Simple and Pretty Christmas Decorations for the Bathroom

In this post: Why limit your holiday cheer to the porch or living room? Spread the joy around with simple and pretty Christmas decorations for the bathroom. ⇒

Have you got a holiday decor personality?

There are the people that put a wreath on the door and maybe a simple tree in the living room, and call it a day. Then there are those that pull out all the stops, trimming multiple trees in their finest regalia, with matching garlands and wreaths aplenty, plus an assortment of additional extravagant vignettes styled throughout the house.

Do either of these sound familiar?

There is, of course, a middle ground. Just because you enjoy adding cheer to all of your rooms, doesn’t mean you can’t use a light touch. In fact, some of the prettiest holiday decor is comprised of simple touches and mini vignettes added subtly to a room that’s not quite so public. And why not decorate for your own private joy?

One great spot to try this concept is in a home bath. Whether it be a candle and a flower arrangement in a tiny powder room frequented by guests, or a collection of styled areas in a larger, but private bath, Christmas decorations for the bathroom look best in small doses.

Today I’m sharing 10 simple, yet pretty holiday decor ideas that would work well in any size bathroom. They are ever so easy to pull together yet have the ability to change the character of a room in no time.

Add a Bow

Could there be anything as easy as adding a pretty ribbon to an existing vignette? If you have a bowl of soaps or a tray with towels and dried or faux flowers, tie a holiday themed ribbon around an element in the arrangement and you have an instant holiday vignette. I’ve selected a palette of burgundy and green for our white marble bath, but you could also try plaid ribbon or gilt trimmed velvet to get the same effect.

Pro Tip: This is not gift wrap so soft fabric bows work best. Try satin or velvet ribbon for the best results.

Hang a Wreath

Have you got a big expanse of windows or a large mirror in the bath? These can be ideal spots for a hanging wreath. You don’t need anything complex or overpowering. A simple green wreath in a small size will bring a note of holiday cheer that is quite enough. Hang with a command hook and you’ll be done in minutes.

Include a Holiday Village

I’m one of the few people I know who resisted the temptation to replace our tiled tub surround with a free standing tub, and it’s the perfect spot to create a holiday village display. But if you do have a pedestal tub, you might be able to do the same if you have a console or side table nearby. Bring together a cluster of ceramic houses and some bottle brush trees and you’ve just added charm to your soaking area.

Arrange Fresh Seasonal Flowers

Fresh flowers are a component of just about every room I decorate, and they are all the more welcome in a bathroom space. For one thing, the humidity of the bath will help most flowers and they are a lovely pick-me-up. I used faux greenery picks to add Christmas flair to my bouquet and the color combination drives the point home even further.

Style a Tub-side Vignette

With a spacious tub surround, I have room for several compositions, but you could easily do this on a tub-side chair or table. I filled an ironstone tureen – with the lid removed – with seasonal potpourri. The scent is heavenly and the visual works, too. And when a little more is needed, scatter a few ornaments about on a pretty tray and call it good.

Place Greenery on a Mirror

Another incredibly effortless way to add seasonal flavor to the bath in a very understated way is to tie bits of greenery to wall art or mirrors. I used a small antique mirror with a decorative gilt wood flourish top, where I tied a faux greenery pick.

Pro tip: You can also add berries, small ornaments, jingle bells or a bow.

Decorate the Sconces

Our bathroom is reasonably large and almost entirely white, so a few bits of bright color scattered about still reads as very understated. As such, I used clear wire to attach small wreaths (they’re actually candle rings) to the sconces. Claret bows are the icing on the cake.

Drape Bells on the Door Handle

Be sure to look beyond horizontal surfaces and the walls. The door handle is the perfect spot to drape gold-tone cow bells. Toss in a few ornaments for color and you’re good to go. This would no doubt look better had I replaced my handles with elegant knobs, but that gives me something to aspire to.

Freshen the Hand Towels

Full disclosure: I had fully intended to add burgundy and pine green hand towels to the towel ring, but haven’t found ones I liked yet, so instead I used a white sculpted towel with green jingle bells. It works on its own, but I already have bells on the door handle, so I prefer the original concept of adding a few solid-toned towels in a small size for more variety in the room.

Light Scented Candles

Seasonal scented candles are a no brainer in the the bathroom. They’re both pretty and tranquil when relaxing in the tub and bring the aroma of Christmas to the home.

Pro tip: Be careful with competing scents. I prefer to use one aromatic candle and complement it with unscented candles that are there for the visual effect and for the added candlelight.

Some More Tips

• Swap out your regular shower curtain for a holiday-themed one.
• Add a small Christmas tree or a tabletop-sized one.
• Hang Christmas-themed artwork or prints on the walls.
• Add a touch of sparkle with string lights or fairy lights.
• Hang a festive garland around the bathroom mirror.
• Place a bowl of colorful Christmas ornaments on the bathroom vanity.
• Incorporate a small, decorative sleigh with holiday figurines.
• Create a winter wonderland by adding fake snow or frosty window clings.
• Include a holiday-scented diffuser for a fragrant touch.
• Swap out your usual bath rug for a cozy, faux fur one.

Adding decorative holiday touches to the guest bath is a wonderful way to welcome guests, but keeping a few of these delightful flourishes in your own primary bath is also a worthwhile way to brighten your spirits each morning. Even one or two ideas used in the powder room is a welcome addition for the holidays. Just keep it simple, easy and understated, and you’re sure to enjoy it all season.