20 Festive Christmas Decorating Essentials Made Easy
Dress up your home for Christmas with our cheat sheet of beautiful, inspirational and easy decorating ideas
Dust off your fairy lights and pull that box of Christmas decor out of the attic. It’s time to get decorating, and we have 20 beautiful and easy hacks to fire up your festive style at home. Better yet, all are quick, simple and will get the festive spirit flowing.
…And remember, a wreath doesn’t have to be green. The more creative, the better.
2. Dress your entry
Want more than just a wreath at your front entrance? Step up the styling and string up some greenery. All it takes is scissors and twine… and a dollop of patience.
Styling your home? Find a stylist to get your interior looking beautiful all year round
Want more than just a wreath at your front entrance? Step up the styling and string up some greenery. All it takes is scissors and twine… and a dollop of patience.
Styling your home? Find a stylist to get your interior looking beautiful all year round
3. Front door drama
To give your front door an added dash of drama – in a good way – dress any pot plants flanking the entrance with leftover Christmas tree ornaments or fairy lights if you have access to power – a strong statement, and a simple one.
To give your front door an added dash of drama – in a good way – dress any pot plants flanking the entrance with leftover Christmas tree ornaments or fairy lights if you have access to power – a strong statement, and a simple one.
4. Make an entrance
Nothing signals ‘Christmas’ like walking into a home where the seasonal decorations begin the moment you set foot inside the front door.
Nothing signals ‘Christmas’ like walking into a home where the seasonal decorations begin the moment you set foot inside the front door.
5. Deck the halls
For brag-worthy wow factor, drape some branches around the features of a room – a window, above a doorway or along a cornice. You can cut your own greenery, pick up a few bunches from your local florist or grab a pack of artificial branches from a homewares store. String, scissors and another pair of helpful hands is usually enough to complete the job.
For brag-worthy wow factor, drape some branches around the features of a room – a window, above a doorway or along a cornice. You can cut your own greenery, pick up a few bunches from your local florist or grab a pack of artificial branches from a homewares store. String, scissors and another pair of helpful hands is usually enough to complete the job.
6. Style your stairs
While you’re at it, save some cut greenery for the stairs, if you have them. Weave it around the balustrade and affix with string or, to consider your elderly relatives keep the greenery at foot level to ensure the handrail is free. A small bunch of ornaments hung from the newel post is even easier.
While you’re at it, save some cut greenery for the stairs, if you have them. Weave it around the balustrade and affix with string or, to consider your elderly relatives keep the greenery at foot level to ensure the handrail is free. A small bunch of ornaments hung from the newel post is even easier.
7. Mantle peace
Try lying some greenery – real or artificial, at Houzz we never judge – flat across your mantlepiece. You might need to enlist the help of some florist’s wire to ensure the branches behave nicely…
Try lying some greenery – real or artificial, at Houzz we never judge – flat across your mantlepiece. You might need to enlist the help of some florist’s wire to ensure the branches behave nicely…
…Or if you have a fireplace but no mantlepiece, this could be as simple as hanging a wreath above it, especially if you already have a hook in place.
8. Stock up
A fireplace without stockings in December is not just underdressed, it’s naked. If you don’t have a fireplace, get creative with where you hang your stockings – almost any ledge or shelf could do the trick.
A fireplace without stockings in December is not just underdressed, it’s naked. If you don’t have a fireplace, get creative with where you hang your stockings – almost any ledge or shelf could do the trick.
9. Dress the tree
Decorating the Christmas tree is one of those easy, time-honoured traditions. You might want to dedicate an hour or two to completing it, though it’s time well spent – the fragrance of pine will infuse your home with a celebratory spirit every time you open the door.
Decorating the Christmas tree is one of those easy, time-honoured traditions. You might want to dedicate an hour or two to completing it, though it’s time well spent – the fragrance of pine will infuse your home with a celebratory spirit every time you open the door.
10. It’s a wrap
Christmas, after all, is about giving, so if you’re keen to spread the love with a tangible gift, make merry and wrap them beautifully. The sight alone will bring a smile to the dial of even the crankiest Scrooge.
Christmas, after all, is about giving, so if you’re keen to spread the love with a tangible gift, make merry and wrap them beautifully. The sight alone will bring a smile to the dial of even the crankiest Scrooge.
11. Window wonder
It’s amazing what candles and a touch of greenery on a window sill can achieve when setting a Christmas scene.
It’s amazing what candles and a touch of greenery on a window sill can achieve when setting a Christmas scene.
12. Advent activities
Feeling creative? All it takes to make your own advent-style calendar or kids’ activity is some cardboard or envelopes, a wall and some blue tack. Even easier, you can buy an advent calendar from the shops or online – better late than never!
