Decor That Delights: How to Decorate Your House for Christmas

Tis the season! Transform your home this Christmas with this simple guide to decking the halls and putting your own spin on this season’s festive trends. 

At David Jones, we believe that Christmas is a time for celebration and artistic expression, and decorating your home is the perfect way to showcase your unique style. Whether you’re a seasoned decorator looking for fresh inspiration or a newcomer eager to learn the ropes, our simple Christmas decorating guide will ensure your home radiates the warm and magical spirit of the season this year. 

The key to transforming your house into a Christmas haven is to follow a festive trend or theme.  Choosing a theme will help to guide your choice in colours, styles and even your choice of tablescaping. We suggest beginning with a simple colour scheme, such as white and gold, and then adding certain themed elements on top. 

If you love a classic Australian summertime Christmas, coastal-themed ornaments and beach-ready decor will be your go-to. For a bright and bubbly spin, look to colourful ornaments and rainbow-adorned detailing to add a splash of colour to your space. For those craving the nostalgia of Christmases gone by, look no further than traditional decorations. Or, if you’ve always dreamed of a White Christmas, lean into wanderlust with travel-inspired ornaments and decor straight from the pages of a classic novel. Christmas is a time for festive fun, so don’t be afraid to mish-mash the themes and add a few fun ornaments throughout. 

Hanging a wreath on your front door for Christmas is like extending a warm, cosy hug to everyone who comes to visit. Whether it’s a traditional evergreen wreath or one adorned with a few stylised touches, a wreath on your front door is an easy way to spread a little festive cheer to the outside world. Be sure to secure the wreath to your door firmly, especially on Christmas day when friends or family might be knocking at the door.  

Now, it’s time to find the centrepiece of your home for the festive season: a Christmas tree. To choose the right Christmas tree for your home, you first need to decide where it will sit. Some people prefer their tree to be front and centre in the living room, while others love the cosy charm of a tree in the corner or in a small space. 

Once you’ve decided on a spot for your tree, it’s time to decide which style of Christmas tree will complement the space. Will it be the classic charm of a lush evergreen tree, or perhaps the convenience and twinkle of a pre-lit tree? Whichever style you choose, don’t forget to leave space underneath for a few beautifully wrapped gifts.

Now that you have the perfect Christmas tree, it’s time to get decorating. Use your chosen theme as a guide for ornaments. For example, if you’re looking to curate a nostalgia-themed Christmas, traditional ornaments and tinsel of classic red and green are best. Or, if you’re feeling a little wanderlust this year, look for travel-inspired baubles and ornaments. Whichever trend you choose, we suggest looking for ornaments, fairy lights and tinsel of varying sizes and shapes. The more personality, the better. 

Typically, you begin decorating a tree by starting with the fairy lights, then the tinsel, followed by ornaments, and finally, the star or angel. Children will love hanging their favourite ornaments around the tree, especially if you have a few homemade ones. 

Once your Christmas tree is trimmed with nostalgia and festive cheer, it’s time to extend this magic to the rest of your home. Start by draping garlands or twinkling fairy lights along bannisters, mantels, door frames and more. Through your home, especially spaces with high foot traffic, create a few little festive scenes with your favourite ornaments. For example, make some space on your bookshelf for a snow globe or miniature tree. 

Or, if you’re looking to play host this season, wrap some tinsel or ribbon around the base of a few candles and place them throughout your home (don’t forget fire safety). Remember that with Christmas, there’s no such thing as too much cheer.

Setting the table for a Christmas feast is an art in itself, and a great excuse to stock up on new servingware, diningware and more. Curating the perfect Christmas diningware collection does take some time, so we suggest beginning with the basics that you’ll use every Christmas, plus for any special occasions throughout the year. 

Begin with a festive tablecloth or runner, or for maximum usability, a neutral-coloured tablecloth. Look for matching plates, bowls and side dishes for an effortlessly matching Christmas tablescape. When it comes to setting the table, traditionally your guests will start eating using the cutlery on the outside left and right, and then work their way inwards. Any wine glasses should sit to the top right of the dinner plate, with bread-and-butter plates to the top left. Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a few bonbons. Place one Christmas cracker per guest above their place setting, or to the left of their side plates. Any leftover crackers can be scattered through the middle of the table to add a little cheer to the festive feast. 

Now that you have all the unofficial Christmas decor set out, it’s time to add a little festive ambience to your home. One of the simplest and most effective ways to achieve this is by lighting Christmas-scented candles. Look for a delightfully festive blend of spices, evergreens, and holiday baking. The flickering light and rich aroma will instantly bring that festive spirit to your space. 

Pair your new festive home fragrance with the sound of classic Christmas carols. From “Jingle Bells” to “All I Want For Christmas,” nothing makes the festive season sweeter than a few choice tunes as the backdrop to a festive feast (except perhaps, a Christmas pudding or two).