Anthropologie’s holiday collections set the tone for a certain kind of Christmas decorating every year — playful, a little whimsical, and never quite matching what everyone else has on their tree.
It’s the brand people turn to when they want their home to feel festive without looking like it came from the same big-box aisle as everyone else’s. Between pearled ornaments, tartan table linens, and knitted tabletop trees, the collection leans into texture and personality over strict tradition. Whether you’re building a full holiday scheme from scratch or just adding a few standout pieces, these fifteen Anthropologie-inspired ideas will help your home feel genuinely festive this season.
1. Hang Playful Gingham Bow Ornaments
A cluster of gingham bow ornaments in mixed colors adds an unexpected pop of pattern to an otherwise traditional tree. Instead of scattering them evenly, group two or three in the same color family together for a bolder visual moment rather than a single repeated accent. They also work well pinned onto a mantel garland or tied around a curtain tieback for a bit of whimsy outside the tree itself. The playful pattern keeps the whole scheme from feeling too serious or overly polished.
2. Set the Table With Tartan Linens
Subtle tartan-patterned napkins bring a cozy, classic feel to a holiday table without committing to a full plaid tablecloth. Pair them with simple handpainted red and white plates so the pattern reads as an accent rather than overwhelming the whole table setting. Tartan works especially well folded into a simple triangle or tucked under a plate rather than elaborately styled, letting the pattern itself do the talking. This detail also transitions easily from Christmas dinner into everyday winter entertaining.
3. Add Pearled Velvet Bow Accents
A pearled velvet bow ornament brings a softer, more refined texture to the tree than typical glass or plastic baubles. The combination of velvet and small pearl beading reads as elegant rather than flashy, which makes it a good anchor piece if you’re leaning toward a more pared-back, neutral holiday scheme. Tuck a few into a white tablescape as a napkin accent instead of hanging every single one on the tree. The subtle sheen catches candlelight beautifully at a holiday dinner table.
4. Layer In a Faux-Fur Cushion
A faux-fur throw cushion in a festive pattern, like a peppermint-inspired green and white stripe, instantly warms up a sofa or accent chair for the season. The plush texture pairs especially well against smoother materials like velvet or linen, adding contrast without needing another color in the mix. Since it’s a piece you can swap in seasonally, it’s an easy way to bring in holiday personality without committing to anything permanent. Pair one bold cushion with a few simpler solid ones rather than covering the whole sofa in pattern.
5. Hang a Pearl Berry Wreath
A wreath studded with tiny pearl beads gives a front door a frosted, glowing quality that a plain evergreen wreath doesn’t have on its own. The subtle shimmer reads well even in daylight, which matters since most people see your front door well before it’s dark outside. Tuck a pillar candle into the center of a similar wreath laid flat as a table centerpiece for a second use of the same aesthetic. This detail feels elevated without leaning into anything overly sparkly or maximalist.
6. Dress the Tree With a Ruffled Skirt
A ruffled stripe tree skirt finishes the base of the tree with the same playful energy as the ornaments above it, rather than treating the skirt as an afterthought. Green and white stripes keep things classic, while a punchier pink and orange colorway works if your scheme leans more maximalist and fun. The ruffled texture adds visual interest at floor level, which is often the most neglected part of tree styling. Choosing a skirt that echoes a pattern used elsewhere in the room ties the whole space together.
7. Light a Spiced Seasonal Candle
A candle in a warm, spiced scent like cinnamon and apple does as much for a room’s holiday feel as any visual decoration, especially the moment guests walk through the door. Choosing one in a handpainted ceramic vessel means it’s still a pretty object on a shelf or mantel even after the candle itself is gone. Burning it in the kitchen or entryway, rather than a bedroom, makes the scent felt by more people throughout a gathering. It’s one of the lowest-effort, highest-impact additions on this entire list.
8. Add a Knit Tabletop Tree
A small knitted tree brings texture and a slightly whimsical, handmade feel to a coffee table, console, or mantel where a full-sized tree wouldn’t fit. Available in soft neutrals or festive pastels, it works especially well layered next to taller glass or ceramic pieces for varied height and material. Because it’s compact, it’s also an easy way to add Christmas character to a room, like a home office or guest bath, that doesn’t usually get decorated. Grouping two or three in slightly different sizes creates a mini forest effect on a single surface.
