Winter & Holidays Decorating
Combine Seasonal Themes & Personal Style For Original Holiday Decorating Ideas
Today's infinite selection of Christmas decorations offers endless decorating options, but you can give your seasonal home decor depth and feeling by narrowing your focus to a specific design style. Then take your presentation further with purpose and direction by adding a cohesive theme that represents your personal point of view.
Together, your style and theme will create a memorable experience for yourself and holiday visitors and serve to guide your buying and decorating decisions.
CHOOSE YOUR STYLE
Opulent
- If you have a flair for the theatrical & flamboyant, an Opulent decorating style, done well, yields a stunning display of elegance.
- Look for lavish and ornate decor, complex patterns and plush fabrics.
- Use rich colors, such as burgundy and ruby red, emerald and forest green, and glitzy or antique gold.
Whimsical
- For the unorthodox and creative, a Whimsical decorating style combines the imaginative and quirky to create a fun and playful setting.
- Look for unconventional shapes and patterns, such as swirls, erratic stripes, and polka dots.
- Use unpredictable colors, such as pink, purple, orange, turquoise and yellow.
Contemporary
- A Contemporary decorating style is clean and sleek with straight lines and smooth surfaces, and ideal for the minimalist.
- Look for a few simple, and well chosen, geometric shapes and high-gloss decorations.
- Less is more to create a breath-taking presentation of striking profiles and bold color.
- Use one strong color, such as pink or turquoise, against a monochromatic background, or red for a more traditional look.
Primitive Americana
- The boldly and blatantly real appreciate the unpretentious warmth and comfort of the rustic Primitive/Americana, aka Country, decorating style.
- Look for handcrafted and organic decor with rough and simple design, such as textured fabrics, weathered wood and distressed metal.
- Use warm and muted colors, such as rose and olive green, along with patchwork and gingham patterns.
Traditional
- If you prefer the cushy comfort of the warm and familiar, the Traditional decorating style delivers the predictable, in a good way.
- Look for classic lines and soft edges to decorate with a welcoming dignified order and balanced symmetry.
- Use classic red, green and cream colors with champagne accents; plaid patterns, and luxe fabrics.
APPLY A THEME
Stand-out from the ho-hum and make your decorating style even more personal by centering your holiday decor around a predominant theme.
You can develop a theme entirely from a single feature, such as reindeer or gifts, a pattern like polka dots, a color, or a combination of related elements. Actually, we really mean a sub-theme, because Christmas itself is a theme.
So, use Christmas items and symbols as a starting point when planning your sub-theme, here are some ideas:
- Evergreens/Trees
- Snowmen
- Reindeer
- Penguins
- Trains
- Santa Claus
- Elves
- Gifts/Presents
- Toys
- Shopping tags
- Candy Canes
- Pine Cones
- Angels
- Nativity Scenes
- Ornaments
- Gingerbread Houses
- Bells
- Snow & Snowflakes
- Icicles
- Sleigh
- Candles
- Cardinals
- Doves
- Swans
- Holly
- Poinsettias
- Mittens
- Star of Bethlehem
- Nutcrackers
- Music symbols
- Winter sports
You can also create a dramatic effect by focusing all of your decorations on one color, or use any non-traditional color, such as orange or purple, against a white backdrop for a unique coordinated Christmas look.
Or, intertwine a collection of related items to apply to your decorating style, like these possible Christmas themes:
SANTA CLAUS
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Look for these items in your selected style:
- North Pole
- Santa's workshop
- Wood Toys
- Elves
- Sleigh
- Reindeer
- Penguins
- Polar Bears
- Snowmen
- Chimney
- Fireplace
- Gifts
- Santa accessories
- Santa's suit & belt
- Santa's hat
- Santa's sack
- Mrs Claus
- Twas the Night Before Christmas
- Wire rim reading glasses
- Long list of names
COLOR SUGGESTIONS
- Red & White
- Red, Green & White
- Red, Green & Gold
- Frame the front door in peppermint white and red stripes, flanked by 2 over-sized elves, toy soldiers, reindeer or snowmen.
- Spiral red paper or streamers around white columns (inside and out) to make giant peppermint sticks.
- In addition, to Santa, sleigh and reindeer decorations, use Santa accessories, such as Santa's suit with belt, hat, and toy sack.
- Wrap the Christmas tree in red tulle or ribbon with a wide black "belt" and gold buckle around the center; decorate the top and bottom with a wide white feather boa or fluffy, fake snow batting.
- Cover the front (or any) door in red paper with a black paper belt and gold foil belt buckle.
- Fill shelves with old-fashioned, handcrafted toys: soldiers, dolls, Jack-in-the-boxes, trains, stacked blocks and teddy bears.
