We all want a sparkling Christmas check-in corner with a tree, lights, gift boxes, wreaths… in our space, whether it is a home, an office, or a store. So, what does it take to achieve the perfect Christmas decoration?
1. Decorating Christmas around a theme
First is shaping the style and defining the concept. Make sure you have an idea for your Christmas corner before getting started, and design around a theme.
Christmas decoration ideas
A professionally designed Christmas tree will be the centerpiece that ties decorations together. Deciding on a theme before choosing ornaments will set the tone for the materials and give you a clear idea of how to decorate the tree as well as other Christmas ornaments. Don’t assume that any Christmas decoration will do; from the Renaissance to Japanese art, there are a total of seven main looks to help you decorate for this festive season.
1.1. Bloomsbury
This art movement is characteristic of the literary works of the Bloomsbury Group, stimulating modern attitudes toward feminism and economics. Inspired by the movement’s soft illustration style, this collection features nostalgic, cozy ornaments and warm bronze touches combined with bold colors like purple, velvet red, and blue. It is described as “an eclectic marriage of bohemian and luxury, with a vintage romance.”
Rooms filled with books, antiques, and art handed down through generations will suit this look.
1.2. Renaissance
Inspired by European painting and sculpture from the 14th to the 17th century, especially Renaissance frescoes, with a modern twist through the use of feathers, velvet, pearls, and more. Drape garlands, beads, and sprays across dressers and mix with pretty pastel accessories. The color palette includes soft pinks transitioning into blues and greens with touches of metallic gold.
Renaissance style Christmas tree
This theme is ideal for city-dwelling, glamorous hosts who enjoy hosting relaxed, beautiful dinner parties at home.
1.3. Art Nouveau
Influenced by the striking architecture and jewelry of the Art Nouveau era, this style is glamorous and luxurious with rich materials and opulent accessories, including animal prints and bold motifs like peacocks.
Mix luxurious materials such as silk, cut glass, velvet, marble, and heavy jacquards with deep blue, gold, and metallics. Barware plays an important role in this theme—think gold cocktail shakers, champagne saucers, and statement bar carts with animal-print accessories.
1.4. Impressionism
We all dream of a white Christmas—and this stunning collection helps everyone recreate that scene right in their own home. A refined palette of stained glass, tarnished silver, and dazzling white sets the stage wonderfully for the upcoming holiday season. Inspired by the Impressionist movement of the 1870s and 80s, the Impressionism trend uses vibrant colors through real-life themes, while emphasizing geometric forms. Whimsical animals and quirky home furnishings are key to this collection.
It will suit those inspired by travel, world cinema, and antiques, with an appreciation for nature and life.
1.5. Pop Art
Big, bright, bold, and fun: this collection is Christmas like you’ve never seen before. A kid-friendly decorating theme inspired by Pop Art, you’ll find vibrant colors, neon lights, multicolored garlands, and sequins.
Pop Art for Christmas Decor
Abstract themes are incorporated, along with reflective surfaces of polished stainless steel or mirror-like pieces distorting the viewer. The collection plays with light and color through glass, foil, and bead effects.
1.6. Art of Japan
In this collection, you will find traditional Christmas symbols alongside mistletoe, arum, cherry blossoms, and lanterns. All items are inspired by the Japanese art movement of the mid-19th century. The palette for this look transitions from bright red through fuchsia to metallic tones, so expect a magnificent red statement.
This theme is perfect for modern, open-plan living spaces.
1.7. Post-Impressionism
Inspired by the vivid colors of Post-Impressionism, expect a bright palette of gold, deep navy blue, and purple. It is the perfect trend to create a standout focal point for your space this Christmas.
Post-Impressionism style Christmas decor
2. How to choose Christmas decorations
Choosing accents that match the theme will help create a cohesive check-in corner. Whether it’s hanging tree ornaments, garlands, or ribbons, select Christmas tree decorations that complement the overall look of the entire tree. Today, there are many ornament sets in various shapes, sizes, finishes, and styles available in stores. Combining these with traditional decorations will give you more freedom to develop your theme.
