Christmas Decorating Guide: Trees, Home & Outdoor
We love getting creative with unique decorating ideas year-round, but the holidays are especially fun. Not sure where to start? Get in the holiday spirit with Belk. In this Christmas decorating guide, you’ll find festive décor ideas the whole family will love, from trees and ornaments to figurines and festive lighting. When you're ready to start decorating for the holidays, find all the pieces you need in our Christmas shop.
Holiday cheer starts here. Whether you’re getting ready to deck the halls or stocking up on Christmas décor for next year, Belk has all the indoor and outdoor decorations you need to brighten up your home this holiday season. Keep reading this Christmas décor guide—we’ll cover everything you need to know, from the most popular Christmas decorations to pro tips on holiday prep.
Christmas Trees & Décor
There’s no Christmas décor more essential than a Christmas tree. They’re traditional backdrops for treasured holiday memories filled with love, laughter and gift-giving. Many families set up just one tree in their main living area, but if you have extra living space, you can set up multiple Christmas trees throughout your home for that cozy feeling in every room.
We know there’s something magical about a potted or fresh-cut Christmas tree, but if you don’t want to deal with the hassle and mess of a natural tree, artificial ones are just as festive. Reuse them year after year for a perfectly shaped and decorated look. If you don’t have the space for a full-size tree, choose from a variety of tabletop and mini Christmas trees to get the bright and merry look and feel of larger trees without taking up floor space. Explore Belk’s selection of Christmas trees to find one that works for your home.
The look isn’t complete without your Christmas tree décor. From twinkling lights and ornaments to tree toppers and skirts, there are so many ways to spruce up your Christmas tree. In this Christmas tree decorating guide, we’ll cover some of the most popular décor.
Christmas Lights
Unlit Christmas trees are beautiful on their own, but wrapping Christmas lights around the branches adds a warm, cozy glow that makes things all the more festive. Hanging Christmas lights on your tree is one of the easiest (and most impactful) ways to decorate your tree for a classic, homey look. Whether you prefer traditional multi-color lighting or you love the look of modern, twinkling white lights on your tree, Belk has plenty of Christmas lighting options to fit your style.
Christmas Ornaments
We always recommend dressing up a Christmas tree with bright, eye-catching Christmas ornaments. Whether you find a classic matching ornament set of colorful baubles or pick out each of your ornaments separately for a unique mismatched look, hanging an array of ornaments adds color and life to your holiday tree. Christmas ornaments make great gifts for loved ones, so you may have some sentimental ones to display.
Explore Belk’s Christmas ornaments for a wide variety of options. We’ve got everything from ornate glass Christmas ornaments to classic shatterproof ball sets and unique figurine ornaments in various sizes, shapes and colors. Hang ornaments around your entire tree, leaving equal amounts of space between them for a professionally decorated look.
Christmas Tree Toppers
Whatever kind of tree you choose, don’t forget to top it off with a stylish Christmas tree topper. These decorative ornaments sit at the top of your Christmas tree, completing the look and sometimes serving a symbolic purpose. Need Christmas tree topper décor ideas? You really can’t go wrong with a classic angel, bow, snowflake or star shape. Want something a little more unique? Belk has plenty of Christmas tree toppers to match your holiday décor style and personality. Check out a range of both lit and unlit Christmas tree topper decorations, from iridescent icicles to beloved film character figurines and multicolor waterfall lights.
Christmas Garlands & Ribbon
If you just can’t get enough Christmas tree décor, you’ll love the traditional, dimensional look that Christmas garlands and ribbon bring to your tree. Branches looking a little sparse? Incorporate some colorful Christmas ribbon to make your tree look fuller while adding texture and visual interest. Start at the top of the tree and work your way down, wrapping one strand of ribbon around each branch and gently tucking it into the crevices.
If you want to use Christmas ribbon decorations a little more sparingly, try forming a thin roll of ribbon into small, delicate bows to strategically place within the branches. Christmas garland decorations look just as festive when they’re draped around your tree—especially when they’re bursting with bright, vibrant color or covered in jingle bells, pine cones or artificial berries.
Christmas Tree Collars & Skirts
Your Christmas tree is hardly complete without a tree collar or skirt. These pieces make beautiful backdrops for Christmas gifts while covering up tree bases and stray lighting wires.
Wondering about the difference between Christmas skirts and collars? A tree skirt is a traditional, decorative piece of fabric that’s draped around the base of the tree, while a Christmas tree collar sits upright around the tree base and brings a more modern, streamlined look. From rustic, handcrafted tree box collars to embellished tree skirts in cheery holiday patterns, Belk has styles that coordinate with your other tree décor for the perfect finishing touch.
