Okay, so last year I went completely overboard with Christmas decorations. Like, my neighbor actually asked if I was trying to compete with the house from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. But here’s the thing—I regret nothing. There’s something magical about transforming your house into a festive wonderland, even if it means you’re untangling lights at 11 PM on a Tuesday.
Let me walk you through my favorite decorating ideas, complete with all the little disasters and triumphs along the way.
1. Winter Wonderland Theme
Listen, I discovered this by accident when I spilled white paint on my perfectly green garland. Plot twist? It looked amazing. Now I intentionally go for that flocked, snowy look everywhere. Those mercury glass vases filled with silver ornaments? Game changer. And the white faux-fur throws make everything look like a cozy ski lodge, even if you live in an apartment that’s definitely never seen snow. Pro tip: the fake snow gets EVERYWHERE. You’ll be finding it in July.
2. Front Door Welcome
Your front door is basically screaming, “First impressions matter!” I learned this the hard way when my wreath fell off mid-party because I used regular thumbtacks instead of a proper hook. Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a wreath hitting your mother-in-law in the face, right? Now I use heavy-duty wreath hangers and flank the entrance with potted cedar pines. The doormat? Get a festive one. Trust me.
3. Staircase Garland Display
If you’ve got stairs, you’ve hit the decorating jackpot. I drape garland along my banister and tie these gorgeous long red ribbons every few feet. The first year, I used way too much garland and it looked like a forest was eating my staircase. Less is more, friends. The ribbons billow when you walk past and honestly? It feels like living in a Hallmark movie.
4. Fireplace Centerpiece
Real talk: my fireplace is the star of my living room during Christmas. I go wild with garland, fairy lights (the twinkly kind, not the harsh LED ones that make everything look like a hospital), and stockings that actually match for once in my life. One year I hung a stocking that was too heavy and the whole mantel came crashing down at 2 AM. Scared me half to death. Now I test the weight. Learn from my mistakes.
5. Festive Console Table Vignette
Don’t have a fireplace? Girl, same—for my first apartment. I turned my console table into a pseudo-mantel, and honestly, nobody could tell the difference. Wreath on the wall above it, stockings hanging from little command hooks (life-changing), some flowers in vases. Boom. Festive focal point created. No chimney required.
6. Dining Table Elegance
Here’s where I get fancy. I spray-painted some antlers white once (don’t ask where I got antlers—estate sales are weird and wonderful), arranged them with mercury glass and hydrangeas, and suddenly I had this Pinterest-worthy centerpiece. The trick is layering textures: patterned tablecloth, metal candleholders, glass pitchers. It looks like you spent hours when really you just raided HomeGoods.
7. Tabletop Tree Collection
Those little champagne-colored tabletop trees are my weakness. I have, like, seven of them scattered around my house—on side tables, the coffee table, that weird corner shelf I never know what to do with the rest of the year. They catch the light from all the other twinkly things and create this warm, glowy atmosphere. Plus, they’re way easier than a full-size tree. No pine needles embedded in the carpet.
8. Holiday Throw Pillows
This is literally the easiest way to Christmas-ify any room. I swap out all my regular pillows for ones with snowmen, reindeer, and those cheesy holiday sayings I secretly love. My couch goes from boring beige to festive central in about five minutes. The velvet ones with embroidered trees? Chef’s kiss. So cozy you’ll never want to get up.
9. Wreath Wonderland
Why limit yourself to one wreath? I hang them in my living room, over the kitchen sink window, even in the bathroom (yes, really). Pair them with mini trees and suddenly your neutral space has personality. My mom thought I was crazy until she saw it, then she copied me. Vindication feels good.
10. Bedroom Holiday Touches
Plot twist: put garland at the foot of your bed. Sounds weird, feels magical. It’s like waking up in a Christmas cottage every morning. Just maybe don’t go too crazy with the lights unless you enjoy sleeping in what feels like Times Square.
11. Kitchen Festive Foliage
Your kitchen deserves some love too. I keep little evergreen arrangements on the windowsill above my sink, and every time I’m washing dishes (so, constantly), I get a little whiff of pine. It’s the small joys, you know? Holly berries in a mason jar on the counter. A tiny wreath on the cabinet. Suddenly the whole room smells like Christmas.
12. Elegant Topiaries
These are for when you want to look sophisticated. Little topiaries with red ribbons grouped together in your entryway or living room nook. They’re refined but still festive. Perfect for people who think a 12-foot inflatable Santa is “a bit much.” (No judgment if that’s your thing, though.)
13. Holiday Bar Setup
Okay, this is where the fun happens. I designate one corner of my living room as the “holiday bar” and stock it with festive cocktail supplies. Candy-cane rim for hot chocolate, cranberry garnishes, the works. It becomes the gathering spot during parties, and honestly, it just makes me feel fancy.
14. Doorway Feature Moments
Hang mistletoe in unexpected doorways. Frame interior doors with garland. It creates this magical flow as you move through your house—like you’re wandering through a Christmas forest instead of just going to the bathroom.
15. Outdoor Porch Display
Don’t forget your porch! I put a small tree out there with lights, maybe some of those lighted gift boxes. Last year I got an iridescent deer with LED lights and my neighbor’s kid literally gasped when he saw it. That’s the reaction you want. Go big or go home.
The best part about decorating for the holidays? There are no rules. You want garland in your bedroom? Do it. Seven wreaths? Why not. A light-up reindeer on your porch? Absolutely. Make your space feel magical in whatever way brings you joy. And if something falls down or looks a bit wonky, that’s just character.
Happy decorating, friends!
