How to Create a Stunning Christmas Bedroom

By Interior Designer TRACY SVENDSEN | Published on September 05, 2022 | Updated on September 20, 2025 |

Most Christmas decorating happens where guests will see it. The bedroom is the exception, and that’s what makes it the most fun! It’s where you wind down after the holiday rush and wake up on Christmas morning, so it’s the one room you can decorate entirely to your own taste.

Last year I designed a moody Christmas tree for our living room in black, white, rose gold, and silver, then used it as the starting point for a rustic Christmas bedroom: Pottery Barn bedding, pillows in olive, ochre, and cream, and antler and iron moose accents, all inspired by a snowy winter forest. I incorporated black ornaments as we have many black accents throughout our home. I was happy with the result, as it added visual weight and dimension to the tree while tying in architectural design elements like a floor-to-ceiling black fireplace surround and black interior doors. You’ll find the mood board below, with the tree in the upper right corner

Alongside it are 26 Christmas bedroom ideas, from bedding and pillows to lighting, garlands, and small accents. The styles range from classic red and green to rustic lodge and modern neutral, and the ideas work for any budget and any room size. Feature image courtesy of BHG (Brie Williams Photography).

Rustic Christmas Mood Board with My Own Christmas Tree

1. Benefits of Decorating Your Bedroom for a Merry Christmas

Decorating the bedroom pays off more than you’d expect for the effort. Textiles do most of the work. A plaid comforter, a couple of pillows, and a wreath in the window can change the feel of the whole room in an afternoon, and it all comes back off in January just as easily.

It’s also a low-risk place to try a style you’re curious about. If you’ve wondered about a moodier palette or a rustic look, a bedroom lets you test it without committing the living room. In a guest room, the same few touches say “we were expecting you” before anyone unpacks. If you’d like a simple place to start, add holiday centerpieces on the nightstands, a mini tree on the dresser, or a little fresh pine for the scent.

Designer Tip: Choose one bold pattern, repeat it, and let quiet pieces rest on top. Here, the black-and-red buffalo check on the comforter and pillows is softened by a white linen pillow with two thin red stripes, and the black-and-white woodland print on the mantel echoes the black in the check.

Farmhouse Christmas Bedroom in Sage Green 
Image courtesy of David Tsay Photography

2. Popular Christmas Bedroom Themes

There are plenty of ways to theme a Christmas bedroom. The classic red-and-green scheme is popular for a reason: it says Christmas at a glance. If you’d like something softer, try a farmhouse or French Country look, or a Scandinavian theme, which focuses on simplicity and natural elements: snowflakes, white and silver accents, and cozy textures that recall a snowy forest. Gold and white suits a more modern, elegant approach with a little glamour. Whatever theme you choose, make sure it reflects your style and brings you joy.

Gold and white also has a gentler cousin: sage green, champagne gold, and ivory. It’s the palette Courtney of Tuft & Trim used in this bedroom, where even the tree ornaments coordinate beautifully with the curtains. At the foot of the bed, a vintage Santa pillow sits on the bench with a white knit blanket, and a stoneware bowl holding antique ivory ornaments and faux pine sprigs. Faux pine garland is woven around the perimeter above the four-poster brass bed, with fresh English roses nearby. 

Designer Tip: Pull your tree ornaments from the room’s own palette. Here the sage, silver, and ivory ornaments match the curtains, so the tree looks like part of the room instead of an addition.

Romantic & Cozy Christmas Bedroom in Soft Green, Champagne Gold & Ivory
Image courtesy of Tuft & Trim Blog

3. How Can I Decorate My Bedroom for Christmas?

I recommend starting your holiday bedroom design with layers. Start with sumptuous fabrics and twinkling lights, which add a warm glow and make the room feel cozy right away. Drape the lights around your headboard, wrap them around a mirror, or hang them from the ceiling to mimic falling snowflakes.

Next, consider a small tree. Many people think a tree belongs only in the living room, but a small one in the bedroom takes the holiday spirit up a notch. Dress it with mini ornaments, garland, and a tree topper to make it memorable. Then finish with festive accents like wreaths, stockings, and holiday-themed wall art. These small touches tie the whole room together.

