How to Transition Your Home from Christmas to Winter Decor

Dec 28th 2022

neutral living room with cozy pillows and poufs, soft rug, woven floor mats and simple furnishings

Your home sparkled during the holidays. Ornaments glistened on the tree, garland graced the mantel and candles and lights glimmered everywhere. And now that Christmas is over and the decorations have been put away, your house seems as bleak as the gray skies outside your window.

The good news is, decorating after Christmas doesn’t have to be drab. With some clever tweaks, you might even be able to keep a few special pieces around for a while longer.

Here are some suggestions to shift your home decor from Christmas to winter.

Trees

Unless you’re a true Christmas fanatic, the Christmas tree has been stored or composted. That doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t include a tree of some kind as part of your winter decor.

An undecorated potted pine tree or topiary tree can lend a winter ambience to porches, foyers and entryways.

In fact, an elegant set of topiary trees can flank an entrance no matter what the season. Come Christmas, all you have to do is add a few ornaments and bows to change them back into Christmas trees!

Tabletop Trees and Snowmen

Yes, it’s probably time to pack away the Santa decorations. But evergreen trees and snowmen? Those are still a big part of the winter landscape. There’s no reason why your tabletop tree or sweet snowman decor can’t stick around for a while longer, just like the white stuff outside your window.

A lot depends on your accent pieces. While red bows and gold ornaments are as stale as your leftover Christmas cut-out cookies, white berries and wood decor impart a serenity suited to a snowy winter woods.

You can also “branch out” into other types of tree decor for tabletops and entryways. White birch twig trees, for instance, speak winter perfectly.

birch wood and pinecone snowman

And your snowman decorations? If they aren’t trimmed with ribbons and holly, why banish them when January rolls around?

Seasonal Wreaths

There’s a difference between a Christmas wreath and a seasonal wreath. Christmas wreaths often are decorated with ornaments and big red bows. Seasonal wreaths, on the other hand, reflect a holiday or time of year - pastel flowers for spring; red, white and blue for the Fourth of July, or fall leaves in autumn.

So, unless your front door wreath is a riot of red, green and glitter, there’s a chance you can leave it up a while longer. If not, there are plenty of wreath choices that subtly suggest winter without screaming Christmas.

Frosted wreaths, for instance, are naturally attuned to the wintry weather. Use an undecorated frosted pine wreath or tuck in a few black and white ribbons. If pine still seems too Christmas-y, a wreath made of less traditional greens, like eucalyptus or hydrangea, is a lovely alternative.

A white wreath is as fresh as snow. Add ice blue, soft gray, black, white or silver accents to reflect your favorite winter color scheme. Or anticipate Valentine's Day with pink bows and mini lights!

Trade in Your Reindeer for Moose!

pearlized cream ceramic moose

Some might argue that an elegant deer can live on your fireplace mantel for a few more months. But if all you see is “Rudolph,” trade in your reindeer for an antlered animal of a different sort.

If you haven’t already noticed, moose decor is everywhere! You can find moose decorations to complement a range of home decor styles, from rustic moose in fabric and felt to modern moose decor with clean lines and finishes.

Gnomes

brown and white gnome

Often called “Christmas gnomes,” there’s not much beyond a long white beard to pigeonhole these charming little fellows into a particular holiday. Feel free to lift your spirits by scattering gnomes throughout your home! You’ll find woodland gnomes dressed in creamy whites, mossy greens and muted browns, as well as gnomes in shades of gray that blend well with farmhouse decor.

Candles & Lanterns

white candle lantern

Once the Christmas lights have been stored away, winter can seem especially dreary. But there’s no need to sit in the dark! With some subtle changes, your candles and lanterns can continue to add a warm glow to your home throughout the cold weather months.

Remove the evergreen and pine cone accents, but keep the lanterns on hearths and tabletops.

Don’t stop there! A few strategically-placed sets of micro LED lights can provide additional soft illumination. Since most are battery operated, fairy lights don’t need to be plugged into an outlet - they’ll go just about anywhere. Tuck them into a decorative vase on the dining table. Arrange them around flameless candles or lanterns for a warm glow in the hearth. Hang micro string lights from the ceiling or under your kitchen cabinets. Cluster them on a bookshelf and let a few old gold-embossed books shine. Wrap them around a hanging light fixture for a romantic touch.

Christmas is over, but winter isn’t going anywhere. With a little imagination and a few key decorations, your home decor can continue to shine right through the spring thaw!

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