Decorating & Design
20+ Minimalist Holiday Decorating Ideas
Updated on November 21, 2024
Between last-minute shopping and baking, this is one of the busiest times of the year. If you haven’t tackled your holiday decorating yet, these minimalist rooms prove you can still pack a lot of festive impact with a pared-down look.
Scroll down for 20+ minimalist holiday decorating ideas!
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 an all-white backdrop, the pretty tree, wreaths, and branches pop and add vibrancy and life. “Evergreen boughs placed in water are long-lasting and have a festive aroma,” notes owner CeCeKrecsy, who dresses the tree simply with green ornaments and matching beads.
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.
In this nook, white painted wicker is given a fresh look with a small tree, boxwood wreaths and paperwhite bulbs.
Nature-inspired elements like this flower and foil leaves simply enhance the beauty of the tree.
Reusable bags and vintage pillow shams make eco friendly holiday wrap.
A nature-inspired holiday tree is tucked into a corner of the dining room in this rustic farmhouse in Prince Edward Country. Tasseled pampas grass tops are an easy and unexpected way to adorn the boughs.
You don’t have to look far afield to decorate the exterior of your home. The front porch in this farmhouse is decorated with a mix of seasonal greenery, pampas grass and dried hydrangeas from the garden.
In this quaint former worker’s cottage in Toronto, the tree is dressed a curated mix of green and metallic ornaments by owners Colin Baird and Chris Bell. The wrapping paper is tonal, and tied with simple ribbon.
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.
A scattering of pine cones, mini gingerbread house and loose arrangement of branches dress up a long island in the kitchen.
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.
“Since I live on the coast, I always gravitate to blues and greens if I’m adding in a color. They go great with the existing decor of my house and don’t compete too much with the natural coloring of a Christmas Tree,” says designer Kate Lester.
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.
“Every year, I say I’m going to go wild with color and more ornaments, but I always end up with some variation of this pared-back Scandi style,” says florist Alison Westlake.
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.
New pieces by small-scale makers and antiques like a sterling silver tea set fill this festive curiosity cabinet.
In this front entrance, a cascade of cedar boughs echoes the garlands outside and accents the rustic, raw wood furnishings.
Accent features like windows and an impressive hutch with feathery, live garlands.
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.
A clean, contemporary bathroom in high-contrast black and white is simply dressed up with a fresh green Scotch pine wreath, which adds subtle color and fragrance.
A spruce-tone painted accent wall and slim Scandi fireplace set a holiday tone in this Montreal rowhouse. The fireplace’s sculptural shape is a contemporary alternative to a traditional hearth.
Homeowner Sandra Smile decorated the striking windows with fresh, fuss-free greenery that suits the clean vibe of the furnishings. Circular, minimalist wreaths made of cedar, eucalyptus and olive branches are a counterpoint to the rectangular window panes.
The family who owns this West Coast home likes to keep things natural during the holidays. Evergreen boughs tied with twine and hung from cabinetry pulls add color in unexpected places.
An eye-catching starburst chandelier and walnut table play into the dining room’s mid-century modern vibe. A faux fur throw and simple white vessels filled with greenery are essential wintry accents.