The hallway is the first impression family and friends get of your home when entering – so make sure you’re giving of Christmas cheer right from the off. There are so many wonderful Christmas hallway decorating ideas to choose from, so you’re bound to find one to suit your style.
Although every room in the home can benefit from decorative Christmas ideas, the hallway is the perfect place to have a little extra fun. As it’s a transitory space, you can, for the most part, ignore practicalities and just indulge in festive flair.
Even if you’re not planning on hosting many guests this December, a joy-filled hallway will add a bonus sparkle to the everyday – and who doesn’t love that?!
Christmas hallway decorating ideas
From chic and stylish displays to party-ready foyers, we’ve curated our favourite ways to give your hallway some festive magic this Christmas.
1. Layer with festive greenery
Image credit: The White Company
There are so many places in a hallway which are just begging out to be used for Christmas decor ideas, so pick a theme and go all out.
Greenery – real or faux – is an excellent example of something which can be used in excess without overwhelming the space. Wrap garlands along the top and bottom of your bannister, adorn mirrors and picture frames and include a mini Christmas tree.
A lovey touch is to add a swag to the inside of the door – a nice nod to the wreath on the other side, but you don’t have to worry about inclement weather ruining your hard work.
2. Forget about being practical
Image credit: Rockett St George
Don’t save your most dramatic designs for your Christmas living room decor – if anything, your hallway is better at coping with elaborate displays.
While in a room where you’d be spending a lot of time, it’s impractical and, frankly, annoying, to lose a whole chair just for a Christmas decoration, in the hall you won’t have that issue.
Take an occasional or armchair and pile high with oversized paper decorations, cascading from the wall above to the floor below (double sided sticky tape does wonders – just test it on your paintwork first to prevent any unwelcome surprises in the New Year.
3. Light it up
Image credit: Lights4Fun
Staircases have so much decorating potential, with plenty of places to wrap, tie and hang decorations from. This year, add a little extra sparkle with the best Christmas lights display.
A curtain of fairy lights is an easy way to achieve an incredibly effective look – plus the result makes a magical Instagram backdrop, which is always a plus.
Attach the length under the edge of the bannister and allow the strings of lights to drape down. Nearest the bottom step, you will most likely have excess lights and can just casually pile these if you like. However, if you have kids or pets (or simply tend to trip!), then arrange on a small side table or into a glass vase for a bonus light effect.
4. Update your window ledges
Image credit: Wayfair
Many hallways include a window, either beside the front door or if a detached or end terrace, along the side of the wall. Make the most of this otherwise wasted space and treat the sill as an extra surface for decorating.
Christmas window decor ideas are having something of a moment right now, so you’ll have more inspiration to explore than you’ll know what to do with.
In a hall, go for an extra splash of fun. A window ledge in a living room or kitchen is most likely decorated in tandem with the rest of the room, so use the stand alone area of a hall to have a good play. Any display which incorporates Christmas cards works especially well, as you can add in new ones from guests as they arrive in your home.
5. Create a graphic display
Image credit: Ella James
Not every home and personality suits a traditional Christmas look. If you’ve got a cool contemporary scheme going on, you can still make this work over the festive period.
Simple displays on shelving can be made really chic, and you can even take inspo from Christmas mantel decor ideas. Stick to monochromatic pieces, but don’t be afraid for a touch of metallics, too – it is Christmas, after all! Alternative shapes and heights for a styled look.
6. Give the hall its own tree
Image credit: Garden Trading Company
Multiple Christmas trees in a home are having a serious moment right now, and you’ve still got plenty of time in the Christmas countdown to add one (or two!) to your collection.
Porches and kids rooms seem to be the most popular places for an extra tree, but we think the hallway is an under-used opportunity. It’s an ideal spot for guests to leave presents, or for you to have yours ready to gift when the recipient drops by. Plus, who wouldn’t love the joy of seeing a lit-up Christmas tree as soon as you open the front door?
7. Scent with a seasonal arrangement
Image credit: Future PLC/ Max Attenborough
A statement flower arrangement in a hallway will set the scene for festivities the moment you step through the doors. But it can also help to add seasonal fragrance, with floral aromas. Choosing a festive vase adds a further hint of decorative colour and texture.
