No matter what year it is, Christmas always seems to sneak up on us. With so much to bake, plan, purchase, and decorate, the most wonderful time of the year certainly isn’t the easiest one!
Still, there are plenty of reasons to look forward to the holidays. 90% of America celebrates Christmas every year, from the smallest gatherings to the largest, most extravagant get-togethers.
No matter your plans, an important thing to consider is how you’ll be decorating your home for Christmas. Having the right holiday aesthetic can take your Christmas parties up a notch. Plus, it makes the Christmas experience all the merrier.
Need some inspiration? We’re here with the ultimate guide. Read on for our comprehensive collection of ideas for decorating your home for Christmas.
Pair Greenery with Plaid
There’s something about red-and-green plaid with evergreen branches that looks so rustic and charming around the holidays. If you prefer a simple, old-timey Christmas look, then this is the perfect thing to incorporate into your Christmas decor.
Here are a few ideas for decorating your home for Christmas with plaid and greenery:
- Adding a plaid tree skirt to your Christmas tree
- Pairing an evergreen garland above your bed or sofa with plaid throw pillows.
- Attach green sprigs to plaid-wrapped Christmas gifts
- Feature plaid holiday placemats around an evergreen centerpiece on your dining table
- Create a candlelit setup with Christmas tree branches and plaid bows
If you’re not sure where to start, try adding some plaid ornaments to your Christmas tree. It’s simple and charming while still remaining effortless.
Set up an Outdoor Scene
When you’re decorating your home for Christmas, the outside is just as important as the inside. This year, don’t miss out on your opportunity to create a beautiful outdoor setup for your friends and neighbors to admire.
This doesn’t mean that you have to go all out on outdoor decorations. Instead, choose a few key accent pieces that will brighten your yard.
For example, you can choose a family of lighted deer. Or, if you like to go bold, pick up some giant inflatables to really command attention. Or, you can’t go wrong with a simple nativity scene.
Also, don’t forget to decorate your fence with lights and garland for an extra festive look. If your current fence setup isn’t ideal for decorations, consider reaching out to fence contractors before the holiday season starts. That way, you can be sure your yard is ready to be decorated when Christmas arrives.
Go for a Vintage Theme
If you’re struggling to find a theme when decorating your home for Christmas, a vintage look is always a hit. Fill your home with antique holiday knick-knacks, hand-knitted blankets, and other nostalgic memorabilia.
You can find true vintage pieces in thrift stores, online, and in antique shops. Start your shopping early, though, because these one-of-a-kind pieces tend to get bought up long before the holiday season starts.
Fill Your Home with Festive Scents
When you’re decorating your home for Christmas, incorporating festive scents adds a lot to the atmosphere. As you’re decorating the individual rooms in your home, be sure to add some scented pieces to the decor. Also, change up your soaps and cleaning products to make your home smell even more festive.
Here are some other ways to add festive scents to your Christmas decor:
- Scented candles
- Cinnamon brooms and pinecones
- Scented oil warmers
- Festive holiday air fresheners
- Wax warmers
- Pine-scented Christmas ornaments
If you want to keep things really simple and organic, pick up lots of live wreaths, garland, and a real Christmas tree. The smell of Christmas pine will fill every corner of your home.
Choose Key Accent Pieces
A common misconception when decorating your home for Christmas is that you need to fill every nook with holiday decor. This isn’t always the best strategy, as adding too many pieces might look crowded or chaotic.
Instead, choose key pieces to accent every room in your home. You may want to fill your living room with festive pieces, but you can get away with minimalism in the other rooms. For example, a small holiday wreath and some holiday linens can effortlessly dress up space.
Get Multiple Trees
Christmas trees are perhaps the most iconic of all holiday decor. This date back to Rome and ancient Egypt, where people would use the evergreen trees as a reminder that Spring would eventually return.
Since they’re such an icon, who says you only can have one Christmas tree? With multiple trees, you have the opportunity to choose themes for each trees. Plus, they bring holiday cheer into more areas of your home.
To make this idea work, get your main Christmas tree where you usually keep it. Then, add miniature trees to other spots in your home and decorate!
Merry Miniatures
Miniatures are a charming way to get creative with your Christmas decor. Try creating a centerpiece with tiny Christmas houses, LED lights, and miniature people. Or, why not surround your Christmas scene with a tiny miniature train?
Feature Bright, Cheerful Colors
Red and green are traditional Christmas colors, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick with this palette when you’re decorating your home for Christmas. Instead, you can pair snow whites with bright colors like pink, cerulean blue, lavender, and butter yellow. The resulting look is bright, cheerful, and anything but ordinary.
Wrap Railings with Lighted Garland
A simple way to add major holiday impact to your decor is by wrapping railings and other load-bearing structures with garland. Then, take it up a notch by wrapping around holiday lights with it. This gives a classic and festive look that appears way more fussy than it actually is.
Change Up Your Linens
An easy way to add more holiday cheer to your home is by changing up your towels, sheets, and table linens. Feature cute animals, classic holiday designs, or whatever captures your fancy. These add the perfect finishing touch to your Christmas decor.
Decorating Your Home for Christmas with Lights
When decorating your home for Christmas, lights are an important thing to add. Rather than just having them outdoors, you can bring the festive ambiance indoors too by stringing lights in your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, or wherever else you desire. Plus, if you stick with LED lights, your energy bills won’t be through the roof.
Don’t Forget the Classics
Christmas has been around for thousands of years, and part of what makes it so special is the fact that it’s highly nostalgic. So, when decorating your home for Christmas, don’t neglect the old tried-and-true staples that you grew up with.
Here are a few classic ideas to add to your Christmas decor:
- Bring out family heirloom decorations
- Hang stockings
- Place a wreath on your front door
- Hang mistletoe
- Trim your tree with tinsel
For some inspiration, think back to when you were growing up around the holidays. What decorative pieces stand out in your memory the most? Use these as nostalgic inspiration when choosing your Christmas decor.
Add a Touch of Glitz
Glitzy accents add a touch of magic to any holiday setup, especially when there are lights involved. Choose some glittery ornaments for your tree, add a glittery floral sprig to your mantel, and add sparkly pieces to liven up your centerpiece. No matter where you put it, you can’t really go wrong with some extra sparkle.
Go for the Gold
If you’re tired of red and green, a gold theme can be gorgeous, classy, and festive. Fill your home with gold accent pieces for a warm, golden look. You can even do an all-gold Christmas tree for extra effect.
Choose an Icy Color Palette
Another great way to break away from the traditional reds and greens is by choosing an icy color palette for your Christmas decor. Pick up pieces in icy blues, greys, and lavendars, pairing them with silver and frosty white. The cool tones will add a touch of frostiness to your indoor setup.
Decorate with Rustic Charm
Another great theme idea when decorating your home for Christmas is rustic flair. Things like plaid, lanterns, deer antlers, woodgrain, and vintage-inspired signs all come together for a timeless rustic look.
Create a Cozy Space
When it’s cold outside, nothing feels better than coming home to a cozy, festive home. When you’re decorating your home for Christmas, look for fur blankets, sweater-knit pillows, and other cozy and inviting accents. If you’re wanting to take it even further, an electric fireplace offers the perfect ambiance.
Getting Ready for the Holidays
Christmas is the one time of year that always sneaks up. If you want your decorations to be top-notch and memorable, it’s best to prepare ahead. Now that you’ve got some great ideas for how to decorate your home for Christmas, you’ll be ready for the season as soon as it hits.
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