9 Christmas Decor Items You Can Use All Year Long

We love decorating for Christmas as much as the next person, but buying things you can use for only a handful of weeks doesn’t seem like the smartest money move. So rather than throw down your dollars for decor that screams “Deck the Halls,” why not select items that hit the right wintry themes but can be used well beyond the holidays?

When choosing seasonal decor, red and green will always be the go-to color palette. But to avoid having your living room look like Santa’s workshop, try selecting products in more sophisticated shades like cranberry red, evergreen, or chartreuse. And if mixing red and green feels too on the nose, just focus on one color family.

You can even forgo the red and green decor altogether and opt for cozy throw blankets and pillows in neutral white or gray shades and accessories with metallic finishes.

Need a chic Christmas decor shopping list to get you started? Here are some of our favorite pieces that’ll still look appropriate long after you’ve recycled your Christmas tree.

1. Red tassel pillow

Bright and jazzy for Christmas as well as the New Year

Target

Drew Henry, founder of Design Dudes, votes for this fun pillow ($25, Target) for Christmas and beyond.

“This is a great red and white accent for the holiday season, but it’s neutral enough to leave out a lot longer,” he says. The tassels make it festive without looking too over the top.

2. Star lanterns

Choose from three colors (white, pink, lilac) for a pretty glow all winter long.

Urban Outfitters

Are they stars or snowflakes? Either way, the reasonable price of these paper lights ($16, Urban Outfitters) means you can pick up several for your seasonal look.

“These are lovely as holiday decor, but once the parties are over they could also be incorporated into a boho decor scheme,” says Henry.

Try them near your Christmas tree and then later in a bay window or over a reading nook.

3. Faux boxwood wreath

This wreath is made in a beautiful Christmas (and springtime) green.

Walmart

Jeanine Boiko, a real estate agent and blogger at Okio B Designs, loves to display boxwood wreaths ($18, Walmart) all year long.

“Greenery never goes out of style, and it’s not limited to the holiday season,” she notes.

For the price, you certainly get your money’s worth if you hang this wreath beyond the Christmas holiday, she adds.

4. Fairy lights

Delicate twinkle lights are ideal for holiday parties.

Target

Fairy lights ($6, Target) magically appear around the holidays, but Boiko stocks up on them the rest of the year, too.

“For a touch of sparkle both inside and out, I string them in the basement and put them up in our gazebo and she shed during the other three seasons,” she says.

5. Flannel sheets

Cozy flannel for winter is a must.

LLBean

Flipping your mattresses when the temperatures drop means adding down comforters, warmer blankets and, in some climates, flannel sheets (from $89, LLBean).

“These wintry bed linens pick up on the Christmas theme with the red and green colors, though I’d use them for much longer,” says Julie Coraccio, an organizing pro and author of “Got Clutter? 365 Journal Prompts: Reclaim Time, Money, Sanity & Resources.”

6. Cozy throw blanket

Every home needs a comfortable blanket no matter the time of year.

Target

Jewel tones definitely say “holiday” without resorting to classic red and green. This blanket sports a chunky cable knit weave, which can warm up a guest bed or couch ($30, Target).

7. Glass hurricanes

Elegant glass containers hold way more than candles.

Crate&Barrel

Roxy Te, CEO and founder of Society Social, leans hard on hurricane candle holders ($40, Crate & Barrel) for her decor.

These pieces transition from everyday decor to holiday centerpieces and then back again with just a few tweaks, she says.

“Fill them with pomegranates at Christmas, pine cones for the rest of winter, and then sand and seashells for a summertime idea,” she suggests.

8. Woven basket

For this low price, pick up several baskets for your buffet or hutch.

Target

A simple basket ($8, Target) is useful during Christmas to display festive pine cones, pomegranates, and ornaments. But, similar to the glass hurricane above, it can also transition as a vessel for other trinkets throughout the year.

9. Red berry branches

Quality faux branches can be added to fresh flowers all year.

Pottery Barn

Skip green boughs in favor of faux red berries ($17.50, Pottery Barn). These bare branches are ideal at Christmas (they resemble holly), but you can leave them out longer, even until Valentine’s Day because they’re red!

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