Hello! As the temperatures continue to drop outside and we begin to see more red and green décor, we know it’s just about time to start thinking about decorating our homes for the holiday season. And here at Mary B Decorative Art, we couldn’t be any more excited. We’ve already picked out our favorite Mary B Decorative Art ornaments to dress up our Christmas trees and fireplace mantles with.

One of the most important things to consider when getting ready to decorate for the holiday season is what theme you’d like to follow. Christmas doesn’t mean just traditional red and green festive décor. There are so many different ways to put your own spin on what Christmas “should” look like. For example, if you love the color pink, you could ditch the traditional Christmas tree and instead, find a synthetic pink one and fill it with glitzy gold and pink ornaments. Or if you live by the sea or just find yourself wishing that you did, you may want to consider a coastal Christmas theme. What actually makes a coastal Christmas theme look Christmas-y and not just coastal? Read on for a few ideas to successfully decorate for a “Coastal Christmas”:

1. Keep the Christmas tree but decorate it a little differently than you would a traditional tree. If you’re aiming for a more sophisticated coastal holiday appeal, decorate your tree with beautiful driftwood ornaments and/or a driftwood garland.

Shop this idea here, here, here, and here.

2. Driftwood ornaments aren’t the only perfect coastal accent to your holiday tree. For a more playful, fun holiday tree, try decorating with a wide array of different seashell ornaments. As an added bonus, you can use these ornaments as décor in your home long after Christmas- they’d look great hung in any beachy room.

Shop this idea here, here, here and here.

3. To achieve a coastal appeal with your holiday décor, try switching up small things such as your stockings. Stockings don’t have to be emblazoned with “Merry Christmas” or be bright red to feel festive; we love the appeal of beachy stockings.

Shop this idea here, here and here.

4. You could also swap out your traditional Christmas tree skirt for a coastal one like this one.

5. Forget lining your fireplace mantle or coffee table with Santa figurines if you’re aiming for a coastal Christmas theme; instead decorate with pieces like this “Joy” driftwood décor.

6. Try decorating your Christmas tree with sea-animal string lights instead of the typical holiday string lights. Guests will definitely compliment you on your coastal taste! We’re loving these seahorse string lights.

7. If you’re on a budget and can’t spend much on decorating this season but still want to switch things up, swapping out your kitchen linens is a great idea. Refresh your coastal holiday style with pieces like these dish towels.

Shop this idea here and here.

8. Instead of focusing on pieces that are red and green, focus on decorating with pieces in more coastal colors such as white, tan, gold, silver and various shades of blue. This white salt and pepper shaker set would make the perfect addition to any “coastal Christmas” home; it’s definitely very festive, very merry but in a color that perfectly complements a beachy holiday theme. Likewise, this nutcracker fits in very well with a “Coastal Christmas” theme.

9. This set of starfish Christmas trees is a great, coastal alternative to the traditional Christmas tree.

10. Set your dinner table with golden and silver coastal pieces like this set of golden palm tree napkin rings. Golden and silver tones feel very luxurious which make them the perfect accent for the holidays. Combine golden and silver tones with tropical motifs and designs like these palm trees and you have the perfect décor for a coastal Christmas!

11. Mix and match your dinner plates, dessert plates, bowls etc . Use some Christmas-themed plates as well as some coastal pieces for a unique blend of Christmas and beachy. The key to making this work is mixing and matching pieces that share similar colors. Your friends and family will be impressed by your decorating skills when they see your unique dinner table setting.

Shop the coastal sand dollar plates here and the reindeer serving platter here.

Are you planning to decorate for the holidays with a coastal Christmas theme? Or do you have any other tips to do so that we didn’t mention? We’d love to know! Drop us a comment below.