Whether you're decorating for Christmas with the family or prepping for a lively New Year's Eve party, Winter Wonderland is a great decor theme this season. It's bright, beautiful, and best of all, easy to do! Here are interior decorating tips and ideas for a dazzlingly wintry home during the holidays.

 

Winter Wonderland Decor: Elements You'll Need

1. White and bright primary color

First thing's first: a winter theme works best with a crisp white base. White walls give the room a snowy feel while keeping the ambiance light and bright. If you're not repainting your walls just yet, no worries! You can use large visible pieces in white shades, such as upholstery on your couches, the color of your furniture, or the drapes on your window. Also consider affordable wall treatments such as contact paper or faux wainscoting.

 

2. Rustic natural elements

Wintertime interiors borrow many elements from the woodlands: spruce garlands, eucalyptus bouquets, bare wood materials, winter berries, and forest animal figures here and there. Though these rustic pieces are a must if you want a winter wonderland theme, you don't always have to fill your entire home with them. Whether you need a little or a lot depends entirely on your aesthetic.

 

 

Wall art pictured above: Personalized Family Name Color Choice Premium Canvas

 

3. String lights

Dots of light make the space feel enchanting! There are many types of string lights you can choose from. For a cozy, magical feel, go for fairy lights or rice lights, which are those tiny, grain-like bulbs with yellowish illumination. When you light them up against a garland, for example, they'll almost look like sparkles! On the other hand, if you want a more grown-up ambiance, hang bigger bulbs like globe string lights or some vintage-looking Edison string lights.

 

Winter Wonderland Decor Ideas and Examples

Take a look at these winter-themed rooms as inspiration for your White Christmas or New Year decorating.

1. "Walk in the forest" winter decor theme

Imagine a daytime stroll in the woods in early winter, when the air is crisp, the evergreens look scenic, and the smell of pine is all around you. You may even spot a bird nest or two!

Take inspiration from this beautiful scene by filling your home with winter botanicals and other naturalistic decor pieces. Spruce, pinecones, berries, twigs, flowers -- the list goes on! Arrange them in an organic way, veering away from neatly symmetrical placements and instead opting for loose casual vignettes.

 

 

Metal art pictured above: Personalized Family Tree Custom Metal Sign

 

2. Cozy-industrial holiday decor

Industrial interior design means showing the raw architectural elements of your home like metalworks, pipes, and exposed brick walls. If you love this style but want to make it cozy for the holidays, add softer decor elements. For instance, you can place lush garlands of spruce to your mantel and window frames. Dress up your living room with pretty throw pillows and blankets. Top it off with some white pillar candles for a dreamy glow.

 

 

Metal sign pictured above: Personalized "Tree Of Life" Custom Metal Sign

 

 

Blanket pictured above: Celtic Knots Design Premium Irish Fleece Blankets

 

 

Wall art pictured above: "O Holy Night" Premium Christmas Canvas

 

3. Gold and white winter wonderland theme

Want a classy and glam theme for the holidays? The gold-and-white combo never fails. Gold is the perfect tint to liven up the clean white base of a winter wonderland theme. If you want to put a twist to this timeless combo, grab some holiday decor that isn't traditionally white, such as an all-white Christmas tree or some white poinsettia garlands. Load them with gold baubles and ribbons, and voila -- a classic but standout space!

Mantelscape above by Summer Adams

 

4. Red and white holiday decor

Red is a traditional color for Christmas, but if you want something bright and fresh, try pairing red with white instead of green. You can give it more dimension by using various shades of this color, from brights like fire-engine red and candy-apple red, to moody hues like maroon and burgundy.

Wall art pictured above: "Believe" Premium Printed Canvas

 

5. Cozy cabin winter decor theme

Most anyone would enjoy a winter with loved ones in a nice wood cabin, with the fire crackling and lovely yuletide tunes playing in the background. But you don't need an actual cabin to emulate this feeling! Fill your home with rich wood elements, warm plaids, and antique family heirlooms for that winter cottage vibe.

Wall art pictured above: "Merry Christmas" Premium Canvas

 

6. "Santa's workshop" holiday decor

Spending Christmas with children? Why not make them the focus of your winter decor? Model your theme from stories of the North Pole, where Santa and his elves prepare gifts, hang out with snowmen, ride with flying reindeer, and ring magical bells. Your kids would love finding these whimsical elements all around your home. P.S. Make those gift boxes colorful and cheery!

Wall art pictured above: "Buddy The Elf" Premium Christmas Canvas 

 

7. Modern minimalist winter wonderland

"Minimalist" doesn't have to mean boring! When decorated tastefully, a minimalistic winter home will look beautiful, warm, and inviting. We have three important tips for minimalist Christmas decor: First, pare down your palette to two or three colors. Second, prioritize texture instead of visual liveliness. And third, arrange your decor with lots of breathing space around them.

Wall art pictured above: Personalized "It's So Good To Be Home" Premium Canvas

Wall art pictured above: "All Is Calm, All Is Bright" Premium Canvas

 

8. Vintage Christmas winter decor

There's a nostalgic charm to those Christmases of the '40s and '50s. Think retro Father Christmas figures, vintage Nutcracker ornaments, winter village dioramas, ceramic dolls, handcrafted angels, and willowy tinsel everywhere. If this yuletide theme gives you the warm fuzzies, grab some of these vintage decor pieces and sprinkle them throughout your home.

 

With these holiday decor ideas, we're so excited to make our home all wintry and wonderful! Which theme are you going with this year? Tell us in a comment!

If you liked the wall art and metal signs featured here, browse more on GearDen.com. We have tons of home decor pieces that can make your home feel so cozy!