Choosing Christmas decorations
And how many decorations will you need? On average, about 80 ornaments for a 2-meter tree.
2.1. Invest in a quality artificial Christmas tree
Christmas trees crafted from premium materials provide sturdy support for ornaments. You’ll find that high-quality trees are generally more durable and can be used repeatedly while retaining their beauty.
The tip here is to choose a traditional tree rather than a trendy one, to ensure it doesn’t become “outdated” after a few years. Furthermore, a traditional design provides the perfect canvas to layer and decorate as desired. And remember, to avoid wear and tear or damage to your Christmas tree, consider models with advanced features that allow for easy assembly, disassembly, and storage.
Artificial Christmas tree nearly 2 meters tall
Next, fluff the branches to help the Christmas tree look fuller and more natural. This can be a time-consuming task, but trust us, the end result speaks for itself. Separate each branch so they fan out, covering as much area as possible. And don’t hesitate to bend individual branch tips to fill in gaps. Remember that a well-shaped tree is an appealing sight, whether your decoration is minimalist or lavish.
Fluffing each pine branch
Additionally, if you prefer a real Christmas tree, there are many varieties and styles available for purchase at tree farms, markets, or home improvement & DIY stores. However, they are harder to maintain; we will cover how to choose a real Christmas tree in our next article.
2.2. How to choose Christmas lights
As a general rule, lighting experts advise 100 bulbs or 5 meters of string lights per 0.6 meters of Christmas tree. So, for a 1.8-meter tree, you will need 300 bulbs or 15 meters of string lights.
The first and most important step when decorating a Christmas tree is to always add the lights first; this will be much harder once you have added decorations like baubles, ornaments, or garlands. Choosing string lights or individual lights depends on personal preference, though string lights are generally more popular due to their convenience.
How to choose Christmas lights
It is recommended to start with a string of lights using the plug end as the starting point, wrapping around the trunk of the tree, moving upward from the center of the base. Continue wrapping the lights evenly around the branches closest to the trunk, then weave back up from the middle to the crown.
2.3. Choosing baubles for the tree
Balsam Hill design consultant Brad Schmidt recommends grouping a trio of baubles in varying sizes to add sophistication and visual appeal. You can pair matching pieces together or choose contrasting ones.
Larger baubles should be hung closer to the center of the tree to create depth, while smaller ornaments go toward the ends of the branches. Add special keepsake items last to ensure they are in the perfect position.
2.4. Using ribbons
Another tip is draping decorative ribbon over the Christmas tree, which will elevate the tree’s aesthetic appeal. You can use a single ribbon style or combine ribbons of contrasting textures and varying widths for added emphasis.
Choosing ribbons for Christmas
The advice here is to use wired-edge ribbons, as they are easier to shape into loops or curls and hold their form better than non-wired ribbons.
2.5. Using picks and pinecones
Decorated picks, berries, or even pinecones—use them as subtle accents to complement the overall look of your Christmas corner. Bundling selections together using floral wire is a creative way to enhance your tree’s visual appeal without overwhelming other ornaments.
They are great for adding vivid splashes of color, not only to the Christmas tree but also to wreaths. Remember to choose picks with bendable stems for easier shaping.
2.6. Choosing a tree topper
An eye-catching tree topper is a wonderful way to complete the designer look of your Christmas tree. Be sure to choose a topper that best matches the theme and proportion of the tree, while also taking ceiling height into account. You can also opt for an alternative design, such as a giant bow instead of a gold star, or craft your own bow.
3. Where to decorate for Christmas?
3.1. Homes
3.2. Cafes
3.3. Corporate offices
3.4. Retail stores
3.5. Grand lobbies
In addition, floor and wall tiles are also among the chosen Christmas decorative materials that bring a distinctive accent to a festive corner of your home, especially wood-look tiles offering warm colors, white star hexagon tiles paired with red walls, 800×800 smoky-veined tiles complementing the green of the Christmas tree…
Explore more colorful, warm, and trendy Christmas wood-look tile models.
