10 Little Festive Touches for a Merry Home

By Katherine | November 20, 2025

10 festive touches to add to your Christmas decorating repertoire that make your home feel more merry and bright!

Katherine's Grand Botanical Christmas living room

Little festive touches to add to your Christmas decor to make your home more merry!

Ok, you've decorated your Christmas tree and mantel for the holidays, but why stop there? Now it's time to add little festive touches of Christmas cheer in unexpected places to make your home feel even more merry!

While I definitely think you should spend the bulk of your time, energy, and money on the tree and mantel, extra little sprinkles of Christmas decor spread throughout your home will help tie your decorations together and create a more magical feel in your home. Yes, bows on anything that will stand still are a good idea as well as some sprigs of evergreen, but let's get more creative.

Here are 10 ideas for little festive touches you can add to your Christmas decor:

Festive touches to add to your Christmas decorating that make your house feel more merry! Katherine adjusts a magnolia wreath hung over her botanical gallery wall.

No. 1 Hang a Wreath Over a Gallery Wall

Give your gallery wall a touch of Christmas cheer with a beautiful wreath hung on top. Here I used a gorgeous faux magnolia wreath with dried orange slices and a bow hanger.

No. 2 Replace Throw Blankets with Christmas Plaid Woolies

This is an oldie but a goodie! Just swapping out your throw blankets for the season can have a big impact. I love these vintage plaid wool ones from Pendleton and Woolrich. Such an easy find on eBay!

Magnolia wreath with blooms and dried orange slices hung over botanical art gallery wall with bow

No. 3 Decorate a Swag with a Special Collection of Ornaments

Got extra ornaments? Display a special collection of them on a garland or swag draped across a painting, shelf, or door way. 12 Days of Christmas needlepoint stocking ornaments available here. Embroidered set here.

No. 4 Arrange Christmas Florals in Vases

Tim to swap out those floral arrangements for some pretty winter botanicals. I love to use a mix of pine, magnolia, cedar, berries, and amaryllis in mine. These Old Pairs urns are available in the shop!

No. 5 Fill a Bowl with Vintage Baubles

Vintage baubles from Shiny Brite or Germany look amazing filling a pretty antique bowl. They bring some festive color to a tabletop!

Festive touches: Evergreen swag with needlepoint ornaments hung over portrait and sideboard decorated with Chinese and French porcelains holding Christmas florals and ornaments

Vintage needlepoint 12 days of Christmas ornaments hung on evergreen magnolia swag above portrait

Sideboard with portrait decorated for Christmas

Amaryllis, pine, cedar arranged in Old Paris urn

Festive touches like Christmas themed pillows and books add cheer to your home during the holidays

No. 6 Add Chic Christmas Needlepoint Pillows

I do love needlepoint pillows year round, but during the holidays its so cheery to bring out a few Christmas themed ones with sassy sayings or holiday motifs. Shop this Merry & Bright pillow here and this vintage Santa here!

No. 7 Bring Out Christmas Books

This is one of my favorite subtle Christmas decorating touches! Add your kids' Christmas books near the tree for some lovely family time around the tree. Then swap your regular coffee table books for those showcasing holiday decor and Christmas history. My favorites are this one from Southern Living; these vintage LIFE books, and I have a gorgeous set of Charles Dickens leather bound books in the shop!

grand-botanical-christmas-tree-details-6

No. 8 Add An Evergreen Swag to Your Bookcase/China Cabinet/Hutch

Give that shelving a bit of pizzazz with a beautiful swag or garland draped across the top. Add some winter florals and pretty ribbon to really show it off.

No. 9 Sprinkle Winter Florals On the Shelves

Continue that evergreen and those florals on the shelves with little touches here and there. I tucked amaryllis blooms and cedar in between my china and silver on this set of shelves. You could also twirl ribbon, add some festive ornaments, or swoop battery operated twinkle lights.

No. 10 Display Holiday China & Tableware

On those shelves swap out some of your china for festive motif pieces that coordinate with your Christmas decorating. If you have a specific holiday pattern use that or use a pattern that works with your color scheme.