15 Modern Christmas Decorating Ideas To Swoon Over

It's time to get into the festive spirit and deck the halls! But... how do you keep it modern and fun, without your home turning into an overwhelming mess of red, green and way too much glitter? Well you've come to the right place!

Here are 15 of my favourite finds for a festive interior that still keep the chic intact. Pick one or all of these ideas to bring some holiday cheer into your home this Christmas season.

1. COLOUR IS KEY

Modern Christmas styling comes down to create a colour palette you're comfortable with, and sticking to it — if that means you want neon pink and red everywhere, go for it! Or if you're channelling your inner Scandi minimalist, you're likely looking at something more paired back like black, white and brown. Feel free to move away from the traditional red and green, but whatever you do, stick to your guns and only introduce colours that are in your colour palette. This will keep everything feeling harmonious.

2. ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS TREES

There are many reasons to forego the traditional Christmas tree this year. Clearly in Singapore it's far more sustainable to do without the real deal, but even if you thought of setting up your faux tree (yes, the one you've been dragging around for years and years and dread digging it out every time!), I'm here to tell you there are so many other, equally as effective options out there! You can hang up a simply poster and attach some lights, or create a tree out of family photos or decorative ribbon. It's unique, fun to create, and something that doesn't need to break the bank!

3. CANDLELIT SIMPLICITY

I can say with absolute certainty, candles will never go out of style. There's no cosier way to create a warm, inviting ambiance in

the home than turning the lights way down and lighting candles around the house. Now if that's not hygge then I don't know what is!

4. CREATIVE ADVENT CALENDARS

For the kids or the adults, this is a fun way to get into the holiday spirit. Make the advent calendar a focal point of your Christmas styling by hanging a unique, handmade rendition on your walls this season.

5. FESTIVE WALL ART

Why not swap out a couple of your existing posters or photos with something a little more seasonal? With places like Etsy full of playful, downloadable posters, this is a great way to have big impact on your festive interior, without investing a whole bunch of time or money. Either keep it minimal with a graphic phrase, or go all out with bold imagery and pop it into an existing photo frame and you're good to go!

6. KEEP IT MONOTONE

The tricky thing about holiday decorating is that is can often feel distracting, messy and overwhelming. If that's the case for you, why not opt for a monotone colour palette which will help you narrow down your shopping list and will always make sure everything feels tied together, without competing with the rest of your interiors.

7. LIQUID COURAGE

Whether COVID restrictions loosen or not, the Christmas season is all about being with friends and family. So surely there will be a frequently used bar in a few homes, so why not pull it out and make it part of the holiday decorating, rather than hiding it away. Having the bar visible will instantly activate holiday mode!

8. MAKE IT BOHO

Put a boho twist on your Christmas styling with sprinkles of macrame, tassels and more tactile decorations like wall hangings. Mixing foliage and flowers in will give your home more life, and can be used year after year.

9. MOODY AND BOLD

Go for darker, deeper colours this season for a more cosy approach to your styling. Deep navy blues and rich burgundy reds will make any interior feel considered without being overwhelming for the senses. When we styling our home around a festive holiday, we do it to transform the space for short period of time. Going bold and moody is sure to feel unique and special for these few weeks!

10. SUBTLE SHELFIES

Sometimes all you need is a selection of cute accessories that you can sprinkle around the home in unsuspecting nooks and crannies. A more subtle approach like this will still have big impact because you can introduce it into every room — bedroom bedside tables, bathroom shelves, entrance consoles, study bookcases, you name it.

11. TAKE IT TO THE BEDROOM

All too often, the Christmas decor is left alone in the living and dining rooms. Why not bring it into the bedroom, too? After all, it's where we spend a huge chunk of our days, so wouldn't it be nice to wake to the joy of Christmas first thing in the morning? A simple garland around your mirror or a mini tree decoration will do just the trick.

12. TASSEL MANIA

Homemade or store-bought, tassels and garlands are a lovely way to add a little festive cheer in any room. Especially fun in kids bedrooms, they can also be hung on the dining wall, over the TV console, or around the entrance mirror. It's perfect for those that enjoy moving away from the obvious and traditional styling options and are looking for a modern, simple approach to decor that still packs a punch.

13. TYPOGRAPHIC COUNTDOWN

The whole month of December is basically one long countdown, so why not make a statement out of it? This can be a simple DIY project: print out or draw large numbers on any paper size (I recommend A3 at least), and hang it up in a busy part of the home for everyone to enjoy. Decorate with string lights or a garland for the finishing touch!

14. WRAPPING WONDERLAND

We all know that feeling when the presents under the tree start to look messy and distract from the rest of the beautiful decorations. Keep the wrapping paper minimal and use decorative ribbon and tags to make the presents feel part of the your styling plan.

15. MORE IS MORE

Sometimes going overboard is exactly what might be needed! Repetition and excess might be the joyful, playful statement that your styling needs this year. The key to this will be staying very strict with your colour palette — perhaps even choosing just one colour, to make this style look intentional and not messy.

Pin this and save it for later! And did you know we have a pin board full of loads more stylish Christmas decorating ideas? It lives here.