Here’s Why We’re Loving Felt Christmas Decor This Season
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of all-white, lifeless Christmas decor displays that are so aesthetic-driven that they neglect the spirit of the season. That’s why this December, I’m decorating my home with something I know will ensure a charming and characterful holiday display – felt Christmas decor.
Felt Christmas decor has been around for decades, but with nostalgia-core at the center of holiday decorating trends this year, this tactile material is in the midst of a revival. Just like the retro appeal of tinsel Christmas decor and the evocative allure of the Little Women Christmas trend, felt Christmas decor is inherently filled with sentimental charm. It can make any corner of the home feel like a cozy childhood memory during the holiday season.
Try the felt Christmas decor trend in your home with West Elm’s Felt Merry Christmas Garland.
(Image credit: West Elm)
One of the reasons why felt Christmas decor has been so desirable over many decades is simply because of its materiality. Unlike a beautiful yet fragile porcelain Christmas village from Lenox or other delicate decorations, felt isn’t breakable. That makes it ideal for families with small children, and it might even be why felt Christmas decor has such nostalgic appeal – we remember it from our own childhoods.
Not only that, but felt decorations are inherently full of character. Like this Felt Skiing Mouse Ornament from West Elm or this set of Felted Trees from Garnet Hill, felt decorations feel whimsical, personal, and endlessly charming.
But most of all, felt Christmas decor is desirable for its adaptability. ‘A minimalist home can use felt garlands in soft neutrals to add warmth without clutter, while a more traditional setting might embrace bright, storybook colors for a cheerful, vintage feel,’ Nina tells me. ‘In Scandinavian-inspired spaces, felt fits right in alongside wood, wool, and linen. In modern homes, it can soften sleek lines and balance metallic accents.’
Whatever interior design style you’ve adopted in your home, felt Christmas decor can act as the perfect seasonal accoutrement. ‘Felt doesn’t fight for attention; it complements what’s already there, adding soft texture and gentle character,’ Nina remarks.
Felt decor comes in all styles, like this White Felt With Santa Christmas Wreath, these Scalloped Felt Trees, and an assortment of Felted Wool Christmas Stockings – all from Pottery Barn.
(Image credit: Pottery Barn)
Felt can be used to make all sorts of Christmas decorations, from ornaments and mantel decorations to garlands and wreaths. It can come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and it can be incorporated in any room of the home.
Although many of us have probably decorated with felt Christmas decor before, Nina has some advice for incorporating the material into our homes this holiday season. To make the most out of the material, the designer suggests starting small. ‘Hang felt ornaments on your tree, weave a garland across your mantel, or place a cluster of mini felt trees on a console table,’ she says. Felt Christmas decor can create sentimental moments around the home when used in small doses.
Nina also recommends pairing felt with other holiday decorating ideas, too. ‘Felt pairs beautifully with natural elements like pine branches, dried oranges, or wooden beads, creating a layered, organic look that feels collected rather than coordinated,’ she says. For a texturally rich display, consider hanging felt garland (like this Gingerbread Man Garland from Pottery Barn) alongside regular evergreen garland (like this Fraser Fir Foliage from Balsam Hill).
For a modern juxtaposition, Nina suggests pairing felt with glass or metallic accent details. ‘The balance between soft and shiny, handmade and refined, is where the magic happens,’ she tells me.
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‘Ultimately, felt Christmas decor reminds us that beauty doesn’t always need to dazzle. Sometimes, it just needs to feel familiar, evoke memory, and bring a sense of tenderness to the season,’ Nina muses. ‘In a world that moves fast, felt invites us to slow down and savor the warmth of the holidays, one soft, handcrafted detail at a time.’
With that, I’ve curated an assortment of felt Christmas decorations that lean into that feeling of nostalgia and can fill your home with warmth, charm, and character this holiday season.
West Elm
Felt Holly Leaf Garland
Tired of constantly sweeping up evergreen needles off your floor during the holiday season? Consider swapping out your traditional garland for this faux version. Made of felt, it still feels just as characterful and charming as a real variation. Plus, this garland is finished in the classic Christmas color scheme of red and green – only adding to its appeal.
Maisonette
Small Scalloped Tree, Cream
If you prefer to decorate for the holiday season in a subdued, minimalist manner, but love the charming appeal of felt Christmas decor, consider adding this tree to your holiday decor collection. Its felt materiality feels nostalgic, but its muted white color leans modern and fresh. This little tree gives you the best of both worlds. Plus, it’ll look so sleek as a Christmas table decor idea.
Pottery Barn
Felt Ornaments Collection
I’m a total sucker for cute felt Christmas ornaments – especially ones designed to look like little animals. Wrapped in Christmas lights and standing on candy canes, this Christmas pup is just adorable. Get it for the animal lover in your life, for someone who loves cute felt ornaments, or for yourself. It’s a charming little detail that’s bound to add character to your Christmas tree.
Target
Christmas Fabric Poinsettia Wreath Decor
If you love the traditional elegance of poinsettias at Christmastime but are looking for something everlasting, consider hanging this felt poinsettia wreath in your home this holiday season. With vibrant petals that are complemented with green leaves, this wreath is a timeless display of Christmas style that you can reuse every year.
Lulu and Georgia
Felt Tiger Trio Ornaments by Sarah Sherman Samuel
Like I said before, I’m a sucker for cute felt Christmas ornaments, so this set of three mini tigers is right up my alley. Each is decorated for the holiday season –one with a hat, another with string lights, and a third with a scarf. They’d be such cute ornaments to hang around your tree, or attach them to your Christmas stockings as stocking charms.
West Elm
Christmas Tree Felt Stocking
If you’re in need of a new stocking this holiday season, consider getting yourself a felt one. This style is simple in its design, but its felt tree adds a charming level of Christmas spirit. Plus, you can opt to get this stocking monogramed in a font and color of your choice – making its design that much more personal.
Garnet Hill
Felted Tree Topper
With its bright yellow body and colorful pellets at the tip of each point, this star-shaped tree topper is quite the sight. Made from felt, it has a charmingly homemade quality to its design. It can act as a delightfully whimsical detail to add to the top of your Christmas tree this holiday season.
The Six Bells
Felt Holly Berry Garland
I just love the classic, timeless look of this string of felt garland. Designed as a holly berry garland with white leaves, this garland has a sophisticated and elegant look to it. If you’re looking to create a refined holiday decor display in your home, this felt garland could certainly help you in doing so.
West Elm
Felt Gingerbread Snowflake Tree Skirt
The bottom of your Christmas tree deserves just as much attention as its body, so after you finish adorning each branch with felt ornaments, consider placing this stunning felt tree skirt at its base. Designed to look like a gingerbread snowflake, this tree skirt is a charmingly stylish decor detail that’ll add some character on the floor.
Just as nostalgic and full of character as felt Christmas decor is paper Christmas decor – a trend that nails the handmade holiday look without even trying.
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