62 Creative and Elegant Christmas Decoration Ideas

By Real Simple Editors
Updated December 15, 2020
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Credit: Johnny Miller

Believe it or not, it’s possible to transform your home into a festive gathering place for family and friends this holiday season—even if Christmas crafts aren’t necessarily your strong suit. If you’re intimidated by DIY projects or don’t want to spend a fortune on holiday decor this year, never fear: These Christmas decoration ideas take just minutes to pull together, and many don’t require buying anything new at all. (You can even prepare some while enjoying the best Christmas movies on Netflix.) 

For example, let your beautifully wrapped presents serve as decorations until they are ripped open on Christmas morning. Or consider hanging your holiday cards from your stair banister to add a pop of color and cheer instead of tucking the greetings away. Want to add some elegant Christmas trees to your repertoire of decorations? We can help you create edible versions that will sweeten up your kitchen or entryway.

Let these simple Christmas decoration ideas act as inspiration, then customize them to your color palette to create a look that feels right at home. Whatever you have around the house, you can use them to decorate this holiday season. Read on for our ideas for decorations and styling tips for your most beautiful holiday home yet.

RELATED: 15 Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas That Take Five Minutes or Less

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Light a (Faux) Fire

Credit: Nicole Franzen

Even if you don't have room for a traditional tree, you can still get the same look on a smaller scale. Instead of the 7-foot fir tree, opt for a 3- or 4-foot-tall one, and use a decorative metal planter in place of the typical tree stand and skirt. Then, keep the ornaments minimal so you won’t overwhelm the branches.

Want a faux hearth to accompany your small-space tree? Wrap birch logs in fairy lights and set them in a wire basket. The room will instantly look warmer.

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Beautify a Bar Cart

Credit: Johnny Miller

Gilded accessories and pretty bottles of your favorite alcohol will look decadent and festive when left on display during the holiday season. And when an impromptu visitor comes to your door, you’re ready to entertain.

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Wow-Worthy Mantel Decor 

Credit: Steve Giralt; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

For an unexpected and sophisticated display, keep your pairing (wreath and trio of candlesticks) minimal. This grapevine branch wreath makes an impressive holiday decoration idea with its combination of evergreen branches, pomegranates, and amaryllis blooms.

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Holiday Card Garland

Credit: Steve Giralt; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

Looking for a clever way to display the holiday cards that come your way? Use clips or clothespins to string them along the staircase.

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Striking Accents

Credit: Steve Giralt; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

Mix classic elements (spruce and olive branches) with unexpected accents (echeveria succulents, seeded eucalyptus branches) for a traditional, but updated way to greet your holiday guests.

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Make a Warm Welcome

Credit: Steve Giralt; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but your fireplace looks so delightful. Set a cozy scene by wrapping twin birch logs in twinkling holiday lights. Sprinkle mercury glass candlesticks and votives along the sides for an extra boost of shine.

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Glass Act

Credit: Steve Giralt; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

For a hassle-free holiday display, take over an empty end table (a deep windowsill will also work) by setting up a multitude of contemporary candlesticks and mercury glass votive candles. Rely on colorful glass ornaments for adding a pop of color and cheer.

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Special Delivery

Credit: Steve Giralt; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

Make your own Advent calendar using lined envelopes and stick-on-numbers to transform a large bulletin board. Fill each envelope with treats (candy canes, gift certificate to the ice cream parlor, a coupon good for an extra hour of playing video games) that are joyful and surprising. With the promise of a small treasure each day, the kids (both young and young at heart) will love counting down the days to December 25.

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Pick Your Palette

Credit: Steve Giralt; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

If red and green aren't part of your decorating color scheme, lean on tones that complement your existing decor. Paper medallions in silver, gold, and bronze look right at home atop the mantel. Add a warm finishing touch by draping sprigs of evergreen garland embellished with berries and ornaments.

RELATED: The Best Christmas Gifts

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A Sweet Scene 

Credit: Steve Giralt; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

Turn candy into an indoor winter wonderland that will greet holiday guests at the front door. Make your own sparkly scene by decorating foam cones from the craft store with rock candy.

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Let It Snow

Credit: Steve Giralt; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Dangling from a window, these cascading strands of silver and white gift bows create the illusion of falling snow.

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Center of Attention

Credit: Steve Giralt; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

'Tis the time of year for glitz and glamour on the holiday table. Nestle sparkly, color-dipped vintage bulbs in a decorative glass bowl to make a show-stopping statement.

