Now we’re getting into the colder months, the blankets are coming out, the candles are going on, and we’re very ready for the festive season. If you’re looking for inspiration to get your house ready for the 25th December, you’re in luck. We know of loads of great (and easy) Christmas decor ideas.
From panelling the walls to decking the halls, here are our top tips for decorating your house for Christmas.
9 tips for Christmas home decor
1) Plan your table decor in advance
We love tablescaping – especially at Christmas. Pinterest is full of amazing table decor ideas, and lots of them can be recreated at home without breaking the bank. Think candles, baubles, dried oranges, cute napkins and a bit of foliage.
Charity shops are ideal for things like crockery, cutlery, tablecloths and candle holders. And, for anything brand new, look out for good deals in the Black Friday sales.
Just make sure when planning your table layout that you leave enough space for the food. Beautiful and practical table decor is the goal!
2) Use a consistent colour scheme throughout your decor
For Christmas decor that looks super deliberate and well-curated, spend a bit of time thinking about your colour scheme.
Rich colours like plum, navy and forest green are gorgeous at this time of year, adding a touch of luxury to your home. On the other hand, brighter tones like white and pale blue go beautifully with natural wood items, and give a nod to snow and ice. Consider what would work best with your home’s current decor, and choose your Christmas decorations accordingly.
Of course, you don’t need to get all your Christmas decor in the same colour. But if, say, you have a burgundy candle on the coffee table, burgundy cushions on the sofa and matching baubles on the tree, the room’s decor would overall look really cohesive.
3) Start home DIY projects early
Planning some end-of-year DIY? Whether you’re decorating a guest bedroom, creating a media wall or refreshing your dining room, it’s best to start your projects early to ensure your home’s ready in time for the big day.
For example, if decorating your walls, it’s worth ordering your panelling kit with plenty of time for it to arrive, while leaving a good few days before Christmas for the installation process.
Having said that, the period after Christmas is also a great time do DIY if you have the week off work. It might just be a case of planning carefully to ensure you have all the key jobs completed by 25th December so you can unwind in a tidy house. Then, any less urgent jobs can be left for Twixmas (the period between Christmas Day and New Year).
4) Find bargains in the Black Friday sales
As mentioned, Black Friday deals are great for table decor. But it’s also a good time to look for other bits for the house ahead of Christmas.
At Panelling Direct, for example, we’re offering customers up to 20% off throughout November (newsletter subscribers: check your inbox!).
And, for whatever else you need, there will likely be a Black Friday deal for you.
5) Cut costs by making your own Christmas decorations
Homemade Christmas decorations are such a joy. They’re personal, look lovely and are usually much cheaper than shop-bought items. What’s not to love?
Here are a few examples of easy DIY decorations:
- Dried orange slices – Theses are so simple, and make brilliant decorations for trees and gifts. Slice the oranges as thinly and evenly as you can, then either dry them in the oven or air fryer. From experience, we’ve found the air fryer to be the best way to dry them as the oranges tend to dry more quickly and are less likely to turn brown. Once dried, simply loop a ribbon through the centre of each slice, and you have stunning decorations.
- Wreaths – There are loads of wreath-making workshops around that teach you to make your own. However, another option is to buy a reusable wreath, for example from a supermarket, and customise it yourself. You could add things like red berries, and maybe some dried orange slices if you have any leftover.
- Paper chains – These are great to make with kids. Paper ring chains are a classic design, and very easy. Or, if you’re feeling creative, you could cut out lots of ginger bread men shapes, or maybe Santa hats, with holes in each one for a string to go through. Then, each person in the family can decorate their own ginger bread men/Santa hats and the finished design will be a cute reflection of the household.
6) Make the most of most of mantelpieces and picture shelves
If you have a mantelpiece, we probably don’t need to tell you that this the prime place for Christmas decorations like a garland, lights or candles. But picture shelves are also wonderful spots for a bit of greenery and festivity.
Maybe you have some free shelf space around your media wall? These are crying out to be filled with little Christmas ornaments.
Or, if you’re in need of new shelving, shop our picture shelves by clicking the button below.
7) Focus on warm lights and candles
At Christmas, warm fairy lights and candles will always be on trend. If you have a minimalist home, some simple lights against panelled walls (like in the picture above) is an understated way to inject a bit of festive cheer to your decor, without going overboard.
With a few candles dotted around the room, the space will be a chic, low-key nod to the joy and cosiness of the festive season.
If minimalism isn’t your thing, we’re also big fans of colourful LED Christmas lights. Either way, the added lights make such a difference in getting a house ready for the holidays.
8) Add scented decorations
While so many of the decor ideas in this list have focused on visuals, introducing festive scents to your home is also worth considering.
Through candles, diffusers and potpourri, you can get your house smelling of relaxing festive aromas like cinnamon, clove and gingerbread. So, each time you walk into a room, the scents can instantly put you in the Christmas spirit.
9) Create your dream room before adding decorations
This tip is less of a typical Christmas decor suggestion. But, to unwind in a room you truly love this December, it’s worth looking beyond the lights and ornaments, and decorating the room itself.
For example, if you’ve been thinking about panelling your walls for a while, why not do it before Christmas? That way, when you’re getting to the point of putting up the tree, you’ll be doing so in a room you love.
As a bit of inspiration, the picture above shows beaded wall panelling, but you could also consider other options like ribbed and v-groove panelling. Click below to shop our range of decorative wall panelling.
Looking for more home decor inspiration? We share lots of top ideas on Instagram.
