How to Decorate Your Home for Christmas

step 1: create a decorating plan

Let’s start with one of our favorite Christmas decorating ideas: take a moment to plan before diving into the decorations. Begin by assessing your space and making two lists: one outlining the decorations you already have and one detailing what you think you’ll need. This strategic approach will keep you organized and ensure you have everything on hand when it’s time to decorate. Plus, it’ll prevent you from forgetting any special pieces—because nothing is worse than realizing you missed out on displaying a cherished item and having to wait a whole year to use it!

step 2: choose your focal points

Next, select a specific area in each room that you want to highlight as the main attraction and add what you’ll need to bring your vision to life to the list. We suggest choosing a central feature for each key space such as the living room mantle, entryway console, dining room table, front porch, etc. These focal points will guide your Christmas decorating ideas for the living room and other areas. Once this focal point is fully decorated, it will set the tone for the room’s overall vibe, so don’t skip this step!

step 3: consider the senses

Another of our favorite Christmas decoration ideas is to keep the senses in mind when devising your plan. Do this, and your space will be more inviting, comfortable and a truly immersive experience. And who doesn't want a more immersive holiday experience?! Here are our favorite ways to think about the senses when decorating each room for Christmas.

sight

Incorporate elements like candlelight and fairy lights that let you turn off overhead lighting and set a cozy mood.

smell

Unlock your guests’ favorite holiday memories through scent with candles and oil diffusers in seasonal fragrances such as pine, cranberry, gingerbread and cinnamon.

sound

Fill your home with the sounds of the holidays to get guests to return year after year. Jazz renditions of Christmas carols are a universal favorite, and many pop artists also release their own remix of holiday classics. If you’re not sure where to start, explore our Spotify playlists. They’re expertly curated for every occasion, from cookie baking to cocktail parties.

touch

Add supersoft Christmas-themed pillows and cozy throw blankets to create an inviting environment that encourages friends and family to relax, linger and reminisce. Remember to use large, solid-colored pillows as a backdrop for smaller decorative pillows on chairs and sofas.

step 4: pick a color palette & theme

After you have a list of the areas you want to focus on in your home and the decorations you’ll need, choose a theme and color palette that resonates with your style. This step is very personal, so there are no wrong choices, and you can combine any theme and color palette. But there’s a catch: you have to be consistent. It’s the only way to create a cohesive Christmas decor look. Some of our favorite Christmas decorating themes are: classic, rustic, whimsical and modern minimalist. Beyond the timeless color combo of red and green, some of our go-to holiday color palette ideas are mixed metallics, an array of jewel tones, sage green and ivory and warm winter whites.

step 5: decorate your Christmas tree

Once you’ve gathered up all of your decorations, it’s time to deck the halls, starting with the Christmas tree. As the centerpiece of your holiday decor, it should embody the entire theme and color palette of your home. Make it truly unique with personalized elements like a monogrammed tree skirt or DIY garland. Mix handmade, vintage and new ornaments that tell a story and reflect your style, too. Finally, crown your tree with a standout topper to make it a true focal point.

step 6: deck all the halls

Once your Christmas tree is up, make your way around the rest of your house and start checking off everything in your decorating plan. Remember to carry your theme throughout the house by placing key items that really embody it in each room. Along the way, you should add special, sentimental holiday decor as well. Think: family heirlooms, monogrammed stockings, a throw blanket personalized with your family name. Use these Christmas home decorating ideas to create a cohesive and warm holiday atmosphere.

step 7: add in some greenery

Decorating the house with greenery is one of the oldest traditions and is always in style. Yes, fresh greenery enhances the holiday feel with its natural scent and look, but we confess faux botanicals might be our favorite. Why? High-quality artificial stems and branches look just as festive as the real thing but can be reused year after year, so they’re cost-effective. They also save you from having to do any cleanup (No dropped needles here!) and you don’t have to worry about watering or replacing them throughout the holiday season.

The styling opportunities for greenery are endless. We like to add an element of greenery in every room to tie the entire look together. You can drape a garland on your living room mantle, place a few faux stems in a vase on your dining room table, hang Christmas wreaths on your fridge or front door and the list goes on.

Christmas decorating is all about creativity and planning. By following these Christmas house decoration and Christmas room decor ideas, you can enjoy the holiday season in a festive space that reflects your unique style and brings joy to your friends and family.