Easy & Elegant Christmas Decor Ideas for the Living Room
If you’re looking for Christmas decorating inspiration for your living room, keep reading to learn simple ideas you can use! These Christmas living room decor ideas are easy to implement, budget-friendly, as well as elegant at the same time!
Pretty (but Practical!) Ideas for Christmas Living Room Decorating
When it comes to decorating for Christmas, I don’t think any other room in the house takes center stage like the living room.
Of course, you might add decor in the kitchen or bathroom or even the bedrooms, but the living room is where most of the entertaining happens, where most of life happens.
And if you’re like me, you want the cozy Christmas vibe all over the place in the living room for the holiday season.
Today, I want to share some specific ways you can decorate in the living room, with some specific ideas.
Sometimes, I’ll see lots of posts with inspiration, but I’m not sure where to start.
I hope that today I can give you ideas for Christmas decorations – for the fireplace mantel, console tables, coffee tables, for the walls, shelves, windows, and even the little, small spaces.
And not just ideas, but easy, budget-friendly Christmas decor ideas!
Affordable Christmas Living Room Decorating Ideas You Can Actually Use
There are a lot of ways to go about decorating your living room for Christmas. And first, let me say – it’s your house! You do what you do love!
Today, I want to share some tips and hacks I’ve learned over the years and what has worked for us.
Tip: Decide Your Theme or Color Palette First
What I like to do first is to decide either on my color scheme or theme.
There were some years where I let my colors guide me; one year, I wanted more of a neutral color palette, with no red.
Another year, I wanted white and gold to lead the way.
Another year, I wanted cozy rustic theme, with more traditional Christmas colors and decor.
Another year, I wanted lots of red!
While you certainly can mix and match, I suggest thinking through the colors or the vibe or the style so you will create a cohesive look.
Tip: Tie Your Tree in With the Rest of Your Decor
I wrote a whole separate post about simple Christmas tree ideas that I’ve used. You may or may not have flexibility with your main tree.
Maybe you’re just doing one family tree (that’s how I grew up and what I did for a lot of years, too).
If that’s the case, where it’s not a themed tree but a mix and match of family ornaments and kid crafts (I LOVE those trees), you can still tie it in with your decor.
For example, one year, I wanted a cozy farmhouse feel. I didn’t have wiggle room with the tree, but I used ticking stripe ribbon as my garland, to tie the tree into the rest of the room.
As you think about how the rest of the living room will look, try to come up with ideas that will help you tie the tree to the room.
And, there’s no need to go crazy, bringing me to my next tip:
Tip: Create a Simple, Elegant Christmas Tree
If you are able to have an additional tree besides the ‘family’ tree, I’m a big fan of ‘less is more.’
Because there’s so much other decorating going on in that space, a simple or minimalist tree can enhance and supplement the room decor, rather than detract from it.
And, you don’t need a lot to make it elegant! For example, you can include:
Ribbons of gold, cream, and champagne (or color of your choice)
White and gold ornaments (or color of your choice)
A simple tree that’s elegantly decorated can be an enhancement to the rest of your decor. It can even be your statement piece without being too much, allowing you to really have some fun decorating the rest of the house.
Bonus Pro Tip: Add in 1 or 2 strands of fairy twinkle lights to the inside of the tree – it will add just enough sparkle!
Tip: Use wrapping paper as part of your decor.
There are so many gorgeous options for wrapping paper – certainly you’ll be able to find some that will fit your color palette or decor!
Rolls of stylish Christmas wrapping paper in a tall basket as well as pretty, wrapped Christmas gifts under the tree add to the living room decor!
Using wrapping paper as part of your decor is inexpensive and looks so festive! I just wrapped empty food boxes!
When you bundle wrapping paper in a tall basket, it also allows you a pretty place to store the paper!
Tip: Frame coordinating gift bags as tabletop or wall decor
In essence, you are designing a ‘gallery wall’ of coordinating Christmas gift bags to create a lovely piece of decor. You can use thrifted frames for variety, make your own, or grab some cheap ones at the dollar store!
I found these Christmas bags at Walmart a few years ago, and I still display them!
Tip: Create garland and filler from natural elements.
I love using fresh greens in my Christmas decor. This can be used to create wreaths, garlands, stems in vases and jars, and filler!
Pine cones are also another great option for free, natural filler.
The real piece that takes it over the top for me is the dried orange slices! They look so elegant and really level up decor. And they are cheap!
Tip: Layer decor to add depth, interest, and variety
You can easily layer shelves and tabletops with Christmas stems and florals, decorative accents, candles, along with store-bought wall art, free printables or even scrapbook paper. You can get thrifted frames, and create your own tabletop Christmas display!
The above display is a mix of wall art from Kirklands, a printable from my Etsy shop, and a thrifted frame with neutral scrapbook paper!
This shelf display below has lots of layers! Layers of wall art, layered behind garland!
Don’t be afraid to tastefully fill the space for a lush look. Garland on shelves is a great way to add texture and depth!
Here’s another version of this same shelf:
Tip: Make your own wall art
While it’s not necessary to change up all of your decor for Christmas, switching wall art is something I enjoy doing as well.
And there are lots of easy ways to create your own DIY Christmas wall art that is simple and inexpensive.
I love to use printables and place them in all kinds of frames DIY frames. It’s a great way to get a fresh look each holiday season without spending a lot of money.
The frames below use the reverse canvas technique (which I explain here using mini-canvas frames).
And these frames below use a square piece of common board and pretty upholstery tacks to secure the printable to the wood.
I have a poster size Christmas hanging that I love to put on my wall. These DIY poster hanger frames are easy to make and allows you to easily change out prints.
I have several Christmas prints in my Etsy shop that you can enlarge to poster size!
Below is my first version of this print, which I still love!