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Double-Duty Decorating

Credit: Steve Giralt; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

Pretty wrapped presents can work overtime as last-minute decorations. The secret to turning a pile of presents into a table-worthy display? Focus on the finishing touches: Adorn festive wrap with clever tie-ons (like a strand of color-dipped wooden beads) and a peppering of metallic ornaments.

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Make Candles Cohesive

Credit: Tom Merton/Getty Images

Couple together pillar candles to add ambiance and extra light. Wrap a piece of festive ribbon around a few to compliment the palette of your other decorations while adding texture.

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An Eye-Catching Table Runner 

Credit: Steve Giralt; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

Forgo the fine china, fancy linens, and extravagant centerpiece for a unique runner that will steal the dinner scene. Place pins along the sides of a gilded poster board and artfully weave colorful string from pin to pin to create a modern, textured focal point.

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Fireside Forest

Credit: Nicole Franzen

Layer an assortment of tree-shaped objects in varying heights and textures atop the mantel. Use a metallic, leafy garland to reflect the firelight from below.

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Twist on a Traditional Wreath

Credit: Ditte Isager

Instead of the traditional evergreen, try a homemade wreath of citrus fruits. Start with a circular piece of florist’s foam, then use wooden florist’s picks to secure large items, such as oranges, first. Continue with smaller fruit―kumquats, clementines, limes. Tie with a thick velvet ribbon.

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Celestial Doorway

Credit: Nicole Franzen

Trick out a door or window frame with an asymmetrical assortment of stars. Use adhesive strips to hang a strand of cascading star lights accentuated with ornaments and lanterns of various sizes.

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Stockinged Stairwell

Credit: Nicole Franzen

Hang stockings from a banister trimmed with garland (live or faux) using floral wire or zip ties hidden amid the greenery.

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Leaning Ladder

Credit: Nicole Franzen

Attach stockings to a decorative ladder and liven it up with a swag of pine garland. In January, replace the stockings with throw blankets.

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Sweet Centerpieces

Credit: Steve Giralt

The halls are decked, now bring colorful delight to the table with a sweet set-up of treats that never feel out of season. For the ultimate centerpiece, try a no-fuss arrangement filled with red and white peppermint balls and fluffy marshmallows. Call on ribbon candy, multicolored chocolates, and candy canes for making the perfect sides.

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Overhead Opulence

Credit: Steve Giralt

Don’t restrict magnificent baubles and sparkly snowflakes to the tree when it comes to your Christmas decor ideas. Accentuate overhead lighting with shimmery decorations and stick to a fresh winter palette like pale blue and silver. Finish it off with an elegant satin ribbon gently dangling from the chandelier.

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Modern Simplicity for Stockings

Credit: Steve Giralt

Play up your home’s unique style with holiday decor that complements its most appealing qualities. A gorgeous mirror gets a charming border from decorative golden deer and white stockings, which accentuates the breathtaking white mantel.

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Extra Ornament Displays

Credit: Steve Giralt

The trick to making your holiday decor feel like home is by injecting your personal style into the details. Turn a bare windowsill into a stylish nook in no time by filling glass jars of varying heights and shapes with leftover balls for a dramatic, high-impact display.

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Fabulous Window Dressings

Credit: Steve Giralt

Holiday window treatments come in all shapes, sizes, and textures. The ultimate preppy power couple (hot pink and lime green) make an unexpected debut in this modern all-feather composition. The dangling ornament adds just the right amount of pop to this decorative piece.

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Subtle Arrangements

Credit: Steve Giralt

The secret to pulling off a show-stopping arrangement that speaks to your style is by keeping the decorative elements simple. Fill a glass hurricane with an assortment of holiday ornaments, and then surround it with lush greenery.

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An Alternative Tree Assortment

Credit: Steve Giralt

Add a pop of color to a corner with a retro-inspired palette that boasts an exotic side. Delicate balls in chartreuse, lavender, and pink are scattered across the branches making an attention-worthy display. Rather than leaning on garland for texture, turn to feathers for an unexpected twist.

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Charming Countdown

Credit: Steve Giralt

This unique adaptation of the traditional Advent calendar speaks to the spirit of the season. Replace a leaning mirror for the month of December and fill the pint-size numbered bags with some of your family's favorite treats.

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Frosted Tablescape

Credit: Steve Giralt

Set a simple and sophisticated winter–white table that will make your holiday gatherings extra special. Add a hint of warmth and texture by layering the surface with a delicately embroidered ivory runner. For even more dazzle, fill silver mint julep cups with beautifully frosted pinecones.

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White Christmas Tree