you can channel your inner Santa Claus. Whether your holiday decorating style involves tons of glitter and glam or understated neutrals and soft touches, you’ll find something on this list to help you spread Christmas cheer.

The 22 Best Christmas Decorating Ideas

When it comes to Christmas decor, there isn’t one right way to celebrate the season. The holidays are all about enjoying the company of friends and family. How you choose to decorate is up to you. You can go for all-out glam or keep things simple with DIY decor using items from around your house. Whatever your style, here are some Christmas decorating ideas to get you in the spirit of the season.

1. DIY Christmas Advent Calendar

You can make your own advent calendar whether you’re crafty with paper or handy with real wood projects. For simple projects, use a large poster board and cut out 24 squares. Use thumbtacks to pin on treats like candies or gift cards for each day. For more advanced DIYers, make an advent calendar box out of wood with 24 mini drawers. Stuff each drawer with small toys, mini bottles of wine, or whatever suits your holiday fancy.

2. Use Green Garland

Nothing says it’s Christmas time quite like a green garland. Add long strands to your mantel, adorn your chandelier with soft, wispy sprigs, or wrap staircase pillars with greenery. Use fresh garland for a pungent pine scent or go for fake garland for easy cleanup.

3. Get a Tabletop Tree

A mini Christmas tree is a great way to celebrate the holidays in a small space or when you want to add extra holiday decor to a cozy corner. Use mini string lights and mini ball ornaments for a quaint touch.

4. Make a DIY Fireplace

Bummed out when you hear “the stockings were hung by the fire with care” because you don’t have a real fireplace? Fear not, you can make your own faux fireplace with just a few simple items.

This is one of the coziest Christmas decorating ideas. Just hang a cloth on the wall about three feet up from the floor. Use pins to hang stockings along the top and place some cozy pillows and blankets along the base of the cloth. If you want to go all out, spray the cloth with chalkboard paint and draw some flames for added ambiance. If you have a fireplace that doesn’t work, place candles in front of it to create the same ambiance.

5. Sweet Candy Decor

Skip the usual decorations and sweeten things up by decorating your tree and home with candy instead. Look for swirling lollipops and candy canes and place them around your home. Use colorful gift wrapping in candy hues like turquoise and bubble gum pink to bring the color scheme into all your decor.

6. Santa on the Shelf

Elf on the shelf is a wildly popular holiday tradition. In the middle of the night, these mischievous elves move around, thrilling children and adults alike. Stand out from the crowd this year and use mini Santas around your home. You can find funny versions or Santas with an antique look to suit your style.

7. Use Natural Elements

Use natural elements like apples, pumpkins, and acorns in your holiday decor. Apples pair perfectly with fresh garland for a red and green theme. Acorns and pumpkins add a touch of elegance. Pinecones are perfect for sprucing up greenery with natural vibes and if you live near a forest, you can get them for free. Need more glam with your natural elements? Spray them with glitter paint for a shimmering design.

8. Make a Twig Tree

Don’t feel like chopping down a tree and trying to fit it into your living room? Go simple with your Christmas decorations this year and make a Christmas tree out of twigs. You can spray-paint the twigs to add a modern touch or leave them as-is for a natural theme. Hang sparkling earrings or vibrant puff balls from the branches for a colorful accent. Use a tree skirt to frame in the design.

9. Add Floral Centerpieces

Nothing says elegance and sophistication like stunning flowers. Seasonal stars include poinsettias, bottlebrush, Christmas cactus, roses, and ivy. Use cranberry or holly leaves and wrap bouquets in burlap ribbons for a natural effect. Sprinkle pine sprigs and berries along the floral spread to welcome guests to a stunning dinner party.

10. Plaid and Knit Touches

The holidays are all about cozying up with the ones you love. Turn your home into an apres-ski heaven with furry throws, knit slippers, and plaid pillows. Mix textures to create depth and don’t forget to include decorative elements with the season’s favorites, including reindeer, snowmen, and snowflakes.

11. Charlie Brown Tree

Refocus your attention on the small things with a tiny, disheveled tree. A Charlie Brown tree helps remind you that the goal of the season is to spend time with friends and family. Forget about finding the perfectly shaped tree. Instead, find the beauty in a tiny, unique tree. Best of all, these small trees make it easy for children to decorate without worrying about tall ladders — a simple step stool will do.

12. Light It Up with Lanterns

Use lanterns and LED candles to line entryways or staircases. Choose vibrant colors for a bright affair or opt for simple white candles and lanterns for a sophisticated air. Sprinkle fake snow around the lanterns and add a few pine boughs to turn your place into a winter wonderland. Line the banister with garland for a finishing touch.

13. Feature a Starry Night

Use metallic stars to add a touch of glam to your mantel, front door, or dining room table. Hang the stars with twine to make it look like they’re floating. Mix and match stars made of glittering gold with minimalist wood designs for a sophisticated feel.