Tip: Use ornaments as filler
Ornaments are a very inexpensive but pretty option for decor! You can use hurricane vases, baskets, and bowls – even lanterns – to fill with ornaments, too!
I made these apothecary jars as an easy dollar store craft, which I love filling with monochromatic ornaments and bells!
Pro-Tip: Coordinate your ornaments with any faux Christmas stems or decor you use on the same table!
Tip: Use candles to create a cozy and classy atmosphere
I love to use a variety of candles in my tabletop vignettes.
You can use taper candles in candlesticks, pillar candles in chunky holders, small votive candles – even scented jar candles. Nothing creates a cozy Christmasy atmosphere like candles!
Here, I used candles in a wooden tray and also in a woven tray.
It can also be something as simple at tying a bundle of pillar candles together with a ribbon and placing on a tray.
Tip: Use a Tray to Create a Vignette for the Coffee Table
I like to create vignettes in a tray for the coffee table most years. That way, it can easily be moved off if you need to use the table.
Include items of varying heights, sizes, and textures!
Pro Tip: Drape a festive Christmas towel or napkin inside or over the edge of the tray to add warmth!
Tip: Use a dough bowl for a table centerpiece
A dough bowl is also a pretty way to include a coffee table centerpiece without taking up too much space and keeping a low profile.
I rarely will put something tall on the coffee table as it usually is in the way of the TV. Yes, we live here! lol
Below is another way you can see to use ornaments as filler!
Tip: Create vignettes by grouping items in threes
The rule of thumb with shelves, trays, built-ins, and table displays is to keep things in groups of three, even if it’s multiple groups of three. I don’t follow this as a hard, fast rule but more of a guideline.
Pro-Tip: Keep your vignettes balanced by spreading out your large and small pieces, varying your colors, and mixing textures.
Tip: Hang decor vertically
Ceilings, doorways, and lots of other places are unique places to add Christmas decor!
One year, I hung Christmas ornaments over the top of my kitchen island, near our den, and I just loved the effect of it!
You can also hang Christmas decor below the shelves for a whimsical look!
Think about other fun places to hang decor such as in doorways and over windows (more on that later!).
Tip: Have a statement piece on a mantel or shelf
A mantel is my favorite area to decorate.
For my mantel, I try to have some kind of central statement piece.
For many years, I used Christmas wall art, but I’ve even used just a mirror, for a clean, modern look. Christmas mantel decor can be a mix of your favorite holiday pieces.
Tip: Use layers of garland on a fireplace mantel
Certainly, a single piece of garland can work! But you’ll get more bang for the buck to add in multiple layers of varying garland: greenery, beads, bells, orange slices … a gorgeous mix of textures and materials.
You can also scroll up to see all of the mantel examples with layered garland.
Tip: Use cozy baskets with pillows & blankets to fill in lower areas
I love using baskets with cozy blankets and pillows. It’s another place to add throw pillows beside your couch!
I like to place them next to cozy chairs, on the bottom of the fireplace hearth, and on the bottom of tables.
And while I generally don’t prefer Christmas themed pillows on my couch and chairs, I like them a lot in floor baskets with blankets!
Tip: Include Christmas colors for pillows and blankets rather than ‘Christmas- specific’ decor.
For couches, chairs, and seating areas, I like to use a Christmas color palette more than Christmas-specific decor.
Of course, if you have a favorite Christmas-themed pillow or blanket, by all means – show it off! But not every blanket or pillow has to be explicitly ‘Christmas’.
Plaids, buffalo check, rich greens and burgundies are beautiful options for a cozy seating area!
You want your living room to be cozy and inviting, and cozying up the seating area helps to do that!
Pro Tip: Choose blankets and pillows that aren’t red, and you can leave them out for the winter! Double-duty decor!
Tip: Hang a wreath on places besides the front door
There are so many beautiful options for wreaths! Here are a few of my favorite ways to display them:
Over a mirror
From hooks:
On a vintage window:
On the walls:
One year, I removed a mirror and hung this more minimalist DIY wreath-hanging to give a Scandinavian vibe.
Tip: Use winter and Christmas scarves as part of your decor.
I love using a winter scarf, alongside interesting (and DIY) ornaments and wreaths!
Below, you can see the scarf hanging on the hook, and there’s also a winter scarf in the basket below it!
Tip: Use household items and transform them into window treatments
For some of my window decor, I just twirled ticking stripe wire ribbons, hung pine bough, and strung dried oranges together. These were items easily available to me!
For this window, I made paper bag snowflakes out of regular brown lunch bags!
I made this window treatment from leftover berry garland, greens, and painted food jars!
These were plain white ornaments that I drew fun Christmas trees onto with a paint pens and Sharpies!
Tip: Use cozy lights
You can never ever go wrong with putting lights in and around windows for Christmas. Here, I used a white light curtain and hung wreaths from the curtain rod.
Here you can see it with the lights out.
You can also use light strands on shelves, mantels, and in lanterns and vases!
You can also put battery operated candles in the window for a traditional and elegant look.
Christmas Living Room Decorating Ideas: Simple, Stylish, & Easy on the Wallet
I hope you found some ideas you can use! The most important piece of this is the Christmas spirit – enjoying your family and time together and celebrating the Reason for the season – that will make your living room your favorite place to be in this Christmas season.
If you need more inspiration, I’ve got loads!
30+ Elegant White Christmas Decor Ideas You’ve Been Dreaming Of
30 Creative Christmas Kitchen Decor Ideas (That Don’t Sacrifice Function)
50 Wonderfully Stylish Farmhouse Christmas Porches {+ Decorating Tips}
50+ Rustic Farmhouse Christmas DIY Projects
Thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!
And if you enjoyed this post, I’d be so grateful if you pinned or shared!