Christmas Home Decorations
Christmas decorating is all about the details, and our Christmas décor guide is here to inspire. Whether you always stick to a theme or let your inner maximalist shine, the best décor style comes from choosing pieces that bring you joy. Candles across the mantel. A Christmas wreath on the front door. A garland around the staircase. Celebrate the magic of the holiday season with Christmas home decorations that meld perfectly with your style.
When picking out pieces, consider timeless Christmas home decorations you’ll continue to use for years to come. From eye-catching tablescape decorations to traditional stockings and whimsical wall art, Belk’s Christmas décor will help you bring some Christmas cheer to every room in your home.
Christmas Greenery
When you’re decking the halls of your home this holiday season, don’t skip out on the Christmas greenery. It’s easy to add some cheer in every room with festive green foliage, and you’ll find Christmas greenery decorations in endless colors and shapes. Fluffy pine needle garlands, wreaths and teardrop swag pieces add holiday cheer to otherwise neutral walls, tables and fireplace mantels. Poinsettias, colorful berries, shining ornaments, pinecones and elegant ribbons make tasteful, eye-catching wintery additions to lush green arrangements.
Connect a few warmly lit garlands to wrap around your stair railings, or set an evergreen bough on your mantel as a natural accent piece. For a traditional touch, hang a lighted Christmas wreath or teardrop piece on your front door to illuminate your entryway. Hang up a lighted wreath or swag arrangement wherever you want to add Christmas cheer—up on the staircase, above the fireplace or in your dining room for a vibrant glow.
Christmas Stockings
Hanging stockings is a fabulously cozy tradition. Whether you use them as festive decorations or plan to stuff them full of little presents come Christmas, Belk has Christmas stocking sets, singles and holders to match every theme. Tap into the coziness of a roaring fire and warm blankets with knit Christmas stockings in a neutral or classic red and green color scheme. Mix things up with glittery stockings. Keep things coordinated with matching family Christmas stockings. You can’t go wrong with this classic décor. Find the right stockings and holders to make your home extra festive this holiday season.
Christmas Wall Decor
From framed canvas art prints to colorful metal signs and LED lighted hanging decorations, you’ve got oh-so-many ways to fill your home with festive Christmas wall décor. Welcome your guests with cheery messages at your front entryway, or set up a wall display in your main living area featuring abstract holiday art prints and lighted accent pieces. Decorations with attached keyhole slots or loops made of ribbon or twine are easy to hang on your walls—and you can reuse them year after year to spread Christmas cheer. Find cheery Christmas wall décor and fill your home with holiday spirit.
Christmas Table and Mantel Decorations
Want to make your living space extra warm and cozy this winter? Choose elegant Christmas mantel décor for a fireplace that feels comforting and inviting. If you need Christmas mantel décor ideas, we’ve got plenty. From easy-to-use garlands to customizable stockings, Belk has the table and mantel décor you need for a cohesive, stylish look.
Whether you’re hosting an intimate Christmas Eve dinner party or setting the table for a boisterous Christmas Day brunch with the family, we have plenty of Christmas table decoration ideas to make your setup stand out. Create a beautiful backdrop for your meal with Christmas plates and holiday table settings in fun colors. Mix and match timeless graphics like holly and pine cones with classic tartan for a perfectly festive table. And don’t forget to finish things off with Christmas table decorations like adorable Santa-themed salt and pepper shakers or a mini Christmas tree centerpiece. Find all the Christmas dinnerware you could need to set a beautiful holiday tablescape at Belk.
Christmas Candles
Lighting a Christmas candle always sets a merry mood. Our premium candles fill your home with the comforting scents of the season and create a gentle glow in every room. If you need an easy way to decorate for the holidays, you can’t go wrong with Christmas candles. Choose an array of candles with festive red and green packaging, or look for cozy fragrance notes like crisp apple, clove, cinnamon and fresh pine. Themed votives, candelabras and candlesticks add a touch of elegance to your Christmas table décor. And if you love the look of flickering Christmas candles but want to avoid real flames, our realistic, remote-controlled flameless candles look just as special.
Christmas Figurines
Nutcrackers. Miniature Santas. Decorative snowmen. Nativity scenes. Christmas figurines make fun and festive additions to your home holiday décor. These miniature statues and molded figures are often displayed on mantels, dinner tables, bookshelves and kitchen counters, but there are no limits to the spaces you can fill with adorable Christmas figurine decorations. Nutcrackers play a big part in traditional holiday decorating. Whether or not you use them to crack nuts, these whimsical, decorative Christmas figurines make classic keepsakes for the family—and they’re available in various sizes, colors and unique shapes.