14. Hang Wreaths

Wreaths are among the most popular decorations this time of year. Have a white Christmas by adorning your doors with snow-white wreaths featuring silvery glitter accents. Go colorful with vibrant pom-pom wreaths or keep it traditional with red and green accents.

15. Wrap Bookcases

Take spaces in your home like bookcases and get them into the Christmas spirit with a little wrapping paper. Use bookshelves to display beautifully wrapped presents. You can also wrap books on your shelves with those tiny leftover pieces of gift wrap that aren’t big enough to use on normal presents.

16. Make a Holiday Bowl

If you have leftover mercury glass Christmas ornaments you don’t know what to do with, place them in a decorative bowl as a centerpiece. Add a few candy canes or holiday mints for a sweet touch. You can also add ornaments to plant pots and wrap the bases in wrapping paper that looks like birch bark.

17. Deck the Halls and the Entryway

Wow your friends and family with holiday decorations they’ll fawn over from the moment they pull up outside. Line the entryway with votive candles, lanterns, and strands of garland. Use a fake snow spray to add a glittering white dusting to the branches. You can line the front steps with mini Christmas trees or boxwood shrubs and dangel ornaments from the boughs. Add Christmas lights and ribbon to hallways to connect the decor between different rooms.

18. Frame Windows With Sweets

Spread holiday cheer from every window in your house without spending a fortune. Pick up a container of candy canes and hang them from the top of the window frame using ribbon. Spruce it up with a strand of garland or mix in a few glass ornaments.

19. Make Stylish Stockings

This holiday season, give dinner guests something they’ll adore with a personalized stocking. Use glitter glue and small candy mints to decorate stockings for each guest. Fill each one with some holiday swag from candy to mini tree toppers.

20. Feature a Christmas Card Display

Get into the holiday spirit by showing off stunning holiday cards from friends and family. You can buy wire card displays in the shape of Christmas trees and snowmen, or you can make your own card display by stringing a few Christmas lights along a blank wall. Use clothespins to attach the cards to the light strand. Whether you go pre-made or DIY, this is one of the most heartwarming Christmas decorating ideas on our list.

21. Make a Holiday Drink Station

Sprinkle the magic of Christmas on your bar cart or drink station with holiday-themed elements. For a family-friendly option, make a hot cocoa station featuring cozy knit linens and toppings like sprinkles and marshmallows. For adult options, feature copper mugs for Moscow mules and adorn the cocktail bar with garland and candies. To add a rustic touch, serve drinks in mason jars.

22. Celebrate the Season with Holiday Coasters

Whether you’re hosting Christmas dinner or having colleagues over for a holiday party, don’t forget to incorporate table decorations. While centerpieces steal the show, small touches like holiday coasters add detail and functionality. Make snowflake coasters out of felt or buy glittering gemstone coasters for your tabletop.

Invitation Ideas for Your Holiday Party

Now that you’ve decked the halls, you’ll need an event where your holiday decorating ideas can take center stage. Invite friends, family, and colleagues over to admire your hard work. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or a casual get together, here are some online invitations you can use to gather everyone around the holiday tree.

1. Elfin’ Good Time Invitation

Design: Stacey Day

This humorous invitation is the perfect way to invite guests over for a fun evening of cocktails and holiday cheer. The cute elf feet and bold text add a modern flair, and the vibrant hues are perfect for holiday parties adorned with pom-pom decor and red and green themes.

2. Boho Winter Wreath Invitation

Design: Signature Greenvelope

This wintry invitation is ideal for unique holiday parties and winter-themed showers. The silver wreath has boho hints and the delicate gold accents add a touch of glamour and sophistication. It’s perfect for holiday parties with white decor and rustic accents, as well as vibrant color schemes.

3. Oh What Fun Invitation

Design: Jen Montgomery

This holiday invitation is the perfect partner for hosts who are all-in when it comes to holiday fun. Use it to invite guests to an ugly sweater party or a secret Santa event for charity. The bright colors and patterned accents make it perfect for all events where fun and cheer are the focus.

4. Modern Geometric Tree Invitation

Design: Stacey Meacham Design, LLC

Looking for a sophisticated invitation to invite guests to a contemporary holiday party? This modern invitation is just what you need. The geometric holiday tree is accented with delicate snow and tree branch overlays. It’s perfect for work parties or understated events with a modern twist.

Get in the Holiday Spirit with Greenvelope

This holiday season, invite guests into your home with gorgeous Christmas invitations from Greenvelope. You can find designs to match your Christmas decorating ideas or mix things up to create contrast. From glitzy glamour and contemporary designs to rustic and understated themes, you’re sure to find the perfect invite for your party style.