This country bedroom shows how much garland can do. Thick garland wraps the posts of the four-poster canopy bed and frames the head of the bed, while the bedding, a pine cone branch pattern in green and cream, sets the color story. The same greens and creams carry over to the white brick fireplace, where the wooden mantel is dressed with cream-toned garland, small wooden Christmas trees, and forest green pillar candles. Light wood flooring keeps the whole room feeling bright and natural.

Whether you plan to buy new Christmas bedding or add a few holiday touches, the rooms below show how far a little garland and a few layers can go.

Designer Tip: Wrap garland around the posts of a four-poster bed to frame the head of the bed and make it the room’s focal point.

Holiday Bedroom Ideas 
Image courtesy of Annie Selke

4. Country Cottage Christmas Bedroom

A cottage Christmas bedroom feels collected over time rather than bought in a single weekend. Start with the bed. Layer a patchwork quilt, ideally an heirloom or one with that handmade look, over warm, festive plaid. Add colorful Fair Isle knits, as soft as your favorite sweater, and a hand-knit throw at the foot of the bed for a rustic touch. Rich leather and rustic wood keep all that softness grounded.

Ornaments that feel collected, rather than perfectly matched, do the rest. Keep the palette timeless, with red and green and a few brass accents, so everything looks like it belongs together. If you’d like to start with the bed, our Christmas bedding collection has quilts, comforters, duvet covers, and sheets in festive plaids and patterns.

Country Cottage Christmas Bedroom Mood Board
Image courtesy of Pottery Barn

5.  Add Your Favorite Christmas Scent

Scent may be the fastest way to make a room feel like Christmas. Many of our childhood memories of the season begin with walking into a home that smelled of a fresh fir tree, roasted chestnuts, cinnamon, cloves, gingerbread, and peppermint. A bedroom can bring that feeling back. Clusters of evergreen branches, potpourri, candles, or a diffuser all work, and it’s easy to mix a few.

For a fully festive atmosphere, simmer water with spices and fresh fruit on the stove. If you’d like a DIY room spray, let the liquid cool, strain out the fruit and spices, and pour it into a spray bottle. Keep it in the fridge and use it within a few days, since it has no preservatives. Spritz it into the air rather than onto bedding.  Lauren of Bless’er House created a simple vintage-style Christmas table centerpiece from evergreen branches, winter berry clusters, and oranges studded with cloves. The two images below show a few of her favorite Christmas scents.

The Scent of Christmas with Evergreen Branches, Pomegranate, Cranberries & Oranges
Image courtesy of Blesser House

6.  Choose a Color Scheme

Your color scheme sets the mood before you hang a single ornament, so it’s best to choose it first. For a country Christmas bedroom, festive earthy hues like natural greens and browns feel right at home. If you prefer something quieter, stick to neutral shades, or go bold with traditional red and green. Metallics, shades of blue, and crisp whites are other good choices, and the two bedrooms below show how different they can feel.

Rachel of Shades of Blue Interiors keeps her bedroom cool and wintry in blue, white, and green. She saves the festive effort for the headboard, where a flocked garland, pinecones, and twinkling lights make the bed the room’s focal point. Amanda (@farmhouse165) takes the traditional route, and it feels warm rather than predictable because the room is full of cozy textures. Rustic trees, garland draped over the foot of the bed, and white stockings keep the red and green looking relaxed.

Designer Tip: Stick to three colors. Both rooms above keep to a simple trio: blue, green, and white in one, and red, green, and white in the other, which keeps even a richly decorated bed from looking busy.

7. Layer in Plaid: Tartan, Buffalo Check and Gingham

Timeless, festive, and inviting, plaid is perfect for the holidays. It’s easy to bring holiday cheer into the bedroom with a blend of classic tartan, buffalo check, and gingham in bright holiday colors. Plaids look lovely layered, and they work well with solid colors and other patterns.

Drape plaid stockings over the end of the bed frame and add a few plaid pillows and throws. A plaid duvet cover can transform the room, evoking a quaint and cozy cabin retreat. Pattern size changes the mood: large checks like buffalo plaid feel bold and graphic, while smaller checks and gingham feel softer and more traditional. For a dynamic look when you turn down the bed, try a solid duvet with plaid sheets, and finish with faux fur or velvet pillow shams for a soft, luxe contrast.