A reflective vase will enhance the surrounding light glow of fairy lights and candles (opt for LED for safety, if left unattended).
8. Adorn the bannister with blousy blooms in a bouquet
Image credit: Future PLC/ Max Attenborough
Tie a beautiful bouquet at the bottom ion the stairs to add a wow factor. Choose large headed to create a colourful statement. blooms The use of ribbons, flowers and foliage helps to add a country touch to the staircase and surrounding hallway space. This also helps to fill the room with scent.
9. Guide the gaze up the stairs with foliage
Image credit: Future PLC/ Max Attenborough
Use a garland of foliage to dress the full length of the banister, to make every use of the vertical space for decorating.
Mix things up by hanging your stair garland at the bottom of the spindles rather than along the handrail – and if you regularly mist the foliage with water it will keep it vibrant and fresh throughout the festivities.
10. Dress a bench with simple seasonal touches
Image credit: Future PLC/ Polly Eltes
A little can go a long way in a small space, such as a hallway. A few simple decorations on a hallway bench can instantly set the scene for a warm welcome.
A display of frosted twigs in a glass bottle vase, alongside star-shaped votives and reindeer ornaments are enough to inject an instantly festive flourish to this hallway space.
11. Welcome guests with a wellness offering
Image credit: Future PLC/ Maxwell Attenborough
Invite guest in from the cold with an offering of warming natural blended tea. Served from a tray of wellness inducing scented candles it’s the perfect way to warm the hearts and souls of seasonal guests. Team alongside a decorative display of natural foliage to enhance the holistic experience.
12. Adorn a doorway with a lit up garland
Image credit: Future PLC
Embellish the door frames of the living room or dining room with a simple garland of foliage and add some copper wire lights. Hang a glittering disco ball or oversized bauble from the centre to draw the eye into the room beyond, towards the twinkling tree.
13. Layer tones to make a lasting impression
Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore
The choice of decorations doesn’t need to scream colour to be heard. You can still keep the tonal palette subtle but create an awesome awe-inspiring display.
Mix materials in the same neutral colours to create a subtle, layered interest for the look. Blend subtle taupe and white large-scale paper pom-pom balls, natural wooden cut trees and gently glazed glazed glassware.
14. Line pillar lights up the stairs
Image credit: Future PLC/ Dan Duchars
Clear your hall of clutter and line the stairs with pillar candles in jars Brave real candles or play it safe and avoid any potential fire risks by opting for LED candles. Wrap the bannister is a garland bursting with fragrant natural greenery, fairy lights and sparkly baubles.
15. Style up a cosy nook
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Brittain
Take inspiration from wintry woodlands and country copses this season. Cosy up a window seat with twinkling lights, colourful cushions and snug throws with forest elements to emulate the views beyond.
With a nod to a more refined Nordic style, this look blends neat furnishings with painted and light-toned woods, wicker and woven textures.
16. Add opulence with a touch of gold
Image credit:Future PLC/ Joanna Henderson
Don’t be afraid of a little bling! From soft, aged tones to brassy and rich bronze shades, gold adds warmth and elegance. It’s a no-brainer at Christmas, but gold can be used as an accent colour all year round to lift and finish a simple room scheme
17. Decorate with wreathes and garlands
Image credit: Future PLC/ Tim Young
Greet guests with a sparkly scene. Put on a wonderful wintery welcome in a hallway with snow-frosted wreaths, garlands and mini Christmas trees. Go for a cool, contemporary look.
Choose decorations in icy shades of grey and steel, with a hint of Scandi style. Arrange frosted sprigs all along a console table, keep the look fresh and green, and spruce up decorations made from natural materials.
18. Make a statement with paper lanterns on a bannister
Image credit: Richard Hookaway
Lace a stair garland with touches of foliage, lights and oversized paper lanterns – in gold if you want to bring opulence to proceedings. Opt for a eucalyptus garland as a modern spin on traditional holly and ivy.
