Looking for ways to decorate for the holidays with less stress? Use these tips for winter decor at Christmas, then leave it up long after December 26th!
I love, love, love decorating my home for every season. But I am also a busy working mama of two little girls, so I do not have time to go all out for everything. Maybe when they are grown I will make a big fuss over the 4th of July, but for now I try to “kill two birds with one stone” whenever I can.
One way I love to “kill two birds” is by decorating for Christmas with winter in mind. I think about my purchases and ask whether they would also work to leave out for the whole season.
For a few years now, my decor has reached the point where I can simply take away all the very Christmas-y pieces, and it is already decorated for winter. I do not have to touch it again until spring!
And when I am decorating for spring, I think about how it could carry over into summer. See how that works?
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A great example of Christmas decor doing double duty is my farmhouse shelves. I will probably only swap the “merry little Christmas” print (for one of my winter printables) and remove the little spool of ribbon. (And the pillow and poinsettia below it, of course.) That is it!
Everything else stays the same, and it is all set. I will take the red and green away in March and bring back the pink and turquoise.
I love sharing my winter decor ideas with you! I have made these beautiful free winter favorites printables and created a winter wonderland dining tablescape, and this hot chocolate station is a fun way to celebrate all season long! I hope these ideas help you create a home you love!
How to Use Winter Decor Ideas for Christmas
1. Display a Winter Wreath
Any greenery wreath dressed up with bells will look beautiful all winter long! I have shared an easy DIY Winter Wreath tutorial. I have also bought several evergreen wreaths and added bells for my front door and around the house. It is such a simple way to decorate for Christmas and beyond!
2. Magnolia Leaves
These are my latest obsession! I know people have been using magnolia leaves in winter and Christmas decor for years. But I have never had a magnolia tree to pick leaves from, so I finally bought a magnolia leaf wreath. I am obsessed!
Magnolia Wreath Christmas Mantel
I will leave my cathedral window and magnolia wreath up long after December 25th. I will take down the “joy” sign, the stockings and the Christmas art, and leave the rest as a simple winter mantelscape.
In my Christmas dining room below, the magnolia garland centerpiece and brass candlesticks are perfect for winter. I can swap the plaid runner and Santa plates for something more neutral, and my winter dining room decor is done!
3. Greenery Accents
I always love bringing the outdoors in. In winter, evergreen branches make a beautiful statement with a natural touch. I use a mix of real and faux greenery, and it all looks gorgeous!
Each year I cut some greenery from the yard to hang on my kitchen chandelier. I will take off the ornaments after Christmas, but leave the greenery up until February!
Tip: Stop by your local hardware store, where they sell Christmas trees. Most have a box out front with free scrap branches. I add them to my faux greenery garlands to make them look full and real. It works beautifully!
The bonus is that I can leave them up after Christmas. My fireplace mantel is a perfect example of a wintry mantel that works for both Christmas and winter. Just change the art and remove the stockings and bows after Christmas, and you have a winter mantel!
4. Winter Printables and Winter Art
Instead of choosing art that is strictly Christmas-themed, hang some winter printables instead.
I have got some FREE winter printables here just for you!
And if you are buying art for the holidays, choose something that can transition into winter too!
I love this Cedar Berries and Snow canvas art in my entrance to the living room.
And these Petite Pano Pines art pieces will hang above the bed until March!
5. Add Some Sparkle
A few years ago I bought a bunch of glittery & gold plastic ornaments. They are one thing I have used again and again, every single year.
I pile them in a tray or bowl, or tuck them into a lantern with a candle. They are perfect for New Year's Eve decor and really brighten things up when it is cold and dreary outside.
I leave the sparkly decor out all winter long. The same goes for the glittery snowflake ornaments, of which I have a few. I may add them to my DIY abstract art once I take down my “O Holy Night” sign.
6. Buffalo Check and Plaid
Honestly, I love buffalo check and plaid all year long, but they are especially fitting for Christmas and winter.
A plaid blanket just says warm and cozy. I love my buffalo check pillows and will keep them out through the winter months.
7. Use Mini Tabletop Trees for Winter Decor
I have a whole collection of tabletop trees because they are an easy, pretty inexpensive way to fill a space! In the photo above, I added plaid ribbon to the tree baskets for some holiday flair. When it is time for winter decor, I will simply remove the ribbon and we are all set!
8. A Flocked Tree
A winter wonderland can be enjoyed all winter long! You may not want to keep all your ornaments on the tree (or maybe you do, who knows), but you could certainly leave your pretty flocked Christmas tree up all winter with some gorgeous glowing lights! (Find out the best way to add lights to a tree so it glows HERE.)
9. Add Pine Cones
Usually free decor, pinecones are beautiful for Christmas and beyond. This time of year you can find them in the yard or a park, or pick them up very cheaply at the craft store!
I love piling them in a bowl with candles, ornaments or pomegranate stems!
10. Break Out the Faux Fur
In the beautiful bedroom above, Ella Claire drapes a cable knit and faux fur throw over the bed for her wintry Christmas look. I love the texture, and it will look perfect for the cold months ahead. Not to mention, it keeps everything extra warm and cozy!
I love this DIY faux fur letter tutorial from my friend Aniko at Place of My Taste. She used items from the craft store to make them. If you spelled out the word “Snow,” you could keep them up through January and February too!
11. Cotton Stems for Winter Decor
At one point I thought these cute little cotton boll stems were only for fall, but now I see them everywhere in Christmas and winter decor. They look like fluffy snow, so I think that is part of their wintry appeal.
One year I went to a holiday home tour with 18 decorated Christmas trees, and the whole kitchen was decked out with cotton stems. It was stunning! I snapped a few pics, but they do not do it justice. Hopefully you can still see how it works with Christmas and winter. So cute, right?
This was my favorite tree and favorite room on the whole home tour. This little sitting area and fireplace were right in the kitchen, next to the eat-in dining area. I just loved it!
The whole house was gorgeous, but this was the heart of the home and my favorite spot! You could definitely leave this tree up after Christmas is over.
Final Thoughts
As you can see from these photos, the big secret to adding winter decor is keeping things neutral. You will not be able to carry a bunch of red and green decor into January.
So, limit the amount of red you use when decorating. I only use red in very small doses. It is not my favorite color, but I make exceptions for it at Christmas. Keeping things neutral will cut down on what you need to change after the holidays are over!
I could probably go on forever about decorating for Christmas with winter in mind, but I will stop here! Is there anything you love to use all season long? Do tell!
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