Designer Tip: Choose classic red, green, and white plaid for a light, bright, festive feeling. Darker plaids, like the deep green and blue here, give the room a moodier, more dramatic quality.

Touches of Plaid Add Instant Christmas Cheer
Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Christmas Bedding

8. Add a Warm Glow: Twinkling Lights, Candles and Lamps

Twinkling lights can lift a Christmas bedroom to the next level, and a few strands go a long way. Mini lights look lovely along the headboard, at the foot of the bed, or wound around a small tree. For a whimsical display, hang them from the ceiling or place them in glass jars.

Candles add the soft, flickering light that makes a bedroom feel cozy and romantic. In a bedroom, flameless LED candles are a safer choice, since they mimic real candles without the risk of fire. For festive candle scents, see the scent ideas above.

Don’t forget your bedside lamps. Swap in lampshades with holiday motifs, or choose lamps with built-in color-changing LED lights for a fun, vibrant touch. Kristen Whitby of Ella Claire & Co. shows how little a snowy room needs. Her bedroom is all white, with a few natural elements like bottlebrush trees and antlers on the nightstand, and a few strands of twinkling lights add warmth.

Designer Tip: In an all-white bedroom, I recommend letting the lights supply the warmth. Their soft glow against white bedding and natural accents like bottlebrush trees and antlers keeps a snowy scheme from feeling cold.

Beautiful Modern Rustic Bedroom with Cozy Textures & Twinkling Lights
Image courtesy of Ella Claire

9. Flannel, Velvet and Holiday Prints 

A bed dressed for Christmas does more for the room than almost any other change you can make, because it’s the largest surface in the space. Look for bedding with a holiday print, such as snowflakes, reindeer, or tiny evergreens, and pair it with a soft, heavy fabric. Flannel feels cozy the moment you climb in, and velvet gives the bed a richer, more tailored look. For pillows, swap your everyday cases for holiday ones, either traditional motifs or something more playful, and let them repeat a color from the rest of your room.

10. Layer Pillows, Quilts, and Throws

Red and green are the classic Christmas colors, and pillows and throws are the easiest place to bring them in. A red or green blanket across the foot of the bed, or a few holiday pillows against the headboard, changes the whole room without a single new piece of furniture. Mix solids with plaids and prints, and vary the sizes and textures so the layers look collected rather than matched. You can carry the same colors into curtains if you want the festive look to extend beyond the bed.

Lucy of Craftberry Bush layers a bed the way I’d recommend. She starts with crisp white bedding as a clean base, drapes a rosy red quilt over it, and adds plaid blankets and a speckled white-and-brown faux fur throw at the foot of the bed. Plaid pillows in white, red, and green stacked at the head tie it together, and the white keeps all that color from feeling heavy.

Designer Tip: Start with white bedding as a clean base, then add color one layer at a time. Put the heaviest texture, like a faux fur throw, at the foot of the bed, and repeat the plaid in the pillows so the layers feel connected.

Christmas Bedroom with Layered Plaids & a Gorgeous Faux Deer Throw
Image courtesy of Craftberry Bush Blog

11. Hang Garlands and Wreaths Above the Bed and on the Doors

You don’t need a lot of decorations to make a bedroom feel like Christmas, just a few in the right places. Hang a garland, wreaths, or paper stars at eye level or higher, where they frame the room instead of crowding the furniture. A garland along the top of the headboard gives the bed a focal point, and a wreath on a door or closet makes the room feel decorated before you even walk in. Add a few small touches at a lower level, like a bowl of ornaments on the nightstand, so the room has something to look at from every height.

Designer Tip: Against dark charcoal walls, white and natural pieces stand out most. Choose a garland in a light or mixed finish, and let a single accent like a Noel bolster pillow carry the message, so the walls don’t compete with the decorations.

Elegant Christmas Bedroom
Image courtesy of BHG (Julie Soefer Photography)

12. Make Room For a Christmas Tree, Big or Small

A tree makes a bedroom feel more like Christmas than almost anything else you can add, and it doesn’t have to be full-size. If you have a corner to spare, a slim tree beside the dresser or window works well. If you don’t, a small tabletop tree on a nightstand or dresser gives you the same effect, and the same Christmas tree decorating ideas apply at any size. A few wrapped gifts underneath, or stacked on a bench at the foot of the bed, add color and pattern and make the corner look finished.