Outdoor Christmas Decorations
The outside of your home deserves some festive flair too, don’t you think? That’s where outdoor Christmas decorations come in. We have you covered with outdoor holiday décor ideas ranging from charming Christmas wreaths to dazzling lights. Make your house the talk of the neighborhood with fun inflatables, or add to the holiday cheer with adorable door and wall hangings. Shop our full selection of outdoor decorations to find just the thing for your lawn, front door, porch and more.
We don’t like to play favorites, but holiday lights might just be our pick for best outdoor Christmas decoration. Those twinkling bulbs and festive colors are just downright magical. Choose from a range of Christmas lighting, including classic string lights, net-style lights and even light-up outdoor figures and inflatables. Dress up the front of your house and roof, your bushes and yard in a classic soft white color scheme, or mix things up with a variety of colorful Christmas lights and other lighted decorations.
Christmas Yard Decorations
Want to make your house stand out on the block? Set up a variety of cheery Christmas yard decorations that bring joy to the whole neighborhood. Belk has all kinds of merry outdoor holiday décor for your front yard, including colorful, glittery yard stakes with traditional holiday designs and easy-assemble signs featuring festive greetings. Add a range of eye-catching décor pieces to your garden to greet guests or to add a splash of color and character to your front or back yard. If you’re hosting a holiday party, get creative with your Christmas yard decoration arrangement. Line your front walkway or driveway with cozy Christmas lanterns, light-up candy canes or adorable standing snowmen to create a path for guests to follow inside.
Christmas Inflatables
Penguins and snowmen and reindeer, oh my! There’s nothing like a festive inflatable to bring the holiday cheer, and Belk has all the adorable Christmas inflatables your yard needs. Get the neighborhood kiddos dreaming of Santa’s visit with a present-packed sleigh. Transform your tropical climate into a winter wonderland with adorable polar bears and penguins. The options are endless, and we can’t wait to see how you use our Christmas inflatable décor to dress up your yard.
Christmas Porch Trees
Christmas porch trees make a welcoming impression for all to see. If you’ve got a house with a big front porch, that means more room for décor. Greet neighbors and guests with a few clusters of mini trees to line the doorway, or set up larger pre-lit porch trees for an impressive holiday display that lights up your front entryway. In our Christmas tree decorating guide, you’ll find plenty of decorative tree add-ons to jazz them up.
If you don’t have a lot of space to work with, deck out your front porch with mini table trees. You can sit a couple directly on the ground by your front door, or place them on top of outdoor furniture. Explore decorative Christmas porch trees crafted with flocked pine, berries, decorative ornaments, ribbon accents and more.
Christmas Decoration FAQs
In this Christmas décor guide, you’ll find all the right pieces to create a memorable holiday home. But we’re not done yet—here are our answers to some of the most-asked questions about decorating for Christmas.
When should you put up Christmas decorations?
Some people start decorating for Christmas during the first week of November, or the week before Thanksgiving—but most prefer to wait until just after Thanksgiving, with this being a great time to trade out fall-forward home accents for holiday decorations. The first week of December is another popular time to decorate for those who want to start celebrating during the most festive month.
You can put your tree up any time before Christmas Day, but many of us who are wild about Christmas just can’t wait to decorate for the holidays. The timing is entirely up to you.
When should you take down Christmas decorations?
The most popular time to take down your tree and other Christmas décor is the first week of January. While some choose to take down their tinsel, trees and other holiday decorations as soon as possible after December 25th, many leave theirs up to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas that start that very day. Some believe that leaving your tree and other decorations up any longer than January 6th (or taking them down before this) brings bad luck for the New Year. Others still wait until mid to late January to put their festive pieces in storage.
If you have a natural Christmas tree, you’ll want to get rid of it before it withers and dies—but artificial trees, faux Christmas greenery and other décor items don’t have an expiration date. If your holiday decorations bring you joy, keep them up for as long as you want.
How many ornaments should I get?
Before picking up any ornament sets, measure the height of your Christmas tree and consider how much ornament coverage you want. If you prefer a minimalistic, low-coverage look—or you want to leave enough space for lots of garland, ribbon and lights—pick up anywhere between 6 and 10 average-sized ornaments per foot of Christmas tree. For the maximalists out there who love adding tons of ornaments, grab between 15 and 20 per foot.
You’ll also want to consider the width and fullness of your tree. A large, full or fluffy Christmas tree requires more ornaments than a narrow, sparse or skinny one, offering more room to layer multiple sets. Sparse trees with widely spaced branches are great for showcasing your Christmas ornaments even though they fit fewer of them. Try experimenting with different ornament sizes, amounts and arrangements and see what works best.
Whether you’re following a certain theme or letting your creativity run wild, our Christmas tree decorating guide makes transforming your space a breeze so you can spend time making those holiday memories.