- Add a large armchair next to the fireplace (or instant view fireplace prop) with or without a Santa; set milk & cookies on an adjacent table and the book "Twas the Night Before Christmas" & wire rim reading glasses in the chair.
- Create a candy vignette (large or small) with gingerbread house, lollipops, gum drops, cupcakes, peppermints & candy canes.
- Make a centerpiece with a brick chimney top and Santa's sack on fluffy, fake snow batting; add Santa's stockings & boots upside down and/or dry ice for smoke.
- Hang a sleigh and reindeer from the ceiling or high on the wall along with snowflakes and varying heights.
- For humor, pin Santa's hat, suit, trousers, stockings and beard to a Christmas light clothesline.
- Wrap picture frames as gifts and hang them on the wall.
- Top the Christmas tree with Santa's Hat.
CANDY & SWEETS
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Look for these items in your selected style:
- Gingerbread Men
- Ice cream cones
- Peppermints
- Lollipops
- Cakes
- Pies
- Cupcakes
- Gingerbread Houses
- Chocolates
- Gumdrops
- Cookies
- Bubblegum
- Candy Canes
- Taffy
COLOR & PATTERN SUGGESTIONS
- BRIGHT COLORS:
- Red
- Purple
- Orange
- Hot pink
- Lime green
- Royal blue
- Yellow
- PATTERNS:
- Stripes
- Swirls
- Wrap front walkway trees and columns in white paper and red streamers or ribbon to look like peppermint sticks and, optionally, add lighted over-sized yard candy canes.
- Use net mini-lights in a variety of colors over bushes as giant gumdrops.
- Run a strand of large bulb multi-colored lights along the top edge of the front porch, house or ceiling above the entrance with icicle lights hanging below.
- Frame the doorway in large multi-color string lights. Optionally, also frame front windows and roof.
- Flank the front door with large, swirl lollipops.
- Add candy pieces, lollipops, and red & white striped ribbon to a wreath for the front door, and hang a gingerbread man in the center. Alternatively, use a wreath made of whimsically colored ornaments.
- Make a bouquet of large, swirl lollipops in a variety of colors as a focal point or centerpiece.
- Paint large plastic bowls in different colors and place upside down for gumdrop decorations.
- Wrap white paper lanterns or large white Styrofoam balls like pieces of candy in colored cellophane and hang or place as decorations. You can also use colored paper lanterns, balls or balloons with clear cellophane.
- Use colored paper lanterns on a white stick and wrapped in clear cellophane as lollipops. And/or, wrap large Styrofoam discs in colored tissue paper and clear cellophane or, as a shortcut, wrap the circles in colored cellophane.
- For tables use bold colored or red & white striped draping and/or runners with solid colored napkins in matching colors.
- Fill glass vases and bowls with m&m's, jelly beans, jawbreakers, gum drops, bubble gum, and gummy bears. Hide cylinder glasses, plastic bottles or Styrofoam in the center to fill space.
- Decorate a white Christmas tree with candy, sweet-themed and/or theme-colored ornaments, and cupcake and/or popsicle string lights; use pink, turquoise, or purple ribbon.
- Paint large plastic bowls in different colors and place upside down for gumdrop decorations.
- Wrap large white Styrofoam balls like pieces of candy in colored cellophane and hang or place as decorations. You can also use colored balls or balloons with clear cellophane.
- Use colored paper lanterns on a white stick and wrapped in clear cellophane as lollipops. And/or, wrap large Styrofoam circles in colored tissue paper and clear cellophane or, as a shortcut, wrap the circles in colored cellophane.
- Drape the ceiling with different colored lengths of fabric, tulle, or plastic tablecloths radiating out from the center.
- Set-up a carnival-style popcorn cart.
COASTAL CHRISTMAS
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Look for these items in your selected style:
- Lighthouses
- Buoys
- Pine cones
- Captain Nutcrackers
- Shells
- Sand Dollar
- Urchin
- Starfish
- Conch
- Scallop
- Oyster & pearls
- Boats
- Sailboats
- Lobster boats
- Row boats
- Captain's Wheels
- Anchors
- Life rings
- Birds
- Pink flamingos
- Shore birds
- Pelicans
- Sea Gulls
- Herons
- Beach
- Lifeguard chairs
- Adirondack chairs
- Driftwood
- Beach balls
- Flip flops
- Palm trees
- Coconuts
- Surfboards
- Sea life
- Sea horses
- Coral
- Lobsters
- Crabs
- Sharks
- Whales
- Jellyfish
- Octopus
- Squid
- Sea turtles
COLOR SUGGESTIONS
- Turquoise/teal
- Blue
- Ivory
- Frame the front door with driftwood garland wrapped in teal and/or white mini lights.
- Make a 10-point Star of Bethlehem tree topper by using two bleached finger starfish of different sizes with the legs offset.
