Festive Decorating Ideas for the Holidays

Nothing makes a house feel like a home quite like a little holiday coziness. After decorating the front of the house and setting up our tree, we always enjoy adding festive touches throughout the rest of the rooms. This year felt especially exciting because it’s our first Christmas in this house, which gave me new spots to play with—like a different fireplace mantel and a staircase for the first time since we became homeowners.

For most areas I reused items we already owned, but I did buy a few inexpensive pieces for the stairs: faux garland and an evergreen sprig for a green jug. Both were on sale for about $14 total. To attach the garland to the railing I used red ribbon I’d saved from last year—one loop at the top, one in the middle, and one at the bottom—and a clear zip tie tucked under the top ribbon so everything stays put without damaging the banister.

The bench in the foyer is a HomeGoods find that we hope to recover and move to the foot of our bed someday, but for now it’s draped with a furry blanket and serves as a cozy entry accent. I was inspired by a photo I was shown from Country Living that featured garland on a stair railing with blue trim nearby. That image sparked the idea for this little holiday vignette. But my favorite new addition in the foyer is an unexpected star of the season: a silver moose.

We picked up the moose at HomeGoods back in September for about $9. John declared him Morris the Moose and immediately suggested we make him an annual fixture: “Bring Morris home and hang him every Christmas so he can live out his destiny as The Christmas Moose.” How could I say no? Clara loves the moose—he’s easily her favorite piece of holiday decor—and he adds so much personality to the entry.

Hanging Morris didn’t require making any new holes. I reused the screw that had been holding an Ikea frame on that wall, so swapping the picture for a moose each December is quick and simple. I finished his look with some leftover ribbon, pom-pom fringe, and a few small ornaments around his neck.

In the living room, the mantel includes several items we bring out year after year. Green feather trees—hand-me-downs from family—sit on the mantel beside a few faux wrapped presents. Those mock gifts are one of my favorite no-fuss tricks because they look like carefully wrapped packages without the effort. Our stockings are hung and labeled “Mommy & Daddy,” “Clara,” and “Burger.” We’re planning to expand our set next year when the family grows so each person can have their own stocking.

A special sentimental detail on the mantel is a cardboard figure of Burger, a reader-made gift from a book tour signing. He’s often perched on a present and always makes me smile.

Some readers asked where our outdoor star pendants went in this house. We finally hung them in the corner of the sunroom-turned-veranda so they’re visible from the living room sofa every evening, adding a soft glow that feels festive and calm.

The foyer console received a simple, casual treatment—leftover ribbons, a few tiny ornaments, and a homemade reindeer carved by John’s grandpa. That reindeer is full of family meaning and is a sentimental favorite we love seeing when we come down the stairs.

In the office, a leaning chalkboard got a holiday message. Clara asked for birds and snow on it, and she’s excited to help decorate a little chalk snowman at the bottom. She’s in a phase of drawing bunnies lately too, so our chalkboard might feature a friendly mix of snowmen, birds, and rabbits.

Clara and I also made a fun craft together: two snow-filled glass boxes that double as tiny winter scenes. We used glass boxes from TJ Maxx, a bag of fake snow, small trees, and a few tiny ceramic dogs meant for holiday village displays. Clara loved building little mounds of snow inside the boxes and arranging the trees and dogs. Now the boxes sit on the media cabinet, and Clara often stands close by, quietly gazing at her miniature winter worlds. She even named several of the dogs—Elmo and Gru are part of the crew.

The inevitable mess from our fake-snow crafting session was no problem—the handheld vacuum cleaned up the scattered glittering snow particles. It was messy, loud, and wonderfully fun—exactly the kind of memory I want to have with my child at the holidays.

All of these small touches—ribbons, stockings, a furry throw on the bench, and a big silver moose in the foyer—made our house feel warmer and more personal. Decorating the stairs has become one of my favorite traditions; I find myself checking on the railing throughout the day just to smile. How have you been decorating inside this year? Any small ideas or heirloom pieces that made your home feel extra special?

Psst—still in the holiday spirit? Here are nearly 40 other holiday posts from the past that we’ve enjoyed creating over the years.

Update: You can view a collection of our favorite holiday decor finds in a holiday roundup that highlights many budget-friendly pieces—lots are under $15.