95 Designer-Approved Christmas Decorating Ideas for 2026

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One of the best parts of the holiday season is the . While set the tone, indoor Christmas adornments keep that holiday spirit alive from the beginning of December (or maybeee a little earlier) right up to the New Year. No matter how lovely your minimalist backdrop and neutral tones are, the holiday season offers an opportunity to eschew your regular repertoire in favor of a maximalist mentality. Sure, you may have your tried-and-true holiday decorating schemes—the bedazzled , the festooned , and the pined-out —but why not shake up your yuletide decorating routine this year by going even more radical? Cue the luxurious faux-fur blankets, the unexpectedly large tree baubles, and the can’t-be-missed sparkling crystal candlesticks. More is finally more! Thankfully, there is no shortage of ideas out there to create the pattern-happy holiday home (or corner; we see you, !) of your dreams.

"Bigger is better and more is more," says designer . "That is my motto when it comes to Holiday décor and traditions around my home and that of my clients." Cue the gigantic magnolia garlands, trees drenched in tinsel and ornaments with not a branch to spare, with tablescapes that are living works of art she adds. "I love to have all senses awakened, what you see, what you touch, what you smell and what you taste."

Designer Alexis Vitale agrees. What does that look like for her? "When bringing home that tree, we say get the tallest tree your room can handle," Vitale says. "Excess lighting, too, truly makes the tree shine bright at night, dripping with all your favorite ornaments and layering with different ribbons using different textures and sizes." Don't be afraid to add large, dramatic florals, ribbons, branches, fresh cedar and pine.

“The key to holiday styling is to not overlook the small stuff. If there’s a time for trinkets, ’tis the season,” says designer Shea McGee of . In addition to hanging flowing greenery everywhere, “in my home, I love to add little wreaths to the shelves displaying my once-a-year platters, and festive pillows join the others on my girls’ beds.”

To help get those creative juices flowing, feast your eyes on our favorite designer-approved Christmas decorating ideas, from McGee and dozens of other design experts. From moody and antiques-filled to cheery and retro to colorful on classic holiday staples, we’re certain you’ll find glimmers of inspiration to make your spirits merry, bright, and oh so chic.

1

Weave a Wreath Wonderland

Donna Dotan

Year around, the chic living room of this Westport house is a soothing, neutral space featuring white furniture and wicker accents. But come December, its personality is dialed up a few notches, with two billowing wreathes and a mini faux tree (from Serena & Lily). Proof that your holiday decor needn't follow anybody else's script but your own.

2

Create a Department Story-Worthy Window

Stoffer Photography

Macy’s called and they’re asking for window display inspo. Talk to Kate Marker, who strung up brass bells across this large open window to add dimension and class in spades. It’s total eye candy, minus the 10-degree freeze blast on 34th Street.

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Gussy Up a Console

Katie Nixon Photography

No fireplace? Snow problem! Designer —the queen of all things —cleverly converted her living room console table into its own mantel moment, complete with a wreath and coordinating stockings. Festive ribbons and vases of flowers add an additional pop of cheer.

4

Indulge in Pattern Play

Donna Dotan

When your wallpaper and curtain fabric is this statement-worthy, be sure to save a few reams for the gift wrap. Serena & Lily did just that with their with the matching wallpaper and presents. A stunning window wreath and tree decor ties it all together.

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Party in the Back

Lacey Sombar

Why should wreaths just be for the walls? Interior designer will also hang them in unexpected locales, including the back of his cane dining chairs. “It’s another place to add lush greenery, and it’s the perfect place to hang name cards when hosting a dinner party,” he tells us.

6

Trim Your Light Fixtures

Donna Dotan

Not every room needs your standard Tannenbaum to feel festive. In this sitting room filled with items from Serena & Lily's , a basic evergreen wreath is cleverly inserted on the light fixture. Hallelujah—a look that feels refreshingly off the beaten holiday decor track!

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Make Your Kitchen Festive

Stoffer Photography

If your kitchen leans into rustic materials and vintage appliances, a few restrained touches can add some holiday zest without distracting from the room's existing Old World charm. In this soulful cooking space, Illinois-based designer brought in evergreen garlands and porcelain Christmas trees that make all the difference.

8

Go Wild With Evergreen Sprigs

Lucy Call

We will never get over the general fabulousness of a vase that's billowing with greenery. Come winter, we needn't bid adieu to all things growing just because the cherry blossoms are long gone. Here, designer Shea McGee of brought in winterberry branches, which add vibrance and color to this kitchen countertop.