- Fill glass vases and bowls with sand, shells and white, teal, blue silver, and/or champagne colored ornaments.
- Alternate layers of red berries & small white sea shells in a cylindrical vase to look like peppermint sticks. Make a mini Christmas tree by stacking starfish of decreasing size.
- Create coral spray bouquets, accents and Christmas tree decorations by using glitter spray paint on wood branches. For a natural look, use chalk or matte finish spray paint.
- Glue pearl strands to the bottom of sea urchin shells to make unique jellyfish tree ornaments.
- Paint "Seas and Greetings" on a red & white life preserver, then add starfish & shells to make a coastal Christmas wreath for the front door.
- Bake Gingerbread man cookies with icing swim trunks.
- Signs: Seas & Greetings, Seashells & Jingle Bells, We Wish You A Beachy Christmas, Have Yourself A Sandy Little Christmas
- Ribbon: Burlap, raffia
- Garland: Driftwood, pine cone, fishing bobbers, pearls, rope
WINTER WONDERLAND
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Look for these items in your selected style:
- Woodland creatures in white:
- Reindeer
- Owls
- Squirrels
- Moose
- White or snow-covered greenery
- Snow
- Snowflakes
- Icicles
- Trees & branches
COLOR SUGGESTIONS
- All White
- White & Silver
- Blue & White
- Blue uplighting around the perimeter and blue overhead lighting.
- Add candlelight and fairy lights; use white pin spot lights on centerpieces and focal points.
- Ice sculptures make a stunning presentation.
- Drape walls in white fabric or sheers.
- Create focal points and centerpieces with branches spray-painted white.
- Use glass, acrylic and metallic silver for serving and decorations.
- Hang crystals and glass icicles.
- Fill glass vases and bowls with silver, white and blue ornaments.
- Hang snowflakes and white paper lanterns from the ceiling.
- Decorate front entrance trees, bushes, columns, house and front door in white mini lights, icicle lights and net lights on bushes.
- Flank the front door with white or snow-covered evergreens.
- Hang a white wreath on the front door.
- Use a blue bulb for the front porch light.
- Cover and drape tables in white and use white covers for dining chairs.
- Use white floating candles in glass bowls and vases.
TOYLAND
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Look for these items in your selected style:
- Rocking Horse
- Soldiers
- Trains
- Train Track
- Train Crossing Signals
- Cars & Trucks
- Alphabet Blocks
- Dollhouse & Dolls
- Raggedy Ann & Andy
- Rubber Ducks
- Jack-in-the-Box
- Teddy bears
- Clowns
- Carousels
- Old-fashioned Hot Air Balloons
- Wagons
- Sleds
- Drums
- Pellet drums
- Board games
- Dominoes
- Jacks
- Pull tools
- Cymbal Monkey
- Stacking Rings
- Stick horses
- Sock monkeys
- Marionettes
- Pin wheels
- Barrel of Monkeys
- Wrapped gifts
- Sweets
- Candy canes
- Gingerbread men & houses
- Gumdrops
- Lollipops
- Elves
COLOR & PATTERN SUGGESTIONS
- BOLD COLORS:
- Red
- Blue
- Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Purple
- PATTERNS:
- Harlequin
- Candy cane stripes
- Use Velcro tape to make a beach ball arch entrance.
- Cut out puzzle piece shapes from a large colorful poster and put on the wall.
- Dress inflatable people as a giant Raggedy Ann & Andy.
- Create giant alphabet blocks with painted & colored poster board pieces glued to cardboard boxes. Add corner edges for a finished look.
- Add a little magic with a bubble machine and fairy lights.
- Make a tent-like ceiling with draped fabric or plastic in 2 alternating colors, such as orange and red. radiating out from the center. Hang a giant teddy bear with an umbrella in the center.
- Hang marionette puppets and other toys from the ceiling.
- Hang a Twister plastic game mat on the wall.
- String colored pennant flags
- Set up board games.
- Fill glass vases and bowls with board game pieces in each:
- Dominoes
- Jacks
- Monopoly money
- Scrabble tiles
- Army men
- Marbles
- Put together a Lego, Lincoln Log, and/or Tinker Toys structure as a focal point.
- Use inflatable monkeys and a large whole or half barrel with "Barrel of Monkeys" label on white paper.
- Display a large floor urn with a stick-horse bouquet as a focal point.
- Mix in candy, lollipop and candy cane props (see Candy & Sweets theme above to make).
- Fill a red wagon with wrapped gifts.
- Tie Christmas bows on teddy bears.
- Set toys on gift-wrapped boxes.
