If you love the way that upscale Christmas decor looks but you’re not sure where to begin, I’ve put together a list to get you started. After all, I am the first person I know who pulls out the Christmas decorations each year, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. And while I had some age-appropriate decorations when my kids were little, one great thing about the years passing is that I can gear my decor more toward my style. 

Forget red everything and Santas everywhere; I’m all about these 7 upscale Christmas decor items.

1. Garland

A garland is fun, festive, and so gorgeous to look at. There are just so many different ways you can use it too! If your home has stairs, you can choose an elegant garland to wrap around the banister, or you can hang it around a door frame. I hang our across our wall unit in the open plan Even a small amount of garland can add a hefty boost of Christmas cheer to a room, and you can find ones with touches of silver, gold or white for a more sophisticated look.

2. Fairy Lights

It just wouldn’t be Christmas without fairy lights, and you can string them pretty much anywhere you want. They are really fun, kids love them, and they set a festive tone faster than most other decorations. Look for lights marked as “warm” that don’t blink for a more luxurious feel. 

3. Wintery accents such as fur

We have 0 hope of a white Christmas in Malta, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get the charming feel of snow through wintery accents in our home. Think elegant snow globes, faux fur throw pillows, and decor with pine branches dusted in powdery snow. Something as simple as tossing a gorgeous wintery blanket across the back of the sofa can introduce winter textures to your home, and they’re quite handy for snuggling up under when you’re relaxing in the evening.

4. Beautiful stockings

Stockings may already be part of your Christmas decoration repertoire, but as your kids get older, you might consider upgrading any stockings that scream “toddler” to something a bit more elegant. There are some absolutely beautiful options out there. I personally think less is more here. If you want each family member to have a unique stocking, you can still choose a theme or main colour so they all look good lined up together. And don’t forget to invest in some classy stocking hooks to dangle them from – look for sturdy ones that won’t topple over once Santa stuffs the stockings!

5. Wreaths

A wreath can transform your front door, showing all who pass just how seriously you take Christmas, but there’s no reason you can’t use them on interior doors as well, such as a bathroom door, not to mention interior windows or even decorative mirrors. Wreaths made of natural materials look particularly elegant, and don’t forget you can lay them flat and use as a centrepiece as well.

6. Simple substitutes

If you’ve read even one of my previous blog posts, you’re probably aware of my intense dislike for clutter. And if you live in a small home, there just aren’t a lot of places to put a bunch of festive trinkets. But you certainly have a dining room table and maybe a kitchen one, too, and covering it in a gorgeous tablecloth is a great way to set the mood for the entire room without having more things to collect dust in there. A Christmas centrepiece can complete the look – you can even make your own by placing a bowl with some pretty metallic round baubles in it that you didn’t have room for on the tree. Other areas you can make simple substitutes include your welcome mat, bathroom towels and kitchen towels.

7. Light-up decor

At Christmastime, is there ever such a thing as too many lights? I love the look of light-up wooden houses, and kids love setting up mini villages with details like ice skaters and snowmen. But if you don’t have a place to display a quaint Christmas town, a light-up star is a simple way to bring some festive illumination to a bookshelf or corner that needs sprucing up.

I’ll be sharing my decorated home on Instagram as soon as I decorate! I am unusually late to decorate this year (in my books 😁) – I’ve just not been in Christmas decor mode yet and I’m waiting for the right moment before I jump in! Find me on Instagram by clicking here.