20+ Minimalist Holiday Decorating Ideas
In an era of decorating maximalism, it’s easy to get carried away during the holidays.
But if it all feels like too much when the season is also full with holiday shopping, parties and baking, you can turn down the visual volume. These minimalist rooms prove you can still pack a lot of festive impact with a quieter, pared-down look. Scroll down for 20+ minimalist holiday decorating ideas!
Adding holiday spirit to a child’s room for the holidays doesn’t have to be elaborate. In this nursery, designer Sabrina Albanese sprinkles a real tabletop tree with white lights and gold ornaments, and adds a witty touch by placing a wreath around the neck of a toy giraffe.
In this Toronto living room, Sabrina snagged a few ornaments from the three and places them on a tray to give a fresh floral arrangement some subtle holiday flavour.
Create a modern garland using a raffia wired ribbon bows to affix loose cedar boughs to a railing, for a fresh take on holiday greenery.
For a naturalistic look, decorate with mix of seasonal greenery, pampas grass and dried hydrangeas from the garden.
In this Prince Edward County home, Christine Flynn gravitates towards a natural materials. The mantel is dressed with Scotch pine and eucalyptus boughs for fragrance, dried baby’s breath and pampas grass for texture, and some gold ornaments for sparkle.
A nature-inspired holiday tree celebrates a subtle, mellow palette of coppery ornaments. Christine Flynn skips the star and tops the tree with feathery dried florals, then layers in some glitz by simply draping gold tinsel over the ends of tree branches.
In this newly built barn on the West Coast, a white palette makes fresh greenery pop. Fresh green boughs add life and a fresh fragrance to the rustic space.
In the kitchen area, a merry Christmas sign and and tiny tabletop tree (left bare and potted in a wicker basket) are subtle and easy-care seasonal reminders.
Reusable bags and vintage pillow shams make eco friendly holiday wrap.
Making the kitchen feel more festive is as easy as hanging a mini boxwood wreath on the range hood.
A deep window sill provides a stage for a collection of bottlebrush trees and mini cardboard houses dusted with glitter.
On the front porch of this home, the tree is hung with a strand of white lights and the branches are left otherwise bare for a naturalistic look. A garland of feathery boxwood and scotch pine boughs are casually draped over the window.
In this mountainside bungalow in Lion’s Bay, B.C., holiday decorations take their cue from pints outside. A Scotch pine is set in a large basket and simple ornaments.
Felt mushrooms make cute table toppers, and the whitewashed chimney breast is left bare: the stockings are hung on a nearby table instead.
An outdoorsy vignette of cedar branches sets off a pair of vintage skis and antique blanket box.
Natural textures reign supreme when it comes to Matthew and Rick Bettencourt’s holiday decorating. Hand-carved Christmas trees in wood and marble are festive on the vintage coffee table in their rustic cabin living room.
In the front entry, a locally sourced antique table displays an ever-changing vignette of antique treasures and neutral holiday decorations.
The decorating is subtle and simple in this rustic farmhouse. “With all that pine and cedar just outside our door, I bring the forest in,” says designer Sydney Carlaw of Purity Design. A Christmas tree decorated with twinkly lights and simple ornaments takes centre stage in her living room. Birch bark paper stars reflect the woodsy setting outside.
A grapevine wreath on this dining room mantel creates a natural focal point. The upside-down bouquets are being dried to display around the house.
Bare trees are sprinkled throughout the farmhouse, and spruce, cedar and juniper boughs and swags are natural — and fragrant — festive touches.
Designer Ami McKay brought her signature less-is-more magic to the forefront with natural holiday decor in this Vancouver home. A blue door adds an elegant but beachy vibe while tall birch logs bring a subtle touch of holiday.
Accent the beauty of a tree with naturalistic ornaments that would typically be found on a tree: snow-dusted pinecones, garlands of birch branch off-cuts and faux pears. A simple basket stands in for a tree skirt, and gifts are wrapped in kraft paper, reusable fabric and pom-pom ribbons.
Ditch the big poinsettia in a pot in favor of a deconstructed arrangement on the holiday table. For her clients in Kitsilano, B.C., Ami buys a bunch of greens and ranunculus, and divides them into small containers. “I wanted warmth with contrast, and also deep color to reflect the black tones in the kitchen,” she says.
Small evergreen trees in terracotta and stone pots and a pair of sparse mini wreaths bedeck designer Alison Milne’s (pictured) Toronto porch.
In this front entrance, a cascade of cedar boughs echoes the garlands outside and accents the rustic, raw wood furnishings.
Think of unusual ways to secure a small tree: an old fashioned butter crock does the trick. “I like to bring a bit of Christmas into the boys’ room,” says Shannon of the mini tree placed in a crock.
A bare tree and a bundle of cedar boughs are the definition of low-key holiday decorating. Simple baskets made from natural materials play up the texture to perfection. Fill baskets with small evergreens left bare and cut boughs for a lush yet relaxed look.