"As a kid, one of my favorite holiday traditions was piling into the family car to drive around and look at Christmas lights. While I was always impressed by the lights themselves, my favorite homes were the ones with big Christmas trees displayed in the front windows. I loved getting a glimpse into how other families decorated for the holidays, and I still do to this day. Of course, now we have Pinterest and Instagram to serve us up endless holiday decor ideas at our fingertips. And if you’re anything like me, you love scrolling through others’ holiday decor setups to find fresh ideas to try in your own home.
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Below, I’m sharing some of the most beautiful holiday decor ideas from around the web that you can easily recreate in your own space. Whether you like to go all out or prefer a few subtly festive touches, these holiday decor ideas are all the inspiration you need to deck the halls this year.
1. Give your entryway a festive update
I love the idea of sprinkling in little holiday touches throughout your whole home, including spaces you might otherwise overlook like the entryway. With just a few pieces—like a miniature tree, some framed art, and a garland—you can create a charming holiday vignette to greet you when you walk in the door.
2. Tie swags of greenery around sconces
This holiday decor idea is simple, but it makes a big impact. To pull it off, purchase pre-made swags of greenery or create your own by layering a few stems together. Attach your greenery to the sconce using floral wire and finish it off with a hand-tied bow, letting the ends of the ribbon trail long for an effortless look.
3. Overlap your stockings
In my house growing up, we always hung our stockings in a long row across the whole mantel, but these days, I think it looks way more chic to keep them all to one side. Use hidden mantel clips you can tuck under your garland instead of clunky stocking holders, and let the stockings overlap each other slightly. This will make your mantel look more intentional and allow the garland to be the main focus. It also gives you the opportunity to layer in some additional accents, like some velvet ribbon or the jingle bells pictured here.
4. Drape greenery around your front door
The front entryway of my home doesn’t look nearly this grand, but I’m obsessed with this simple yet festive exterior look. If you want to recreate something similar around your front door, you’ll definitely need an extra-long garland (or a couple of shorter ones attached together), but be sure to measure first so you purchase the right length. Then use a few exterior-rated Command hooks or good old-fashioned nails to hang it around your door in an arch.
5. Hang a wreath on a mirror
Wreaths aren’t just for the front door—they can look just as festive indoors, too. You could always hang one on an interior door, but for something a little more unexpected, try placing a wreath on a mirror. To hang, loop some ribbon (or clear fishing line for a seamless look) through the wreath and attach it to the back of the mirror. Or use a suction cup hook to hang it directly on the mirror’s glass.
6. Place a mirror behind your Christmas tree
The easiest way to take your holiday decor to the next level? Use the power of mirrors to give your Christmas tree extra impact. Leaning a floor-length mirror on the wall adjacent to your tree will reflect all the twinkly lights and ornaments back into the room, essentially doubling its presence. This trick works especially well in small spaces if you want your tree to look bigger and brighter than it really is.
7. Layer a dried orange garland with greenery
I keep seeing dried orange garlands all over my social media, and I think I’ve finally convinced myself that I need to make one. It’s easy enough to dehydrate orange slices in the oven, and then all you have to do is string them up with some twine. I love how the dried oranges look when layered against a garland of greenery. This easy holiday DIY will add a cozy, handmade touch to your setup this year.
8. Get creative with where you hang your stockings
Not everyone has a gorgeous wood-burning fireplace with a mantel on which to hang their stockings. Luckily, there are tons of other ways to display stockings that still feel festive. I personally love this bookshelf idea, but you could also hang them on hooks in the entryway, on a sideboard in your dining room, or on a wall like art.
9. Bring in miniature trees
If given the opportunity, I’d put several Christmas trees in every room, but since that’s not exactly feasible in most homes, miniature trees are a great way to kick it up a notch without going overboard. Choose pre-lit ones to make it easy, or string them with fairy lights for a subtle glow. Placing the trees in baskets or vases gives them a more polished and elevated look.
10. Drape garland across wall art
I love the idea of layering in little holiday touches amid your existing decor, like the way this garland is draped over a piece of wall art that hangs there year-round. Especially if you don’t have a fireplace mantel or a staircase railing, this is a genius way to display garland in a less traditional way.
11. Dress up the tree with velvet ribbon
It can be fun to switch up your Christmas tree design from year to year, but buying new ornaments every holiday season would quickly get very expensive. Instead, grab a few rolls of velvet ribbon and tie some bows directly onto your tree. The bows will look just as pretty as traditional ornaments but cost way less. Bonus: You can reuse any leftover ribbon for wrapping gifts!
12. Frame a window or doorway with garland
If you’re going for a full-on winter wonderland vibe for your holiday decor, don’t be shy when it comes to garland. I especially love the look of garland framing a large window or doorway—it’s a great way to play up your home’s existing architecture and make a big statement. You’ll probably need to use a few different strands of garland to pull this look off, but the result is truly stunning.
13. Decorate with metallic accents
This is what my holiday decor would look like if I had any chill during this time of year. If colorful and quirky aren’t your thing, stick to a simple color palette of neutrals with metallic accents for your holiday decor. With just a few well-chosen accessories, you can make your space feel cozy and festive without detracting from your existing decor.
14. Add some nostalgia to your tree
Yes, you want your tree to look cohesive with the rest of your holiday decor, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be a perfectly curated display with no personality. Bring in some nostalgia with ornaments that have special meaning to you. Whether they were handmade by your younger self, handed down by a relative, or collected over the years, the assortment will represent you in an extra special way—even if they don’t all match exactly.
15. Bring a bit of cheer to the bedroom
If you’re a member of the holiday-decor-in-every-room camp, your bedroom is an easy spot to add some festive cheer. Start with a wreath above your bed, then add some decorative trees to a nightstand, dresser, or other nearby surface. For an extra cozy look, string up some twinkle lights around your bedroom window to add to the ambience at night.
16. Hang your garland asymmetrically
I’ve tried hanging garland on my mantle numerous times and always find that it feels awkward in a way that I can’t quite put my finger on. After combing through tons of inspiration photos, I’ve finally found the answer: an asymmetrical mantel design. This method lets the greenery trail in a way that feels luxe and elegant, and it creates the opportunity to layer in additional accents like a wooden bead garland or a strand of jingle bells.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers.