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This blog post is all about the best Christmas decor ideas for living room!
I always love decorating my living room for the holiday season! This is by far the room where I get the most creative and go all out on my Christmas decorations. With this space being guest-facing, I love to go the extra mile and fill every corner with gorgeous Christmas decor ideas to make the space feel as magical as I possibly can.
However, a living room can also be a very challenging room to decorate for Christmas. It tends to have several areas within a single space in terms of functionality and layout, as well as needing to counterbalance the heavy visual weight of a Christmas tree.
This is why I wanted to gather a list of Christmas decor ideas for living room that could help you get some inspiration for this time of year. From tips to elevate your Christmas tree to coffee table decorations, let’s jump into 28 ideas to help you create a festive, beautiful living room!
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25+ Christmas Decor Ideas For Living Room
1. Choose a white Christmas theme
If you’re working with a small living room, a white color scheme can help you keep the space open even as you add Christmas decorations. Opting for an all-white Christmas living room is also a great way to easily achieve a cohesive look that leans into more minimalist trends. I highly recommend this idea if you find your personal style more aligned with a very modern, neutral color palette.
Bonus tip: a large flocked tree is a must-have for your all-white Christmas decor!
2. Curate fireplace mantel decorations
Christmas living room decorating ideas cannot be complete without stunning mantel decor. Your mantel can help you create a second focal point in the room, counterbalancing your tree. You can keep things simple with a luscious green garland or add fun details like candles, bows, and bells.
Good mantel decorations will make your living room feel more curated and naturally complement the cozy roaring fire during colder days.
3. Implement beautiful Christmas tree ideas
3.1. Opt for an artificial tree
As someone who has always lived in a small city apartment, I have to confess I am a big fan of artificial trees. They are affordable, can be re-used over many years, and do not require the same level of set up and maintenance that a real tree would. Nowadays, artificial trees look just as stunning, with plenty of realistic options available on the market.
You should also consider an artificial tall tree if you have really high ceilings. A fake large tree tends to look more homogeneously fully, requiring less decorations to feel complete.
3.2. Use a small tree to save space
If you only have a small space available, don’t completely dismiss the idea of having a Christmas tree. While you may not be able to invest in a full-size piece, a mini tree can look just as lovely. The key in this case is not to overwhelm it with decorations and find a good basis for it. For instance, I love how the wicker basket in the photo makes the short tree immediately feel fuller.
3.3. Include a special tree topper
A full-sized tree is not finished without a statement tree topper.
This piece is particularly important for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it’s an item that holds a sentimental value for most people. Topping the tree is a special moment in the Christmas decorating process! Secondly, from a design perspective, it ties your Christmas tree decorations together, finishing off your design.
3.4. Don’t forget a tree Skirt
Tree skirts are often underrated items when it comes to Christmas living room decor. However, they are a great finishing touch for your tree, giving it a more professional and refined look.
You can choose a tree skirt in a huge variety of materials, from wicker to wool. A good way to settle on a specific tree skirt is determining how much you need to protect your floor from pine needles or candlvwax.
3.5. Choose a specific Christmas tree theme
Choosing a theme for your Christmas tree decor can make decorating it much easier! From cutting down on decorations research to guaranteeing a more cohesive design, this is a fool-proof way to create a stunning Christmas tree.
4. Curate side table decor
To save some floor space from impractical decorations, consider using your living room side tables as display areas for medium-size decor pieces. Think of items like a miniature tree, Christmas statuettes, large vases – these pieces will look great at the end of your couch or next to an armchair!
Of course, make sure to leave enough surface free for your side tables to remain practical. A 70/30 ratio of decor to empty table is a good standard to go by.
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5. Invest in cozy Christmas lights
5.1. String Lights
Lighting is an integral part of Christmas living room decor ideas. The right lighting will help you create a cozy space and lean into the magical atmosphere of the holiday season.
The easiest way to include Christmas lighting in your decor is by using string lights. You can re-use lights you already own and hang them across your living room or invest in a new themed set in fun Christmas shapes. Personally, I love to waive string lights into my open shelf decor.
5.2. Twinkle Lights
Twinkle lights are a staple of Christmas tree decor. However, you can use them across your entire living room. They look a bit more festive than traditional string lights and often come in a fun variety of lighting patterns and colors. A great idea is to include them in your mantel garland for the ultimate Christmas design statement.
5.3. Battery-operated candles
I am sure I’m not the only one who has to live with the sad reality of not having a working fireplace. Luckily for us, battery-operated candles can at least give us the impression of a warm, open fire. Invest in a set of candles of different heights, sizes and shapes to create a beautiful composition that will light up your evenings with Christmas magic.
6. Cozy-Up Your Seating Area
6.1. On-theme throw pillows
One of the most important aspects of living room Christmas decorations is making your living space feel cozy and welcoming. Stuffing your space with decor without making it livable will only turn it into a cold Christmas exposition.
A great way to immediately make your couch and chairs feel more comfortable and homey, it’s to include some Christmas throw pillows into your decor. You can go all out on the theme with bright red pillow covers and fun snowflake patterns or opt for a more modern, understated take using deep greens and browns.
6.2. Warm Christmas throw
Your couch is good place to style a thick and warm Christmas throw. Opt for festive and luxurious colors like forest green, burgundy, and deep red to help your throw stand out. As far as materials are concerned, you can choose wool for a high-quality traditional piece or a fuzzy throw if you need something that’s easier to clean (pet owners, I am talking to you!).
7. Scour Vintage Finds
Some of the most beautiful holiday pieces I have ever seen were at local antique and thrift stores. If you’re looking for decor that fits a stylish living room, make sure to include a few vintage pieces in your design. I also think using vintage decor helps me lean into the holiday spirit, giving a new life to heritage pieces and building a collection onto last year’s unique finds.
8. Include a Beautiful Ribbon
Christmas truly is the perfect time for ribbons to be the star of the show. Make sure to include at least a few of them in your Christmas decor ideas for living room. I find ribbons to be especially festive in deep velvet colors, combining a luxurious feel with some vintage inspiration. For a more modern look, you can instead think of using thin golden ribbons for bright accents across your living room.
9. Use Pine Cones
Pine cones are a good example of natural elements that can be easily included in your living room Christmas decor. They can be stocked on a display bowl or spread across a garland. No matter how you use them, they will add a nice organic touch to your space.
10. Create your own winter wonderland village
Christmas villages can sometimes look tacky, but I think they are a very charming part of holiday decor. A great way to adapt this concept to your taste, is to create your very own Christmas village using more understated pieces. For example, you can style home-shaped ceramic candle holders on a side board of your living room for a beautiful composition. This definitely gives a little bit of Scandinavian decor vibes!
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11. Display fresh flowers
If you find it challenging to add Christmas decorations to your space because you are woking with small rooms, consider incorporating Christmas touches into existing decor. For instance, make sure to display fresh flowers in a typically Christmas color like red, perhaps even adding some gold leaves accents.
This will not only give your Christmas decorations a more natural look, but also limit the need for additional clutter.
12. Add touches of gold
12.1. Accent gold ornaments
Gold accents are a must-have for glamorous Christmas decor. Don’t limit yourself to using gold in your Christmas tree decorations, but instead include accents across your entire living room. Think of golden vases, metallic signs, or charming gold bells. The decorations will look lovely, especially in the evening with twinkling lights on.
12.2. Gold framed Christmas prints
Something that you don’t see very often is Christmas wall decor ideas. However, if you have an existing gallery wall or a mantel where you can display festive prints, this is definitely a Christmas decor idea you should consider! Gold frames, paired with vintage Christmas art or winter-themed prints will make them stand out and turn your wall decor into part of your Christmas set up.
12.3. Gold candle holders
One of my favorites pieces to include in Christmas decor is golden candle holders. They look incredibly chic and can be used anywhere from sideboard decor to mantel decorations and coffee table centerpieces. You can choose brass piece for a traditional touch or opt instead for sleek lines and simple shapes for a more modern addition.
13. Hang a Christmas garland
13.1. Wood bead garland
One of the decorative items that has become incredibly popular over the last few years is wooden garlands. They are charming but simple and can match a huge variety of interior decor styles. I particularly like the idea of layering it with a greenery garland like the photo above for an interesting look.
13.2. Fresh greenery garland
Sometimes simple ideas are the best ones, and this holds for an icon of Christmas decor: a greenery garland. This piece is an absolute must-have for your Christmas decor ideas for living room. Make sure to choose a garland that matches your gorgeous tree for a cohesive look. You can also match it to your front door wreath to add some continuity to your Christmas decorations across the home.
Traditionally, you would see a garland used on door frames or mantels, but you can also transform it into decor for a long wall using small nails or command hooks.
14. Hang cable knit stockings
One of the creative ways to personalize your living room holiday decorations is by hanging customized stockings. Add a personal touch to your cable knit stockings with wooden tag names, color-coded velvet ribbons, or even a small crochet figurine. You can make it a fun weekend project for the family; everyone gets to design their own stocking personalization!
15. Design a festive coffee table centerpiece
Your coffee table is the perfect place in your living room to design a Christmas-themed centerpieces. Play with decorations of different heights and textures to keep the composition interesting and unique. The key here is to blend Christmas decorations with existing decor in a seamless way. For instance, your coffee table books can become the basis of a small Christmas village. Your vase can be the perfect holder for a Christmas plant, and so forth…
16. Include glass decorations
I have always loved glass decorations as they look delicate and make for an easy way to reflect Christmas lights across the living room. How they shimmer in the evening reminds me of the beauty of the festive season! Make sure to include at least a few glass decorations in your Christmas decor ideas for living room.
17. Display your favorite Christmas cards
A great way to remind yourself of what the Christmas spirit is all about, is creating a display of your most cherished holiday cards. Set aside a spot on your TV stand or sideboard and arrange your favorite Christmas cards on a beautiful tray. It will also be fun to see how your collection evolves every year with new cards coming in from friends and family!
18. Display a Bowl of Dried & Fresh Fruit
Something that you usually see in a dining room is a display of fresh fruit as a centerpiece. However, I also think this is a great Christmas living room idea. Put together a collection of typically Christmas fruit, mixing in some of your favorite dried fruits/nuts and holiday sweets. It can make for a great snack bowl to put on your coffee table and share with guests who visit over the Christmas season.
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Christmas Decor Ideas for Living Room – Important Qs
1. How can I choose the best festive color palette for my space?
While it’s important to choose festive colors, you need to prioritize decor that matches, at least at the high level, the color scheme of your interiors.
Overall, no matter your living room colors, you can find Christmas tones that either match them or complement them. For instance, if you have a neutral living room but want your Christmas decor to stand out, burgundy would be a good choice. It shares the brown undertones of most neutrals while being an accent.
Spend some time online researching color theory to feel extra confident in your choice.
2. Should Christmas decorating be done in a specific interior designer style?
There is no straightforward answer to this question as it depends on what you are trying to achieve with your living room Christmas decor. Holiday decorations can usually look good even if they don’t exactly match your interiors, however different styles will inevitably lead to a more eclectic look.
If your priority is to keep your interior decor cohesive, then limit Christmas decor options to your home’s style. If, instead, you want your Christmas decor to be a stand-alone element, go crazy and choose whatever your heart desires. A nice benefit of this second option is that even if your interior decor taste changes over time, you won’t need to re-purchase all your Christmas decorations!
3. What decorations should I focus on if I have a small living room?
If you have a small living room, focus on decor that can occupy existing surfaces without taking up additional floor space. For example, replace a traditional Christmas tree with a miniature tree that fits on your TV stand. Forget about over-sized Christmas figurines and opt instead for Christmas-themed wall decor. In this case, less is more!
To Conclude
This post was all bout Christmas decor ideas for living room!
Whether you are looking to refresh your Christmas living room decor or are ready to explore a completely new theme, there are plenty of genius festive decor ideas to create a cozy living room. The holiday season is the perfect time to get creative with your decor and fully embrace the Christmas spirit!
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