NUTCRACKER
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Look for these items in your selected style:
- Soldier Nutcrackers
- Mice
- Wind-up dolls
- Sweets
- Candy canes
- Peppermints
- Lollipops
- Chocolates
- Sugar plums
- Gum drops
- Gingerbread men
- Flutes
- Grandfather clock
- Snowflakes
- Dancers
- Spanish
- Arabian
- Chinese
- Russian
- Danish shepherdesses
- Angels
- Thrones
- Pine forest
- Clowns
- Christmas tree
- Ballet shoes
- Ballet Tutu
- Characters:
- Drosselmeyer
- Mouse King
- Clara
- Nutcracker Prince
- Sugar plum fairy
COLOR SUGGESTIONS
- Deep red
- Royal blue
- Old gold
- Emerald Green
- Frame the front door with heavy greenery, gold mini lights, large red & gold ornaments and wide red ribbon, then flank the entrance with 2 large soldiers.
- Hang a similarly decorated wreath on the front door with smaller ornaments and ballet slippers in the center.
- Create a "Land of Sweets" vignette (large or small) with gingerbread house, gingerbread men soldiers, lollipops, chocolates, gum drops, cupcakes, peppermints, candy canes and a Sugar Plum Fairy.
- For a Nutcracker theme dinner, use gold chairs with red cushions, a royal blue tablecloth and red table runner. Use bright, glitzy gold accents.
MUSIC
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Look for these items in your selected style:
- Notes
- Bells
- Music Stands
- Treble Clefs
- Sheet Music
- Carolers
- Phonograph
- Juke Box
- Disco ball
- Records
- CDs
- Microphones
- Headphones
- Christmas song titles
- Choir
- Instruments
- French Horns
- Violins
- Trumpets
- Drums
- Saxophones
- Harps
- Pianos
- Guitars
- Banjos
- Flutes
- Tubas
- Clarinets
- Trombones
- Mandolins
- Bagpipes
COLOR & PATTERN SUGGESTIONS
- Red & Gold
- Red, Black & White
- Black & white stripes
- Hang silhouettes of jazz players on the wall.
- Flank the front door with a pair of guitars, tall drums, or giant ears.
- Hang records and CDs from the ceiling.
- String five non-parallel black lines with musical notes attached.
- Make musical note toothpick flags. Print 2 appropriately sized musical notes side-by-side, then cut, fold and glue around a toothpick.
- Copy Christmas song sheet music on parchment paper as decorations.
- Serve drumsticks
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
Look for these items in your selected style:
- Partridge in a tree
- Doves (Turtle doves)
- Chickens (French hens)
- Blackbirds (Colly aka Calling birds)
- Gold rings (Golden rings)
- Geese (Geese a-laying)
- Swans (Swans-a-swimming)
- Milk maids (Maids a-milking)
- Female dancers (Ladies dancing)
- Male dancers (Lords a-leaping)
- Pipe/flute players (Pipers piping)
WESTERN
Look for these items in your selected style:
- Cowboys
- Cowboy hats
- Spurs
- Cowboy boots
- Horseshoes
- Barn stars
- Wagon wheels
- Lassos/rope
- Sheriff stars
- Steer skulls
- Barbed wire
- Hay bales
- Saguaro cactus
- Horses Saddles
- Covered wagon
- Six shooter gun
NATURE
Look for these items in your selected style:
- Organics
- Pine cones
- Holly
- Berries
- Evergreens
- Woodland creatures
- Weathered tubs/pails
- Distressed wood
- Poinsettias
- Cinnamon sticks
- Nuts
- Chestnuts
- Walnuts
- Hazelnuts
- Almonds
- Pecans
- Acorns
- Fruit
- Apples
- Oranges
- Pumpkins
- Burlap
- Raffia
LODGE/CABIN
Look for these items in your selected style:
- Antlers
- Mini evergreens in pots
- Campfire
- Pine cones
- Vintage-style camping lanterns
- Fishing poles
- Canoes
- Rowboats
- Shotguns
- Weathered pails & tubs
- Red & black plaid
ANIMALS
Look for these items in your selected style:
- Polar bears
- Penguins
- Woodland creatures
- Squirrels
- Foxes
- Rabbits
- Reindeer
- Camels
- Moose
- Mice
- Barn/Stable
- Donkeys
- Sheep
- Cows
- Goats
- Birds
- Doves
- Cardinals
- Owls
- Partridges
- Turkeys
- Geese
- Swans
- Peacocks
- Animal prints
MORE THEME IDEAS
- Retro/Vintage
- Kitchen/Food
- Around the World
- Sports
- Barnyard/Farm
- Arabian
- Pets
- Nursery Rhymes
- Christmas Movie
- A Christmas Carol
- White Christmas
- A Christmas Story
- Polar Express
- How The Grinch Stole Christmas
- Nightmare Before Christmas
- Elf
- Charlie Brown/Peanuts