Designer Tip: In a bedroom, keep the tree lights warm white and the ornaments to two or three colors from your bedding. A tree that matches the bed looks planned, and one in a different palette looks like a separate project.

Wreaths and Stars Add Instant Christmas Cheer 
Images courtesy of Pottery Barn

13. Style the Nightstand and Dresser with Small Seasonal Arrangements

The arrangements you’d put on a dining table work just as well on a nightstand or dresser, only smaller. A few stems of florals, evergreen or cedar branches, eucalyptus, and berries in a bowl or vase are enough, leaving room for a lamp and a book. It’s also an easy way to bring in a favorite flower, since a small bunch goes a long way.

Lucy of Craftberry Bush has four ideas worth borrowing. Her tulip arrangement in a blue and white bowl is a good one if you’ve never arranged flowers, because a grid of tape across the top holds the stems where you put them, and red and white tulips with berries and cedar keep it cheerful. Her tapered white vase of red roses, cedar eucalyptus, and berries looks more formal, and two miniature wrapped gifts with navy satin bows beside it make it look styled.

Designer Tip: Lean a piece of seasonal artwork against the wall behind a dresser, then set a floral arrangement, a few miniature wrapped gifts, or a bowl or glass jar filled with ornaments in front of it. Vary the heights so the arrangement looks layered.

For a bolder look, she puts eucalyptus, white magnolias, and red berry branches in a tall black vase, with a bowl of pomegranates at the base. The magnolias are faux, but the contrast of black, red, white, and green, and the added height, make it look real. Her low wooden bowl of moss, amber votives, tea lights, pine, and pinecones is the one I’d choose for a cabin, because it looks like something you’d find on the forest floor.

14. Frame the Windows with Garland, Ribbon and Wreaths

A window is one of the nicest places to decorate, because the frame is already there and the light does half the work. A garland of pine, fir, or cedar draped around it softens the edges, and a wreath hanging in the glass makes it feel like a Christmas card from outside and in. Red velvet ribbon makes it feel finished, and a few tucked-in pinecones add texture. A string of fairy lights woven through the greenery makes the whole thing glow in the evening.

A big bay window can handle the full treatment. Run the garland from the floor to the top and let it drop down on either side, with a large wreath in the center and a smaller one on each narrower window. For a standard bedroom window, a single wreath hung from a length of red ribbon is enough, and it picks up the red in your quilt and pillows without any extra effort. Removable hooks hold everything up without marking the frame.

Designer Tip: Match the wreath size to the window size, with one large wreath for a big center pane and smaller ones for the narrow windows on either side. Then repeat the red from your bedding in the ribbon, so the windows and the bed look like part of the same plan.

Hang Wreaths from Holiday Ribbon
Image courtesy of Pottery Barn 

15. Hang Christmas Stockings at the End of the Bed

Stockings at the end of the bed are a Christmas morning tradition, and they make a bedroom look ready for the day. Pick ones that suit your room rather than the holiday aisle, and in a cabin or farmhouse bedroom, rustic Christmas stockings in natural textures look right at home. Matching them to your bed linens or a color you’ve already used makes them look planned, and a name, an initial, or a small bow or bell makes them personal.

Love Grows Wild shows how quiet this can look. The room is a farmhouse bedroom with a peaked ceiling and white paneled walls, dressed in layers of white linen, a ruffled bed skirt, and an oatmeal wool throw. Two charcoal-and-white Nordic knit stockings at the foot of the iron bed are the only Christmas touch, and the weathered letters on the wall spelling PEACE do the rest.

Designer Tip: In a neutral, traditional bedroom, keep the Christmas palette neutral too. Charcoal, white, and oatmeal let the holiday decorations blend into the room, keeping the rustic feel.

Christmas Bedroom Ideas: Cozy Farmhouse Bedroom with Nordic Stockings
Image courtesy of Love Grows Wild Blog

16. Style the Ledge Above the Bed Like a Mantel

If your headboard has a ledge wide enough to use, treat it like a fireplace mantel. Start with an evergreen garland across the front, then add bows and a strand of beaded wood garland for texture. From there, set out candlesticks, a seasonal sign, miniature wrapped gifts, a small mirror, and a few potted pines. Keep the candles unlit or flameless, since you’ll be sleeping right under them. Museum putty under the pieces holds everything in place if you worry about something falling overnight.