19. Captivate with a characterful Christmas display
Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Bevan
Take a palette of icy whites, forest greens and woodland browns, add cosy Nordic accents and a sprinkling of Narnia for a bewitching festive scene to greet your guests come Christmas Day.
Create a pretty display by bunching a set of fairy lights into an elegant glass cloche. Add colour with a lush stair garland to provide a warm welcome and fill the space with a gorgeous woody scent.
20. Fashion a stylish display
Image credit: Mark Scott
Keep colourful throws in a simple metal unit under a display of coats, scarves and bags. Beat winter chills with a woven blanket used as a door curtain and add texture with rustic baskets.
Bring in a few Christmas touches, such as baubles hung from a peg rail, tealights and candles, mistletoe and sprigs of spruce for festive fragrance.
21. Light it up
Image credit: Tim Young
Make a Christmas display on a hallway console table to add some festive cheer to your entrance. Twinkling lights and Christmas go hand-in-hand, so try to add a bit of sparkling illumination to your hall.
Create a warm and opulent atmosphere with scented orange and cinnamon candles set alight inside burnished and bronzed lanterns. If you don’t fancy a whole string of fairy lights, place a few battery-operated tealights in glass jars and pop them on a hallway shelf.
22. Hang a sweet-smelling garland of fresh foliage and herbs
Image credit: Jan Baldwin
Line your hallway door with aromatic evergreens, such as eucalyptus, which make wonderful garlands as they release their scent when brushed past.
Use delicate herb wreaths, hung as window decorations to add further delicate fragrance. And why not throw some fairy lights into the mix to add an extra bit of Christmas sparkle?
23. Create advent bunting
Image credit: David Brittain
Craft a pocket Advent calendar and hang it from peg rails. The joy of Christmas is as much about the anticipation as the celebration itself. This is an original twist on the traditional Advent calendar. A deep green panelled wall is the perfect backdrop for a bijou buttoned chair, where you can grab a little peace and quiet.
Give a country hall a very modern twist with charcoal paint and gather the season’s deep winter palette of pine green, holly red and winter white to set the scene.
24. Adorn the bannister with simple foliage
Credit: Brent Darby Styling: Leoma Harper/Holly Phillips
A subtle garland of eucalyptus and pine cones adds a lovely and fresh festive touch to this gorgeous dark balustrade.
The owner has added an extra Christmassy touch to the garland with small paper decorations in cream, red and plum that match the surrounding colour scheme. If you are a fan of this Christmas hallway decorating idea find more tips on how to add subtle yet festive touches to a house on the owner’s blog Style the Clutter.
25. Update a mirror with a Christmas design
Image credit: Ben Anders
If you have a hallway mirror give it a festive touch with removable Christmas stickers, like in the hallway above. The mirror has been adorned with a wintery landscape made up of white trees. You can also use a chalk pen if decorating on a budget.
Complement your mirror design with a hallway tree adorned in lights and decorations.
How can I decorate my hallway for Christmas?
Use one of our many Christmas hallway decorating ideas to create the perfect scheme for your home, or mix and match to have fun! We love to include a garland running up the stairs, and you can mirror this with mini versions above pictures, mirrors and doorways. A bunch of mistletoe is a lovely retro nod, too. Layer up candles and fairy lights to create a really warm and welcoming effect. ‘There is nothing more magical at this time of year than candlelight,’ says Chrissie Rucker, OBE and Founder of The White Company. ‘I love a combination of tall and short lanterns to create a welcome entrancing and subtle warmth to a home. Lanterns and tea light holders placed on windowsills inside glow beautifully outside too!’
What should be in a small Christmas hallway?
When decorating a smaller hallway for Christmas the key is to keep a sense of space. Avoid adding extra clutter – piles of presents on the floor, for example, seem messy rather than stylish if they don’t have room to breathe. Take garlands, wreaths and decorations that bit higher of the wall or staircase to draw the gaze upwards and make the space appear larger. Similarly, strings of fairy lights can trick the room into seeming taller by being places over doorways or the top of bannisters. Play with proportion, too – mini Christmas trees will help the space seem larger by comparison.
