We get it, you want to make a wonderfully festive first impression on your guests for Christmas and there's no better place to start than the entryway. There are a host of things you can do - from simple to intricate - that will wow friends and family.
Christmas decorating ideas can be understated yet effective with a little foraging from the great outdoors. Throw in some twinkling lights, pretty ornaments, glowing candles, and draped garlands and you're on your way to creating a designer-worthy festive scene.
To make your entryway feel Christmassy, bring in natural touches like pine or eucalyptus garlands and add beautiful seasonal ribbons in deep reds, forest greens, or creamy whites to sconces, mirrors, or window frames. Drape garlands along the stair rail, over pendant lights or mirrors to create a cozy holiday look that feels organic and refined.
Pop on a little Michael or Mariah, sit back and keep scrolling to see more ideas on how to make your entryway feel more Christmassy below.
1. Harness the power of gifts
Whether you're giving or receiving them, presents always conjure the joy of Christmas. Placing presents on the floor in your entryway will certainly create an instant Christmas vibe for guests stepping through the door.
Scatter them in groups along the baseboards or get really festive and style them prettily under a twinkling Christmas tree.
2. Layer your festive accents
Create a warming Christmas welcome with layered decor and ornaments with different heights, tones and textures.
"There are countless ways to bring seasonal décor into your entryway," says Shea McGee, designer and founder of McGee & Co. "We love adding greenery with wreaths, mini trees, or winter foliage, and layering in festive accents like decorative trees, bells, or styled ornaments for an inviting holiday touch."
In the beautifully styled entryway above, the bells and red ribbon add dimension to the stair garland (as well as a nod to a traditional Christmas color, while a bowl of baubles, candles in varied heights and mini tree ornaments add a pretty variation of festive cheer to the entryway table.
3. Let your ornaments do the talking
If you don't have the time - or inclination - to go all-out this Christmas, invest in some stylish festive ornaments to add a holiday vibe.
Creating a Christmassy feel in your entryway can be as simple as that.
Top tip? Group your ornaments in twos or threes, and elevate some by popping them on a book to add visual interest.
4. Bring the outdoors in with foraged foliage
"One of my favorite ways to decorate an entryway for Christmas is by bringing the outdoors inside," says Marie Flanigan, Principal of Marie Flanigan Interiors. "Entryways are a transition point that set the tone for the home and always deserve a nod to nature. To make the move inside seamless, I love to use garlands, trees or a wreath as the focal point and then tie in the home’s Christmas color palette through the use of beautiful ribbon."
Using foraged foliage is a top tip for a number of designers and decor experts as it's economical and sustainable, as well as creating an aesthetically pleasing organic-luxe look.
"Your entrance will be the first space to greet you and your guests during the festive season, so it’s a wonderful spot for getting into the Christmas spirit and adding a few festive moments," Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director of paint brand Little Greene, adds.
"Entryways are the literal transition from outdoors to indoors, so are the perfect space for extending the beauty and atmosphere of the natural environment by bringing trailing foliage into our homes."
5. Create a staircase garland
A Christmas staircase garland is an easy way to add a Christmassy vibe to your entryway.
"We love dressing all areas of the home with festive décor, but nothing is more welcoming than a festive hallway," says Garden Trading's Guy Daltry. "When preparing your entryway for the festive season, a few things spring to mind that will help create that feel-good factor."
Guy explains: "One of the most traditional additions, and an easy way to bring instant festive cheer, is using a leafy garland peppered with little lightweight baubles that spirals up the banister of your staircase."
And, for additional sparkle, he adds suggests "draping fairy lights alongside the foliage to illuminate the way and welcome loved ones into the home".
6. Introduce a Christmas tree
Christmas trees don't have to be confined to Christmas living room decor alone - they're also a wonderful way to liven up an entryway and create a truly inviting Christmassy vibe.
You can keep your entryway Christmas tree as minimal, maximal, small or large as you like, and the same goes for your Christmas tree decorating ideas; a pared-back look will still be effective, and preferable if you're more of a Scandinavian Christmas decor ideas kind of person.
"For the exterior of your entryway (or even indoors!), place potted evergreen plants or small Christmas trees near the entrance,' says Victoria Holly, principal and founder of Victoria Holly Interiors. "You can decorate them with ornaments or ribbons for added charm."
7. Dress up a sideboard or console
Add a sprinkle of Christmas magic to a sideboard, shelf, console or entryway table for an instant holiday season update. Forage a large branch and decorate it with simple paper honeycomb baubles for a pared-back yet effective look.
A simple garland or vase of eucalyptus will work wonders but, for added depth and interest, try layering your decor with a few different items. Perhaps dot candles at varying heights around your garland, weave in some fairy lights, add in a few baubles, or lean some paper stars up against the wall.
Before you know it, you've created a veritable Christmas wonderland.
"As space is often tight in hallways, decorate existing areas, be it hanging a bunch of mistletoe above the door, creating a feature of your stairs with the addition of ivy or eucalyptus and twinkling fairly lights, or add a big bunch of greenery and winter berries to a console or side table," says Little Greene's Ruth Mottershead.
"These simple touches of foliage and white lights will create a wonderfully warm welcome."
8. Utilize floor and wall space
Pepper the floor with Christmas decorations for an super-easy way to make your entryway feel Christmassy. Choose larger paper honeycombs in different sizes and colors to add interest and dimension.
And use your wall space to hang paper stars for a thoroughly Scandinavian Christmas decor look that's timeless yet on-trend.
