With a little inspiration and an open mind, you can still make your home feel festive and inviting over the holidays, while staying true to your individual style with some delightful twists on tradition.
The below creative holiday decorating ideas for every design style, from mid-century modern to coastal cool. Melissa Wagner, the lead designer, goes down each style, offering Christmas decorating tips and tricks along the way.
Holiday Decorating Ideas: Modern Farmhouse
When glamming up your farmhouse-style home for the holidays, Wagner recommends keeping things light, simple, and natural. Think: oranges, cloves, cranberries, and endless evergreen for decor, wooden candle sticks, and vintage jingle bells on a ribbon. “This aesthetic is all about the classic and traditional — embrace red and green plaid and all things rustic (like wooden serving bowls, ideally passed down through generations),” adds Wagner. “And don’t forget to bring the cozy — stock the living room with baskets of throw pillows and blankets, and stack wood in the fireplace for warmth all season long!”
Holiday Decorating Ideas: Mid-Century Modern
In Wagner’s opinion, a mid-century modern home doesn’t need a full-on makeover for the holidays. “There’s no need to swap out all of your artwork and decor — just add some seasonal greenery, mood lighting, and textiles like faux fur, shearling, subtle modern plaid, and velvet,” she explains. She especially loves brass or iron candle holders for this look, as well as classic evergreen wreaths and garland. No muss, no fuss, but still brings the holiday feels.
Holiday Decorating Ideas: Coastal Cool
As to be expected, coastal cool holiday style should feel as light, breezy, and laid-back as the off-season look. “Embrace your existing neutral color palette, and add in natural holiday items like a linen tree skirt and woven stockings,” she suggests. “Keep the evergreen light and minimal, and don’t be afraid to bring in some non-traditional coastal blooms, like hellebore, heather, or winter camellia.”
Holiday Decorating Ideas: Modern Luxe
First and foremost, a modern-luxe holiday home should stay true to its monochrome color palette of high-contrast blacks, whites, and light wood. When shopping for seasonal decor, embrace luxe materials and finishes like marble, brass, and glass or crystal (think: CB2’s line of onyx Christmas trees and decorative travertine sleds). “Bring in festive color with classic evergreen or red holly and poinsettias, but keep things clean and minimal,” adds Wagner.
Holiday Decorating Ideas: Classic Cozy
Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a traditional home dressed up in its holiday finest. Take inspiration from the Home Alone house and go all out with jingle bells, mistletoe, reflective ornaments, ribbons, oversized evergreen trees, and a classic palette of red, green, silver, and gold. “Take your cozy factor and dial it up a notch — we’re talking dim lights, a roaring fire, mugs full of spiked cider and hot cocoa, and candles lit 24/7,” adds Wagner. “Maximalist? Minimalist? It doesn’t matter — it’s all about festive nostalgia with this look.”
