Take your living room from humdrum to ho ho ho

Most people are clueless when it comes to decorating for Christmas. Put up the tree, hang some stockings by the chimney with care… But then what? You don’t need to spend a ton to completely change your family’s main living area with a Christmas makeover. Just follow my simple and cheap tips to make a big impact.

For simplicity’s sake, I started with a fairly generic blank slate. Feel free to shop the components of this room with the links below if you like what you see.

You don’t have to buy exactly what I suggest. The point is – anyone can glow-up their living room for Christmas using whatever pieces you already have, along with a few investment pieces.

Couch
Coffee table
Area rug
Framed art Landscape Geometric
Curtains
Pillows Pink lumbar Blue floral Ivory
Throw blanket
Arm chair
Cabinet
Lamp
Mirror
Vase

How to decorate for Christmas on a budget

• Put throw pillow covers over your existing throw pillows! They’re cheaper than buying a whole new pillow and they are easier to store because they take up less room.

• Switch out your wall art for something more within the holiday theme. Just because you hung family pics or art on your wall two years ago doesn’t mean you can’t take it down and switch it out temporarily for something else. Bonus if you can reuse the existing nails you have in the wall, but if not, I highly recommend these easy-to-install and easy-to-remove nail hooks.

• Dress up wall mirrors by putting a wreath over top. This instantly makes your room look fancy. Just loop a ribbon through the wreath and secure it to the back of your mirror with a thumb tack or heavy-duty tape (depending how heavy your wreath is).

• Spruce up your windows with curtain twinkle lights that go underneath your existing sheer or semi-transparent curtains (the cool effect of the lights showing through won’t work with blackout curtains). Or secure garland over your window.

• Add in a few new pieces, like a plaid print ottoman, a centerpiece made with greens, candles and whatever family heirlooms you have. I’m loving these retro ceramic trees that are making a comeback.

• You can never have too many cozy blankets in your room! Store extras in a decorative basket.

Traditional Christmas interior design

This room is for the more traditional designer. I made some simple swaps to achieve this cozy and welcoming design:

• New pillow cases will fit over existing pillows

• Swap in a new plaid throw blanket

• A festive ottoman for the armchair

• Move the cabinet to act as a side table for the couch

• Move the mirror to above the couch and add an evergreen swag over top

• Add a strand of evergreen garland over the window

• A poinsettia plant to the cabinet

• Festive, traditional artwork

• A simple set of lantern candle holders

Pillow cases Navy velvet Red plaid White plaid
Throw blanket
Swag
Garland
Lanterns
Ottoman
Framed art Sleigh Ride Under the Mistletoe
Stockings

Modern hygge Christmas interior design

What is hygge? It’s a Danish word that harkens to a very cozy and contented vibe. This room doesn’t scream “CHRISTMAS!” but it still festive in a low-key way that makes you want to snuggle up and take a 2-month nap. Here are the simple swaps:

• New pillow cases will fit over existing pillows

• Swap in a new extra-cozy throw

• A simple ottoman for the armchair

• Move the cabinet to act as a side table for the couch

• Put a wreath over the mirror

• Add twinkle light curtains

• A new green glass vase with a sprig of evergreen

• A gallery wall

• A simple set of candlesticks surrounded by greens

Pillow cases Green plaid lumbar Deep teal Orange plaid
Throw blanket
Wreath
Garland
Twinkle lights curtain
Candlesticks
Ottoman
Framed art Misty Deer Bookplate Floral Deer head Snowy landscape
Vase
Stockings

There you have it! Anyone – especially you – can create a beautiful Christmas wonderland in your very own living room.