Feeling creative? All it takes to make your own advent-style calendar or kids’ activity is some cardboard or envelopes, a wall and some blue tack. Even easier, you can buy an advent calendar from the shops or online – better late than never!
…Here’s a close-up of this wall of goodies.
13. Get carded
Displaying cards from friends, family and well-wishers is a beautiful way of infusing your interior with cheer, but it also reminds you that you matter to those you love. Go for a swanky shelf set-up as in this kitchen, or simply whip out the blue tack for instant decorations.
Displaying cards from friends, family and well-wishers is a beautiful way of infusing your interior with cheer, but it also reminds you that you matter to those you love. Go for a swanky shelf set-up as in this kitchen, or simply whip out the blue tack for instant decorations.
14. Beam it up
Okay, so this idea may not be quite as easy as advertised, though for dedicated decorators (with the right ceiling or fixtures), it’s worth the effort. One of the benefits of suspending your table decorations above said dining table is all the space you’ll free up for a festive feast. Pudding, anyone?
Browse more inspiring dining spaces on Houzz
Okay, so this idea may not be quite as easy as advertised, though for dedicated decorators (with the right ceiling or fixtures), it’s worth the effort. One of the benefits of suspending your table decorations above said dining table is all the space you’ll free up for a festive feast. Pudding, anyone?
Browse more inspiring dining spaces on Houzz
15. Table time
Christmas-coloured tablecloth: check. Matching napkins (even paper ones will do): check. Cutlery and plates: check. Greenery: check. And the table is set.
Christmas-coloured tablecloth: check. Matching napkins (even paper ones will do): check. Cutlery and plates: check. Greenery: check. And the table is set.
16. Portable decorations
No room on your table for themed decor? Nick some ornaments from the back of your Christmas tree and arrange them in a platter or tray with some greenery. You can move your portable display elsewhere when it’s time to dine.
No room on your table for themed decor? Nick some ornaments from the back of your Christmas tree and arrange them in a platter or tray with some greenery. You can move your portable display elsewhere when it’s time to dine.
17. Edible decor
No, it’s not a new trend you need to know about. Edible decor simply means letting your food and beverages do double duty as decorations and sustenance. How, we hear you ask? All it takes is a little colour theming, so look to naturally red and green ingredients when you’re planning those platters or making a Christmas cocktail. Cheers!
No, it’s not a new trend you need to know about. Edible decor simply means letting your food and beverages do double duty as decorations and sustenance. How, we hear you ask? All it takes is a little colour theming, so look to naturally red and green ingredients when you’re planning those platters or making a Christmas cocktail. Cheers!
18. Light my fire
Here’s an easy hack to up your decorating game – flickering candlelight will bring festive spirit to any nook or cranny in your home, whether the flame in question is real or battery-fuelled. Go forth and light up.
Here’s an easy hack to up your decorating game – flickering candlelight will bring festive spirit to any nook or cranny in your home, whether the flame in question is real or battery-fuelled. Go forth and light up.
19. Beautify the bathroom
Strange as it is, there’s something memorably gratifying about entering a powder room or bathroom that has not been forgotten in the decorating blitz.
Strange as it is, there’s something memorably gratifying about entering a powder room or bathroom that has not been forgotten in the decorating blitz.
20. Decorate and delegate
As easy as most of these decor ideas are, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by a long to-do list, sometimes it’s nigh impossible to assume sole responsibility for styling your home for Christmas. So if you like to dress up multiple rooms, and if you live with friends or family, try enlisting their help and spreading the tasks among yourselves – share the love.
Your turn
How do you decorate your home for Christmas and keep it enjoyable? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images for inspiration, join the conversation and, above all, we wish you a wonderful holiday season from Houzz.
More
Not quite ready for Christmas yet? This will help – 16 Jobs for Christmas Early Birds
As easy as most of these decor ideas are, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by a long to-do list, sometimes it’s nigh impossible to assume sole responsibility for styling your home for Christmas. So if you like to dress up multiple rooms, and if you live with friends or family, try enlisting their help and spreading the tasks among yourselves – share the love.
Your turn
How do you decorate your home for Christmas and keep it enjoyable? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images for inspiration, join the conversation and, above all, we wish you a wonderful holiday season from Houzz.
More
Not quite ready for Christmas yet? This will help – 16 Jobs for Christmas Early Birds
There’s something about a wreath adorning the front door that welcomes the festive spirit. Christmas keen beans may make their own, but for wreaths made easy, head to your local florist or pick up an artificial wreath – it’ll save you the quandary of where to find one next year and beyond…