Oh my gosh, I am absolutely excited to write this!!! I have had the best time adding Whimsical Charm to our home for the holidays, and can’t wait to share it all with you so that you can do the same!
If you aren’t familiar with Whimsical Charm, it’s a style I’ve come to define myself: playful, cozy, and full of personality, with layers of color, meaningful keepsakes, and a touch of unexpected delight in every corner. Think: pages from an I Spy book (but you live in them.)
My goal for Christmas this year was to bring Whimsical Charm into every corner of our home with a lot of color and happy details. I wanted the house to feel joyful, playful and a bit nostalgic– full of little surprises and absolutely whimsical.
I’m happy to say that it was pretty easy to do in the end because a lot of the pieces we already had fell into the category– things like special ornaments from when my husband and I were younger, kid crafts, red & green bits & bobs.
I layered in more color with bows, bottle brush trees, construction paper garland, dried oranges… added in some twinkly lights… little by little each space came to life.
I thought it would be helpful to break down the little pieces that added up to a very festive space so that you can bring some Whimsical Charm into your own home for the holidays, too! See below for all of the details!
Whimsical Charm For The Holidays
Start with Color (The More, the Merrier!)
Color is a great place to start bringing Whimsical Charm into your home. Instead of sticking to a strict red and green palette for Christmas, I love mixing in all the colors. Mustard yellow and pink are my go-tos.
On our tree, that means ornaments in all sorts of textures, finishes and colors living happily together. There’s no need to match perfectly– contrast is what gives the room energy and life.
Other places to add color for the holidays: pillows, stockings, stocking holders, mugs, cookie tins, candles, etc.
ALSO! And this is a bigger picture discussion. I am certain our house looks amazingly more festive because of the color I have added over the years. The blue brick by the Christmas tree, the green trim, the yellow trim, the green by the fireplace. It provides a great backdrop for the holiday touches. SO! Maybe this is your sign to start adding color to your house if you want an over the top festive Christmas at home.
Want Some Ornament & Decor Inspiration?
- I added these festive ball ornaments to our collection this year and love them so much. So charming and nostalgic. We have 3 sets to make sure each side of the tree gets a few.
- These felt candy canes look great on our tree alongside the ribbons. We have 2 sets.
- THIS ADVENT HOUSE!!! It’s perfect and it’s on major sale now that Christmas is so close. It’s sturdy enough that we plan to use it year after year.
- Want something cozy, colorful and handmade? You’ll love the stockings we have– they are handmade by women in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We mixed and matched patterns and have the following: yellow, green & red trees, snowmen (our boys are both in love with this one), trees & pom poms, and colorful floral. And there are so many other great ones available!
- An animated Santa ladder!! We got one in 2020 and it’s always so much fun to pull it out each year. And if you are feeling really festive, there are larger versions available, too!
- I love this colorful ball garland. We have several strands from 2019 and they still look brand new! This year I draped them in a Christmas tree in our oldest son’s room.
Tie Bows Everywhere (and Don’t Overthink Them)
One of my favorite details is all the ribbon tied into bows on our tree. I used ribbons in different widths and colors, all tied a little differently. Some with really long ends, some with ends that curl up.
On my tree the ribbon is velvet because that’s what I had on hand, but truly, use what you love! Satin, grosgrain, plaid, vintage ribbon scraps… it all works. I don’t have any ribbon with wire but it’s just because it intimidates me!
The charm comes from variety. Let the bows feel slightly imperfect, as if they were tied by hand (because they were!) Once you start, you’ll want to add bows everywhere… on stair rails, cabinet knobs, wreaths, even tucked into garland. Go for it!
As far as how to hang it, I just drape ours at the ends of the branches. Other people use floral wire to tie the ribbon.
Need some help Finding ribbon?
- This velvet ribbon looks perfect! It comes in several colors and sizes. It’s a good time to repeat something important: charm comes from the variety! I’d go with red, yellow, pink and light blue in a mix of 3/8″ to 1.5″ sizes. Leave the ends long when you are ready to trim them– it’ll look great!
- This pink velvet ribbon is really pretty, and this one. Gosh, you can’t go wrong with pink ribbon!
- Here’s some larger velvet ribbon that’s similar to the kind I have. I purchased mine from Anthropologie a few years ago but I never saw it in stock this year. The red, pink and dusty blue colors all look great for a whimsical Christmas.
- And oh my gosh this yellow velvet ribbon!!! A pop of yellow adds so much joy to a tree.
Let Kids Be Part of the Story
If you have kids in your life, get them involved! Kid-made ornaments and crafts don’t need to be hidden or saved for a ‘kid’ tree. They deserve center stage! And trust me, they’ll make you smile.
Our tree is filled with kid ornaments collected over the years, alongside little crafts and creations. They add color, personality, and a whole lot of heart. These are the pieces you’ll smile about years from now, and they’re what make a home feel lived-in and loved during the holidays.
Don’t Forget The Paper Chains
One of the most joyful details in our home this Christmas is a simple paper chain made from colorful construction paper, zig-zagged across the ceiling. It’s playful, nostalgic, and incredibly easy to do. And honestly, looking at these photos makes me want to add even more!
This is a great reminder that holiday decor doesn’t have to be fancy to be magical. Sometimes the simplest, most childlike ideas bring the biggest smiles and instantly make a space feel festive.
If you want to recreate the same look, I just used a regular pack of Crayola construction paper and removed the purple, brown, black and dark blue sheets. I taped each of my rings together but you could also staple them. Easy, easy!
Also, and this is important, I use this same paper chain year after year. I just drop them all into a paper bag and store them away until next year. Just don’t squish the bag and you’ll be fine!
Layer Garland with Natural Touches
I kept things classic with green garland but added whimsy through texture and detail. A full garland runs across the mantel, layered with dried orange slices strung on simple twine. We also tucked red berries and eucalyptus throughout. After that, stockings!
It was fun seeing each layer bring a bit more joy to the space. The garland looked great on its own, but once the orange slices were added it immediately looked a bit more festive.
Then the berries… you get it.
All of the little details add up!
The dried oranges add warmth and a slightly old-fashioned feel, while the berries bring in bright pops of color. It’s a mix of cozy, cheerful, and just a little bit unexpected– exactly what whimsical charm is all about.
Repeat Details Throughout the House
To make everything feel cohesive, I repeated a few elements throughout the house: bows in different rooms, pops of the same colors, and small festive moments tucked on shelves and in corners.
I’m probably a broken record at this point, but Whimsical Charm works best when it feels collected over time, not styled all at once. Add things slowly. Move pieces around. Layer, layer, layer.
The Most Important Rule: Have Fun!
JOY is at the heart of Whimsical Charm. If something makes you smile, use it! If it feels too serious or too perfect, loosen it up. Tie another bow. Add another color. Let your kids help.
Your Christmas decor doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. It just needs to feel like yours.
For me, that means a rainbow of ornaments, crooked bows, paper chains on the ceiling, and a mantel full of garland and dried oranges. What’s your whimsical Christmas look like?
