20 holiday decorating ideas to make the season bright

The holidays are here, which means we’re here with some helpful holiday advice. That must make us Santa’s little helpers … or maybe we’re more like Santa’s little interior designers. Either way, we’re donning our elf caps and lining up holiday decorating ideas for every part of your house.

From finding the perfect holiday theme to spicing up your furniture with some seasonal touches to creating an unforgettable entryway, these ideas will help you fill your home with the holiday spirit. Here are our 20 favorite holiday and Christmas decorating ideas.

11 themes for your holiday decor

The holiday season might be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also one of the busiest times of the year. Start by finding the perfect theme for your holiday decor. A theme can help you streamline your holiday home decorating. Make a theme your guiding star this season, and it’ll be easy to pick out the perfect decorations and nix any ideas that don’t fit your festive style. Here are 11 themes to help you start your holiday home makeover.

Winter Wonderland: Classic, timeless, and inclusive, a winter theme works no matter which holiday you celebrate. Deck your house with sparkly snowflakes, create centerpieces featuring icicle-lined faux branches, and lean into all things white and glittery.
Candy Cane Lane: We can’t say no to a red and white stripe (or a peppermint candy). With this holiday decorating idea, you can embrace a simple red and white color scheme and line your walkway, halls, walls, and garland with candy canes galore.
Holiday Glamor: Hey, gold is a holiday color too! Let out your holiday glamazon by choosing decor in shades of white, yellow, and rose gold, and don’t be stingy with the glitter. With this theme, you can make your holiday festivities sparkle.
Dark December: Ditch the classic holiday color schemes and go dark. Adding a bit of black furniture or decorations to your holiday decor can invite a gothic or steampunk theme. Or it can simply allow for some minimalist magic for people who love the holiday but don’t want to get all gooey about it.
Gingerbread House: Speaking of gooey, this sticky sweet theme is all about December’s favorite cookie. Incorporate decorations in brown, white, and gumdrop tones, and decorate your house to look just like a gingerbread house. Add gingerbread men (and women!) throughout your home to complete the look.
Craftsman Christmas: This theme works for any winter holiday. (We’re just suckers for alliteration.) Even if you’re not very crafty, you can DIY some easy Christmas crafts by creating a paper ring garland, stringing popcorn on dental floss, or making Christmas ornaments from felt balls and twine. Your holiday decorations will harken back to a simpler time.
The Nutcracker: We’re seeing Nutcracker figurines, sugar plum fairies, and maybe even a mouse king in your future. With this theme, you can even incorporate ballet slippers as part of your decor. And if you want to go all out, you can replace your Christmas tree skirt with a tutu.
Nature-Filled Navidad: (Did we mention that we like alliteration?) In addition to having a Feliz Navidad, you can have a nature-filled Navidad by decorating with simple found items from nature. Add some greenery with evergreen branches, scatter pine cones, incorporate magnolia flowers, and hang mistletoe to bring the outside in this season.
Cheer and Reindeer: There wouldn’t be any Christmas presents without Santa’s team of hardworking reindeer. So celebrate them this year by mixing reindeer figurines, antlers, and even hay and carrots into your decor.
Merry Gift-mas: This easy holiday theme can help you create inexpensive decorations in no time. Simply pick up some large boxes, wrapping paper, and bows (things you’re probably getting anyway). Then, create DIY Christmas decorations by gift-wrapping empty boxes and arranging them around your house.
Peace, Love, and Belly Rubs: Furry friends are the best part of any day — even a holiday. Decorate your house in honor of your favorite animal (we’re looking at you, Mr. Whiskers!) by incorporating pictures and figurines of dogs and cats in Santa hats.

6 ideas for festive furniture

Holiday decorating ideas: Christmas-themed table setting

From January to November, your home furniture is there for you, providing comfort, organization, and style. Come December, it’s ready to do so much more. Give your furniture a festive touch with these five decorating ideas.

Sleigh Bed: If you have a deep love of the holidays, you can add a little holiday magic to your home all year round with a sleigh bed, like the Louis Philippe Sleigh Bed. Put one in your home, and those visions of sugar plum fairies will dance in your head all year round.
Garland Lining: Garland shouldn’t be confined to the Christmas mantel in your living room. This decorative touch looks good draped over headboards, lining the edge of your bookshelves, and running down the center of your dining room table. You can also use a wired holiday ribbon in place of green garland.
String Light Canopy: We’re all for Christmas lights on the outside of the house, but why stop there? Hang a string light canopy over the beds to bring that holiday twinkle indoors. If you have guests coming for the holidays, this will make a dramatic impact above the guest bed.
Decorative Drink Station: If you don’t have a bar cart, ‘tis the season to get one and decorate it! Line your cart with garland and string lights and set up a drink station full of holiday cheer. You can create a hot chocolate cart with peppermint sticks or set out pitchers of eggnog and other holiday cocktails.
Holiday Tablescapes: When you gather for holiday meals around your dining room table, you can set the tone with a festive Christmas table setting. For a simple look, add greenery, pine cones, and white candles down the center of your table. For something more ornate, scatter Christmas ornaments, candy canes, and a long twirl of ribbon. Then complete the look with matching napkins.
Pillows and Throws: One of the fastest ways to change the look of your home is to swap out your pillows, throw blankets, and other textiles (including your bedding if you want to get really holiday happy). Look for holiday-themed options to take the place of your normal throw pillows.

3 ideas for your entryway

Your entryway welcomes people into your home, and with the right touch, it can also fill them with the holiday spirit. Add these front door decorations to your holiday lineup for a festive first impression.

Christmas Wreath: Sure, this idea isn’t exactly revolutionary, but it’s a holiday essential. Store-bought wreaths can be pricey, so try DIYing a wreath with the branches you trim from your Christmas tree or go simpler by creating a festive door hanger.
Doormat: Add a little more to your front door with a doormat featuring a happy holiday expression, like “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” or “Merry & Bright.” Or choose one with cute Christmas characters like Rudolf or Frosty.
Door-Side Decor: Frame your door with festive decor by placing holiday decorations on either side of it. You can add some greenery with Norfolk Island pines (those smaller, pre-potted Christmas trees you find at this time of year), you can stack up gift-wrapped presents on either side of the door, or you can put out glass lanterns filled with Christmas candles or holiday ornaments.

Find your festive flair with these decorating tips

There are a lot of ways to add a little holiday spirit to your home. Before you start decorating, choose a theme that suits your holiday style, then leave no surface undecorated!

From your furniture to your front door, there’s room for holiday cheer here, there, and everywhere. So break out the greenery, wrapping paper, ribbons, and garland —it’s time to get festive.

To find more decorating ideas for this season and every season, check out our tips for easy end table decor, stylish entertainment center decorations, and festive fall decor.