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Install Glowing Porch Globes

Courtesy Anthropologie

Leave it to Anthropologie to take the standard porch scene up a notch (er step?). The brand's takeover of this Brooklyn townhouse greeted guests with LED glowing orbs that are giving us all the other-worldly vibes. Clearly, mood lighting is the key ingredient to creating holiday magic.

10

Try Tiny Trees

Courtesy West Elm

Taking up cocktail table real estate is a given when it comes to Christmas decor, and these champagne-hued from West Elm are the perfect addition. Their metallic sheen is almost glowing with the reflection of the room's twinkling lights.

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Stairway to Heaven

Sarah Bartholomew

Here’s another pretty holiday decor idea from designer : She draped a verdant garland effortlessly along the staircase, fastening it in place with romantic long red ribbons. Along with a leopard runner, we’re wild for this look.

12

Collect Baubles in Bowls

Lucy Call

If your Christmas tree doesn’t have the capacity to flaunt your entire ornament collection (eyes on you, holiday hoarders!), or you’re opting to go tree-free this year, try grouping complementary baubles in pretty bowls. We love this curated vignette from , who placed neutral-hued ornaments in a sculptural scalloped bowl. Bonus points for the teeny-tiny Christmas wreath!

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Make Your Mantel a Magic Forest

Courtesy Balsam Hill

Mantels are prime locations for garlands and stockings, sure, but they’re also a prime site to incorporate some height. This look, from a Balsam Hill takeover of a suite at the Plaza Hotel, brings together a forest of glittering conifers, positioned at varying heights to draw the eye upward. Talk about high style!

14

Say More with Less

Lucy Call

You don’t have to start throwing themed knickknacks to get your home in the holiday spirit. In this pared-back example, also courtesy Shea McGee, a chic indoor wreath, bleached wood nutcrackers, and a bunch of burnished bells together tell a Christmas story. Still stumped? Cater to the senses, says McGee: “Scent is such a powerful design tool, especially around the holidays. I like to set a mood that feels familiar and warm through a bowl of orange slices, dried sprigs, or a classic winter candle.”

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Revel in Rich Reds

Courtesy Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen

As an alternative to a traditional red and green scheme, try embracing one or the other. We love this romantic holiday table from ELLE DECOR A-List designers . They embraced rich reds in the bunches of roses and bright candlesticks. Blue and white porcelain keeps it light, while piles of pine cones keep the scheme seasonal.

16

Bring It in the Bedroom

Lucy Call

Holiday decor isn’t just for living rooms. Bedrooms, after all, are the venue for those visions of sugarplums. A chic idea? Drape a garland over the foot of your bed for fuss-free festivity, like this look from Frontgate.

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Go Subtle

Courtesy John Derian

Holiday decorating doesn’t necessarily entail maximalism. In this quiet, atmospheric vignette, artist and designer simply hung an evergreen garland above a doorframe, packed a basket full of oversize metallic baubles, and hung a delicate paper sprig of mistletoe from the cabinet. Subtle, effortless—and timeless.

18

Tip-Top Topiaries

Courtesy Sarah Bartholomew

A chic ? A set of petite topiaries, grouped together and decked out in whimsical red ribbon. The look, which has the enduring appeal of Bunny Mellon’s , comes to us courtesy of designer , who also outlined a display nook in a verdant garland for double the gorgeousness.

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Glam Up Your Greenery

Michael Sinclair

Evergreens needn’t be only of the conifer variety. Just see the out-of-this-world holiday greenery in the London home of House of Hackney co-founders . Here, for a stunning dining centerpiece, they used a variety of wild greens and tucked in quirky blooms, like pale pink anthurium, with holly berry sprigs for a fun nod to tradition. Get the look by using your own backyard as inspo.

20

Citrus Cheer

Josh Yöung

We love how artist and designer ditched the expected Christmas color combo of red and green for one of yellow and white. Not only does it serve as a unified, neutral scheme, the subtle splashes of vitamin-C hues are the perfect antidote to any winter blues.

Rachel Silva is a freelance writer and editor covering design, architecture, and culture. She previously served as an editor at ELLE Decor, and her work has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, TIME, and Veranda, among others. A graduate of Columbia Journalism School, she is based in New York City.

Deputy Digital EditorAnna Fixsen is the deputy digital editor of ELLE DECOR, where she oversees all facets of [SITEURL]. In addition to editing articles and developing digital strategy, she writes about the world's most beautiful homes, reviews the chicest products (from the best cocktail tables to cute but practical gifts), and reports on the most exciting trends in design and architecture. Since graduating from Columbia Journalism School, she's spent the past decade as an editor at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record and has written for outlets including the New York Times, Dwell, and more.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

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