The short version: farmhouse Christmas decor keeps things natural, warm and a little imperfect. Think fresh or faux greenery, warm white lights, wood, galvanized metal and ironstone, one or two patterns like buffalo check or ticking stripe, and a few vintage or handmade pieces. Pick a simple palette (cream, green and wood, with red or black as an accent) and repeat it from the porch to the kitchen so the whole house feels connected.
Below are 18 ideas, room by room. Start with the tree: our calculator tells you the tallest tree that fits under your ceiling and how many lights, ornaments and feet of garland it takes.
Find the right tree size and how many lights to buy
Tree height for your ceiling, plus lights, ornaments and garland.
The Tree
1. Warm white lights, woven deep
A farmhouse tree glows rather than sparkles, so choose warm white lights and weave them along the branches instead of wrapping the outside. For an 8 ft ceiling with a 6 in star, our calculator suggests a 7.5 ft tree and about 750 lights for a classic, even glow. See how many lights for a Christmas tree for every size.
2. Wood bead garland
Wood bead garland is the farmhouse answer to tinsel. Drape it in loose swags rather than tight spirals. A full 7.5 ft tree takes about 65 ft of garland in a loose spiral, so buy several strands.
3. A simple ornament palette
Stick to two or three colors: cream and white ceramic, natural wood, and one accent like red, sage or matte black. Mixing finishes (matte, glazed, mercury glass) keeps a limited palette interesting.
4. Natural fillers
Tuck in pinecones, dried orange slices, cotton stems, eucalyptus or berry picks. They fill gaps cheaply and add the handmade texture that defines the look.
5. A tree collar instead of a skirt
Swap the fabric skirt for a woven or galvanized tree collar. It hides the stand, looks tidy from every side and fits the farmhouse mix of baskets and metal. Prefer a skirt? A burlap, ticking stripe or knit one works well.
The Mantel
6. A fresh greenery garland
Layer cedar, pine or eucalyptus garland along the mantel and let one end trail down the side. Faux garland looks more real when you tuck in a few fresh sprigs. For more styles, see our Christmas mantel ideas.
7. Candles at different heights
Group white pillar candles, taper candles in brass holders and lanterns at varied heights. Flameless candles are a good idea near greenery.
8. Stockings that match the house
Ticking stripe, grain sack, chunky knit or plaid stockings on simple hooks. Matching stockings look calm; mismatched vintage ones look collected. Both work.
The Entry and Living Room
9. A wreath on an inside door or mirror
Hang a simple boxwood or eucalyptus wreath on a long ribbon over a mirror, window or interior door. Faded velvet or plaid ribbon suits the style.
10. Swap in winter textiles
Change throw pillows and blankets for buffalo check, wool plaid, faux fur or chunky knit. It's the easiest seasonal change and packs away flat.
11. A wooden ladder or crate display
Lean a blanket ladder against the wall with a folded plaid throw and a garland, or stack wooden crates as a stand for small trees and lanterns.
The Kitchen
12. Mini wreaths on the cabinets
Hang small wreaths from the upper cabinet doors on ribbon. Command hooks inside the doors hold them without screws.
13. A dough bowl or tray centerpiece
Fill a wooden dough bowl on the island with pinecones, greenery and a few ornaments, or set out a tray with a small tree and a candle.
14. Greenery in everyday vessels
Put cedar, pine or eucalyptus branches in an enamel pitcher, a crock or a galvanized bucket. It looks fresh, smells good and costs very little.
The Table
15. A greenery runner with candles
Lay fresh greenery down the center of the table and add pillar candles in glass hurricanes. Keep it low enough to see over.
16. Ironstone, wood and linen
White ironstone or simple white plates on wood chargers, linen napkins tied with twine and a sprig of rosemary at each place. It's elegant without feeling fussy.
The Porch
17. A big wreath and potted evergreens
Go bigger outside than you would indoors: a generous wreath on the door and a pair of small potted evergreens in galvanized buckets or crocks, wrapped in warm white lights.
18. Vintage pieces
A wooden sled, an old lantern, a pair of ice skates or a wooden crate of firewood by the door tells a story and stays up all winter.
Farmhouse Christmas on a Budget
The farmhouse look is one of the easiest to do cheaply, because so much of it comes from nature and from things you already own.
- Forage greenery. Trimmings from your own evergreens, or the free branches many tree lots give away, fill pitchers, garlands and the mantel.
- Dry your own oranges. Thin slices baked low in the oven for a few hours make garlands and ornaments that smell wonderful.
- Use what's in the cupboard. Ironstone, enamelware, wooden cutting boards, crocks and baskets all double as holiday displays.
- Shop secondhand. Thrift stores are full of brass candlesticks, old sleds, lanterns and wooden crates.
- Spend on lights and one big piece. Good warm white lights and a full wreath or garland do more for the look than lots of small decorations.
Where to Start
If you're decorating from scratch, work in this order so the big pieces set the tone:
- Choose your palette from the table below and stick to it.
- Size the tree for your room and ceiling, then buy enough lights to weave it properly.
- Dress the mantel or the main wall with garland and candles.
- Add the textiles: pillows, throws and stockings.
- Finish with small touches in the kitchen, on the table and at the door.
Doing it in this order also keeps you from overbuying small decorations before you know how much space the tree and mantel take up.
Farmhouse Christmas Palette Ideas
| Palette | Colors | Works with |
|---|---|---|
| Classic farmhouse | Cream, green, natural wood, red accent | Buffalo check, red berries, white ironstone |
| Neutral farmhouse | White, oatmeal, wood, eucalyptus green | Cotton stems, wood beads, linen |
| Modern farmhouse | White, black, wood, green | Matte black ornaments, black ribbon, galvanized metal |
| Rustic farmhouse | Deep green, burgundy, brown, brass | Plaid, pinecones, lanterns, leather |
Wood Bead Garland
The signature farmhouse garland; a full 7.5 ft tree takes several strands.
- ✓Natural wood tone
- ✓Drapes in swags
- ✓Reusable every year
Woven Christmas Tree Collar
Hides the stand neatly and fits the basket-and-wood farmhouse look better than a skirt.
- ✓Looks tidy from every side
- ✓No fabric to fluff
- ✓Stores easily
Faux Cedar Garland
A realistic base for mantel and table garlands that you can freshen with a few real sprigs.
- ✓Reusable
- ✓Bendable branches
- ✓Mix with fresh greenery
Flameless LED Pillar Candles
Safe near greenery on the mantel and table, and a timer turns them on every evening.
- ✓Built-in timer
- ✓Real wax finish
- ✓No open flame
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Common Questions
What colors are farmhouse Christmas decor?
Mostly neutrals: cream, white, natural wood and evergreen, with one accent color. Red is the classic choice; black, sage or burgundy give a more modern or rustic feel.
How do I make Christmas decor look farmhouse?
Use natural materials (wood, greenery, cotton, galvanized metal, ironstone), warm white lights and a limited palette, and add a few vintage or handmade pieces. Less glitter, more texture.
Do I need a big tree for a farmhouse look?
No. A slim tree in a galvanized bucket or a small tree on a crate looks just as farmhouse as a big one. For small spaces, see our small apartment Christmas decor ideas.
The Bottom Line
Farmhouse Christmas decor works best when it's simple, natural and repeated: warm white lights, greenery, wood and one pattern, carried from the porch to the table. Start with a tree that fits your room, then add garland, a greenery mantel and a few everyday vessels filled with branches. To size the tree and count the lights, ornaments and garland, use our free Christmas tree calculator.