9. Display a Light-Up Holiday Village House
A single glowing miniature house, styled alone or grouped into a small village along a mantel or windowsill, adds a cozy, nostalgic touch after dark. The soft interior glow works especially well as ambient lighting once the main lights are dimmed for the evening. Mixing a few different house styles, rather than buying several of the exact same one, makes the display feel more like a collected village than a matching set. This is also one of the easiest decorations to store flat and bring back out year after year.
10. Hang Whimsical, Food-Themed Ornaments
A handful of playful ornaments shaped like everyday treats — a slice of pizza, a deviled egg, a cocktail glass — add a sense of humor to a tree that might otherwise feel a little too matchy. These conversation-starter pieces work best mixed sparingly among more traditional ornaments rather than filling an entire tree, so each one still gets noticed individually. They also make a genuinely memorable gift for a friend who loves to entertain or cook. A tree that mixes serious and playful pieces almost always feels more personal than one that’s entirely coordinated.
11. Layer Garlands, Wreaths, and String Lights
Combining a faux evergreen garland along a staircase or mantel with warm string lights woven through it creates depth that a single strand of lights alone can’t achieve. Adding a smaller wreath somewhere unexpected, like hung on a light fixture or the back of a dining chair, extends the greenery beyond the obvious spots. Sticking to warm white lights throughout keeps the whole look cohesive even as you layer multiple types of greenery together. This combination is one of the most affordable ways to make an entire room feel dressed for the holidays.
12. Coordinate Stockings for the Mantel
A set of stockings in a shared pattern or color family, rather than one for each family member in a totally different print, gives the mantel a more curated, intentional look. A ribbon-woven or gingham-bow stocking style adds texture without needing anything else on the mantel to compete for attention. Hanging them at slightly varied heights, if your mantel allows, keeps a straight row of stockings from looking too rigid. This is a detail worth investing a bit more in, since it’s one of the mantel’s biggest visual anchors.
13. Wrap Gifts With Intentional Ribbon and Paper
Coordinating your gift wrap with the rest of your holiday palette turns the pile of presents under the tree into its own decorative moment rather than an afterthought. A few solid wrapping paper colors paired with one signature ribbon style, rather than a dozen different prints, keeps the pile looking pulled together. Save any patterned paper for smaller gifts, like stocking stuffers, where a bolder print reads as playful rather than busy. This detail costs relatively little but photographs beautifully under a decorated tree.
14. Set a Gilded Holiday Table
Dinnerware and glassware with a touch of gold gilding instantly elevates a holiday table without requiring an entirely new set of dishes for the season. Layering a gilded charger under your everyday white plates, or adding a few gold-rimmed glasses, brings warmth to the table under candlelight. Keeping the rest of the table setting relatively simple lets the gilded pieces actually stand out instead of competing with too many other statement items. This approach also means the gilded pieces can be reused well beyond just Christmas dinner.
15. Add a Personal, Monogrammed Touch
A monogrammed stocking, ornament, or small gift tag adds a personal detail that makes a holiday display feel specifically like your home rather than a catalog page. This works especially well for stockings, where each family member’s initial makes it immediately clear which one belongs to whom. A monogrammed ornament also makes a thoughtful, low-cost gift for a host or a new baby’s first Christmas. Small personal touches like this tend to be what people remember most about a holiday visit, more than any single expensive piece.
Final Thoughts
None of these ideas require recreating an entire catalog spread in your own living room — pick two or three that genuinely fit how you already decorate, and let those carry the whole scheme. A pearl wreath here, a knit tabletop tree there, one great faux-fur cushion on the sofa, and the whole room starts to feel considered rather than thrown together. Start with whichever detail excites you most, add it this week, and build the rest of your holiday decorating around it from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes Anthropologie’s Christmas decor style unique?
The collection tends to favor whimsical, textured pieces like pearled ornaments, tartan linens, and knit tabletop trees over strictly traditional red-and-green decor. Playful details like food-shaped ornaments and gingham bows set it apart from more conventional holiday collections.
Q: How do you get an Anthropologie-inspired look without buying the whole collection?
Focus on one or two standout pieces, like a pearl wreath or a textured throw cushion, and build the rest of your existing decor around that anchor. Coordinating gift wrap and ribbon in a similar palette also helps tie a smaller collection of pieces together.
Q: What’s a low-cost way to add this style to a holiday table?
Tartan napkins, a gilded charger under simple white plates, or a few gold-rimmed glasses can bring the look to an existing table setting for relatively little cost. These small additions read as intentional without requiring an entirely new set of dinnerware.