A country bedroom from one of my favorite examples gets it just right. A vintage North Pole sign leans against a whitewashed wood headboard, flanked by antique brass candlesticks. Wood beads and orange-red bows soften the pine garland, and a miniature flocked tree in a white vase sits at each end.

Designer Tip: Build the ledge like a mantel: one focal piece in the center, matching pieces on either side, and a small tree at each end. The symmetry makes the headboard look finished, and the vintage sign and brass candlesticks give it a collected feel instead of a store-bought one.

Ledge Above the Bed
Image courtesy of BHG (Brie Williams Photography)

17. Dress the Fireplace Mantel for Christmas

A bedroom fireplace is a Christmas gift, and the mantel is the easiest place to start. Lay boughs of cedar, pine, or holly along the top, thread twinkling lights through them, and add a few of your favorite ornaments. A wreath above and stockings hanging from the mantel finish it, and a few candles give it the soft glow a fireplace should have.

This primary suite shows how well a mantel can work with the rest of the room. White walls and warm wood floors keep the backdrop simple, so the decorations stand out. A fresh greenery garland with twinkling lights runs along the mantel, and two stockings hold miniature wrapped gifts. A pair of iron moose on the bedside table gives the room a lodge feel. The garland also echoes the pine trees, birds, and red berries on the bedding across the room.

Designer Tip: Take one motif from your bedding and repeat it on the mantel, like the pine trees and red berries here. That one repeated detail connects two parts of the room, and a few iron or wood animals add the lodge character that makes it feel like a cabin.

Decorating the Fireplace Mantel
Image courtesy of Pottery Barn

18. Go All White with Poinsettias, Snowflakes and a White Tree

An all-white bedroom is one of the calmest ways to decorate for Christmas. Start with crisp white bedding, then build up soft layers of texture with a quilt, a plush garland, and a few snowflake ornaments. White poinsettias on a nightstand add a living touch, and if you have the space, a white Christmas tree strung with soft twinkling lights makes the whole room glow.

The bedroom in this photo keeps the white from feeling cold. White walls, a neutral textured rug, and a white upholstered bed form the base, while a rustic wooden bench at the foot and a bowl of pinecones add natural warmth. One nightstand features black-and-white winter scenes, and the other holds white poinsettias in a black vase. A white quilt with a patchwork wreath in red, green, and earthy tones adds just enough color.

Designer Tip: In an all-white room, add a few dark or earthy accents so the white has something to contrast with. The black vase, the wooden bench, and the colors in the quilt keep this bedroom from feeling flat, and they give your eye places to rest.

White Christmas Bedroom
Image courtesy of Pottery Barn

19. Rustic Christmas Bedroom Ideas

With extra-cozy, indulgent textures, distinctive pops of greenery, and subtle holiday touches, this warm and woodsy style is designed for savoring the season at home. Pops of festive greenery layered over mirrors for an eye-catching focal point—layer luxe linen and sumptuous velvet over festive sheets for a hint of holiday spirit.

Masculine & Rustic Christmas Bedroom
Image courtesy of Elle Decor

This masculine rustic Christmas bedroom was designed by Ken Fulk, who created a cozy Christmas guesthouse in the Montana mountains. 

Bring the outdoors in for a genuinely rustic Christmas bedroom by including pine cones, faux fur, antlers, and sherpa throws. For an Alpine Luxe feel, use a wintry mix of soft textures, tonal shades of white, and touches of shimmer and shine for a chalet-inspired look that will transform your bedroom into a snowy wonderland.

20. Farmhouse Christmas Bedroom Ideas

For a farmhouse-inspired Christmas bedroom, you can use neutral colors with a hint of green or incorporate plaid patterns. Mix in cozy textures, natural fibers, and winter botanicals.

To decorate a farmhouse Christmas bedroom, start by choosing a color scheme. Classic red, green, cozy neutrals, or icy blue and silver options are all great. Next, add textural elements like plaid blankets, wool pillows, and fluffy rugs. Drape a vintage quilt or soft knit throw over the bed for a touch of rustic charm.

