95 Awesome Christmas Decoration Ideas

Why should crown moldings only be for walls? Interior designer Bradley Odom will also hang them in unexpected places, including the backs of his wicker dining chairs. “It’s another place to add some lush greenery, and it’s the perfect place to hang name cards when we’re hosting a dinner party,” she tells us.

Not every room needs your typical Tannenbaum to feel festive. In this living room filled with items from Serena & Lily’s new Christmas collection, a basic evergreen is cleverly placed over the lamp. Hallelujah—a refreshing look outside of a holiday song!

If your kitchen relies on rustic furniture and vintage appliances, a few restrained touches can add holiday cheer without detracting from the existing Old World charm. In this cozy kitchen, Illinois designer Kate Marker brought in evergreens and porcelain Christmas trees that make all the difference.

We will never get over the overall beauty of a bowl that flows green. When we get to winter, we don’t need to get involved with all the things that are growing just because the cherry blossoms are gone. Here, designer Shea McGee of Studio McGee brought in winterberry branches, which add vibrancy and color to this kitchen countertop.

Leave it to Anthropologie to take the casual patio space up a notch (another step?). The commercial property of the Brooklyn townhouse greeted visitors with bright LED orbs that gave us a global impression. Obviously, lighting is the key to creating holiday magic.

Taking cocktail table real estate is a given with Christmas decor, and these champagne-hued slate trees from West Elm are the perfect addition. Their metallic light almost sparkles in the light of the flickering lights of the room.

Here’s another great holiday decorating idea from designer Sarah Bartholomew: She draped a green garland loosely over the stairs, securing it in place with long red ribbons of love. Together with the leopard runner, we appear for this look.

If your Christmas tree does not have the ability to decorate your entire decoration (eyes, holiday guardians!), or you choose to go tree-free this year, try collecting complementary baubles in beautiful bowls. We love this decorative vignette from Shea McGee, who placed neutral decorations in a carved scalloped bowl. Bonus points for the little Christmas wreath!

Mantels are the main places for garlands and stockings, of course, but they are also the main place to add some height. This view, from Balsame Hill when taken from a suite at the Plaza Hotel, combines a forest of shining conifers, sitting at different heights to draw the eye up. Talk about high style!

You don’t have to start throwing themed knickknacks to get your home in the holiday spirit. In this latest example, also courtesy of Shea McGee, a chic indoor wreath, whitewashed wooden nutcrackers, and lots of bells strung together tell the story of Christmas. Are you still surprised? “Scent is a powerful creative tool, especially around the holidays,” says McGee. “I like to set a familiar and warm feeling with a bowl of orange slices, dried leaves, or an old winter candle.”

As an alternative to the traditional red and green, try embracing one or the other. We love this romantic holiday table from ELLE DECOR A-List designers Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen. They welcomed the rich red in the bouquets of roses and bright candles. Blue and white porcelain keeps it light, while piles of pine cones keep the springtime design.

Decorating for the holidays doesn’t mean maximalism. In this quiet, atmospheric film, artist and designer John Derian hung an evergreen wreath above the door frame, packed a basket full of oversized metal bottles, and hung a delicate paper mistletoe sprig from a cabinet. It’s fast, effortless – and timeless.

Another kind of chic Christmas tree? A group of small topiaries, joined together and decorated with a whimsical red ribbon. The look, with the timeless appeal of plants loved by Bunny Mellon, comes to us courtesy of designer Sarah Bartholomew, who redefined the display area in a green crown for double beauty.

Evergreens don’t just have to be conifers. Just look at the greenery of the out-of-this-world holiday at London’s House of Hackney co-founders Frieda Gormley and Javvy M Royle. Here, for the amazing dining center, they used many types of wild plants and put in unusual flowers, such as yellow pink anthurium, with sprigs of holly berry for a nice touch of tradition. Get the look by using your backyard as inspo.

We love how artist and designer Josh Yöung ditched the expected Christmas colors of red and green for yellow and white. Not only does it work as a cohesive, neutral scheme, the subtle bursts of vitamin-C color are the perfect cure for any winter blues.