Christmas Decorating Plans 2020: Festive Home Styling

Blue and green plaids with pops of red in the living room create a timeless Christmas feeling. Here are my 2020 Christmas decorating plans for the living room and the rest of the house.

I don’t usually plan every holiday detail, beyond a quick sketch in my Holiday Planner, but this year feels different. With a new house to decorate, I wanted a clear plan so I don’t feel overwhelmed or make rushed purchases.

I know it can be controversial when bloggers share Christmas ideas in early November (or earlier), but my goal is to inspire and help you plan ahead. Shopping early gives you the best chance to find the pieces you love before they sell out, and planning ahead makes decorating more relaxed and enjoyable instead of frantic.

We moved into this house last December, and at the time I simply put up our family tree in the living room and called it done. The room has evolved a lot since then, and this year I want to decorate in a way that feels thoughtful and cohesive throughout the new space.

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PB Comfort sectional in living room with wall of windows

Before I dive into the plans, I want to share a new purchase I treated myself to this season: the tree I’ve wanted for two years. It’s an investment, and I debated the size and the cost, but it arrived and I couldn’t be happier. I set it up on Halloween night and it fits the corner of our living room perfectly — full and balanced without overpowering the space.

Grande Frasier Fir Christmas Tree in living room

Grand Frasier Fir Christmas Tree | Woven Basket Tree Collar

I’ll be decorating the tree soon and sharing the full reveal later, but for now I wanted to give a sneak peek and explain how I’m planning the rest of the decor so everything feels intentional.

Christmas Decorating Plans for the Living Room

My priority was getting the living room concept nailed down so I don’t overbuy. Creating a mood board helps me visualize combinations before committing. This year I’m leaning into a classic palette: lots of greens and blues with festive pops of red, especially plaid accents. Plaid is my go-to at Christmas — it’s cozy, cheerful, and pairs beautifully with deep blues and evergreens.

Living Room Christmas Decorating Mood Board

Planned accents and pieces: brass candlesticks, cedar garland, pomegranate stems, blue stockings, stocking holders, red and green plaid ribbons, deer ornaments, mercury glass ornaments, console table with a white and brass lamp, storage boxes in assorted sizes, a red plaid frame, faux mini trees, faux fur throw, a star tree topper, the Grande Frasier Fir tree with a woven basket collar, a sectional sofa, navy and fawn pillows, a red plaid pillow cover, and a blue vintage-style rug.

I want to keep the base of the room neutral and introduce classic holiday color through layered accents. The brass and mercury glass bring a warm metallic glow, while the plaid, fur, and layered textures make the space feel cozy and inviting. I’m still waiting on a few items to arrive, and once the room is assembled I’ll post the complete reveal.

Christmas Decorating for the Rest of the House

For the rest of the house, I have a handful of ideas but plan to experiment in each room to see what feels right in the new layout. I’m finishing a kitchen makeover now, and I’ll wait until that’s complete before doing much decorating in the kitchen so the final look complements the new finishes.

Other planned touches: faux trees in smaller spaces, plaid dinner plates, seasonal plates and gold flatware for the table, floral curtains in select rooms, a flocked mountain pine tree in the girls’ room, gold ornaments, a brass tree collar, cozy rugs, and soft blush and gray accents where appropriate.

I’m especially excited to start a new tradition: a full-size tree in the girls’ room decorated in blush tones. They’ll be thrilled when the box of blush ornaments arrives — I’ll use the flocked tree from our previous home to create a sweet, girly holiday corner just for them.

My home office, which faces the front of the house, will get a small flocked tree that complements my blush-and-brass color scheme. I plan to use gold ornaments and a brass tree collar to echo the existing decor. The dining room sits across from the office, and while I haven’t decided whether to add a tree there, I will carry the plaid theme into the table settings. I’ll mix classic Lenox winter china with plaid plates for a layered, traditional table.

Overall, I hope this outline gives you a clear picture of my holiday direction this year. I’m looking forward to transforming our new home into a joyful, welcoming space for the season and sharing the process along the way.

Do you prefer an all-out holiday look or a simpler, more restrained approach to Christmas decorating?

Christmas Decorating Plans for the Living Room

Christmas Decorating for the Rest of the House

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