For an additional country touch, consider adding some simple greenery, like pine branches or sprigs of eucalyptus. You can also incorporate natural elements like wood slices, bark-covered candles, or branches strung with lights.

Add some twinkle lights to make your farmhouse Christmas bedroom warm and inviting. String them around the headboard or over the bed for a magical touch. You can also add Christmas-themed accent pieces like a wreath on the wall, stockings on the bedposts, or a rustic wooden sign.

Finally, remember to add some holiday scents to your bedroom. Candles in scents like pine, cinnamon, or peppermint can add a festive ambiance to the space. With these simple steps, you can create a cozy and festive farmhouse Christmas bedroom that will make you feel at home.

Christmas Bedroom Designed by Liz Marie
Image courtesy of Liz Marie

25. Kids’ Christmas Bedroom Ideas

Give their space a merry makeover with festive prints on everything from bedding to PJs. Your kids are guaranteed to get excited when you can spread the love to unexpected places like the kids’ bedrooms.

Decorating a kid’s room for Christmas can be a fun and exciting project that the whole family can get involved in. Start by choosing a theme for the room, such as a winter wonderland or Santa’s workshop. Then, hang festive decorations around the room, like twinkle lights, garlands, and ornaments.

Consider adding a Christmas tree to the natural or artificial space, decorated with colorful lights and playful ornaments. Add cozy touches to the room, like plush blankets and holiday-themed pillows.

You can also incorporate festive bedding like red and green sheets or a cozy Christmas-themed duvet cover. Finally, consider adding fun DIY decorations, like paper snowflakes or homemade ornaments, to make the room feel unique and personalized. With some creativity and holiday cheer, you can transform any kid’s room into a festive and magical space for the holidays.

Here are a few more exciting ideas for how to get spirited this holiday season:

Tape Wrapping Paper to the Front of Their Bedroom Door

The door is the first thing a child sees before heading into the bedroom – so why not make it look like an oversized present?

Start the countdown with an Advent Calendar

Twenty-four days of anticipation can seem like an eternity for a child. Help them by purchasing or creating a fun Advent calendar for their bedroom.

Add Festive Garland

Holiday garland adds a festive touch to any room they’re hung, including a child’s bedroom. Purchase them online or make them yourself by sewing together pom-poms or oversized tassels.

Add a Mini Christmas Tree

Let the kids call the shots on this tree, everything from design to decorating. They’ll love giving their input for Christmas tree decorations.

26. How to Decorate a Bedroom for Christmas on a Budget

If you want to decorate your bedroom for Christmas without breaking the bank, there are plenty of ways to add festive touches without spending much money. Here are some budget-friendly decorating ideas to get you started:

Use string lights: String lights are a great way to add holiday cheer to your bedroom. You can drape them around your bed frame, hang them from the ceiling, or even wrap them around a mirror or artwork.

Add some greenery: Fresh or faux foliage can add a holiday charm to your bedroom. You can add a garland to your headboard, hang a wreath on the wall, or place a small Christmas tree in the corner.

Swap out your bedding: Switch your regular bedding for something more festive. Look for holiday-themed sheets, comforters, or pillowcases to give your bedroom a cozy feel.

DIY decorations: Get creative and make your decorations! You can create a garland from paper snowflakes, make a wreath out of pinecones, or even create your Christmas stockings.

Use holiday-themed decor: Look for inexpensive decor at your local dollar store or discount retailer. You can find everything from holiday-themed candles to festive throw pillows to add holiday cheer to your bedroom.

Christmas Bedroom Ideas: Conclusion

Transforming your bedroom into a winter wonderland is a delightful way to embrace the holiday spirit and create a cozy and festive retreat. Whether you choose a traditional red and green theme or something more unique, the key is to let your creativity and personal style shine through.

From twinkle lights and Christmas trees to festive bedding and unique decor ideas, there are endless possibilities to make your bedroom feel like a magical holiday escape. Just remember to prioritize safety and enjoy the process of turning your bedroom into a Christmas wonderland.

So let the holiday spirit take over, and create a space that will fill your heart with warmth, joy, and the magic of Christmas.

Pins Optimized for Pinterest

View Recent Posts