I am elated to share 9 ways to decorate with ribbon for Christmas. Over the years, I have repeatedly used ribbon in our holiday decorations that I hope will inspire you to incorporate into your own holiday decorations.
From bows on the tree to hanging wreaths on cabinets, you can't go wrong adding a little touch of ribbon around your home around the holidays. Getting to be creative and finding new ways to style with ribbon may just become your favorite part of decking the halls!
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Why Decorate with Ribbon
I love how festive yet elegant decorating with ribbon can be. Of course, if you've followed along here on Mornington Lane, you know I love ribbon. I have a collection of all sorts of different ribbons I can pull from whenever a holiday or event rolls around.
Rarely do I throw scraps of ribbon away either. Instead, I keep a bowl of scrap ribbon to use next year as well as for craft projects, such Mini Christmas Present Ornaments, DIY Yarn Garland or Charming Mini Frame Ornaments. Sometimes you only need a small length of ribbon for which a scrap piece works perfectly!
Why Use Ribbon in Christmas Decorations
- Adds pattern and texture
- Creates interest when paired with everyday decor
- Makes a statement with little effort
What follows are different ways to decorate with ribbon at the holidays.
Tie Bows on the Christmas Tree
An alternative to tinsel is tying bows with ribbon on your Christmas tree. Lately, I like to use 1 to 3 styles of ribbon to tie bows on our Christmas tree. I love how the ribbon drapes down the branches, nestled among the lights and ornaments.
Many designers decorate their tree with ribbon in some way, whether they tie bows on branches, use wired ribbon as garland, or create big loops to fill in holes.
One tip is to select colors or patterns that go with your chosen color palette. Of course, if you are decorating in traditional Christmas colors there are plenty of ribbon options to choose from. A nice plaid gives a Ralph Lauren feel, while a gold or silver feels a little more glam.
For our tree last year, I tied bows in a pretty pink satin ribbon. I left the ends long, because I like how they drape down the tree.
When I did a Cozy Coastal Christmas the year prior, I used three different styles of ribbons that lent a signature coastal feel. You can see tan-white stripes, blue velvet, and caramel saddle stitch ribbons below. Our tree is 7.5 feet, so I did not go overboard with the bows - less was more to me. You decide how many bows look good for the size of your tree.
Style a Fireplace Mantel
If you have a fireplace that you love decorating at the holidays, adding ribbon to one or both sides makes such a festive impact! You can't go wrong with simple bows or long, drapey ribbons, either way I am sure it will be lovely. Think about the look you want and try it out!
Another idea is to weave ribbon into garland across the mantel, which will give it a wonderfully layered feel.
One year I used this soft mushroom colored 1 ½ inch frayed edge velvet ribbon to make long bows at each end of the fireplace. I also added a strand of this khaki velvet ribbon to the bows, which you can see below. Don't be afraid to play with layering different styles of ribbon.
Add Ribbon to Vases and Bowls
For the same coastal Christmas theme I mentioned earlier, my goal was to bring in a striped ribbon, a caramel colored ribbon, and lots of blue. I tied many bows on the tree that year, but it was the simple act of adding bows to my everyday decor that made it so special.
I created a bow using a coastal stripe ribbon on one of my favorite white vases that I actually kept tied to the vase to this day.
We have an entryway console table that I love to style for everyday as well as for holidays. When I added the stripe bow to the first vase, I turned my attention to the much larger white vase on the console table, and just knew a longer ribbon would be stunning. So, I added a long draped bow using this ⅜ inch blue velvet ribbon to that vase and it, too, is still there to this day.
I also think a bowl of ornaments with ribbons mixed in would look festive for the season just sitting on a coffee table.
Decorate a Staircase with Ribbon
Do you love a staircase dripping with garland at Christmas? Me too! I wrote a post detailing How to Hang Garland on Stairs if you're in need of a few great tips.
I especially love adding layers upon layers of ribbon to the main newel post. For the coastal theme, I layered three different styles of ribbon. That's a tip for you too. If you want a full, layered look, use ribbons in different colors, patterns, and materials.
Below I layered the most beautiful 1 ½ inch blue-grey satin blue ribbon I found on Etsy with a 1 ½ inch tan white stripe ribbon and a ⅞ inch caramel saddle stitch ribbon.
Years earlier I created ribbon bows up and down the staircase with this gorgeous taupe-pink color 2 ½ inch wide ribbon from Joann. Since Joann no longer exists, this pretty 3 inch vanilla pink satin ribbon is similar, or this 4 inch wide champagne pink satin ribbon by the same brand. Another version may be this dreamy rose gold satin ribbon that comes in widths of 1 ½ to 4 inches.
Put Bows on Stockings
Are stockings hanging on the mantel a Christmas tradition in your home? I love the cozy feel of stockings around a fireplace all decorated for the holidays. That brings me to another way to decorate with ribbon, which is to add bows to your stockings.
I have done this a few times, including with this soft mushroom colored 1 ½ inch frayed edge velvet ribbon from Hobby Lobby you can see in the pictures I took below.
For the coastal theme, I made bows on the stockings using the same blue velvet ribbon that I used for the white vase in an earlier tip.
I found the lovely Christmas stockings a few years back from the AngieandLois shop on Etsy. The stockings are handmade using gorgeous fabrics. I also like that they are in neutral colors, so they easily pair with practically any theme I decide on that year.
Hang Wreaths
You are sure to make a statement when you hang wreaths with ribbon! Whether you like large bows, layered ribbons, or a couple mixed bows, you will love how they look in the end.
A few years ago I went over How to Hang Wreaths on Cabinets and How to Hang Wreaths on Chairs. There are so many ways you can do so, which is why I shared what worked for me.
Layering ribbons really elevates holiday decorations. I layered three different ribbons to get the effect in the next photo below:
- 2 ½ inch wide soft dusty blue taffeta ribbon that holds the wreath and makes a pretty bow - this is a similar blue taffeta ribbon
- 1 ½ inch caramel tan white striped grosgrain ribbon (this 1 inch beige ticking stripe ribbon is similar)
- ⅞ inch wired taupe satin ribbon with an elegant side stitch
The dusty blue taffeta ribbon is my all-time favorite in my collection. Moreover, it is the most expensive ribbon that I own and worth every penny. How do I describe the shade of blue? Eucalyptus is the actual color name; however, I would describe it as the softest dusty blue with a hint of grey that does not lean green, in my opinion. Truly, it is the most beautiful ribbon.
In keeping with the theme, I decorated our island counter-height chairs with similar but different ribbons. Don't you just love how the wreaths look on the chairs all three in a row?
A few years ago my holiday theme was pastels that you can read about in the Dreamy Pastel Christmas Decorating Ideas post. That year I used ribbon to hang mini wreaths on the backs of our island counter-height chairs. Again, I layered ribbons of different types and textures. I used a soft white frayed edge 1 ½ inch wide cotton ribbon with a ⅜ inch wide blush pink satin ribbon.
At Christmas next year I really want to hang mini wreaths in our front windows. Stay tuned for a post on that topic if I end up doing it.
Use in a Tablescape Centerpiece
When I decorated for Christmas last year, I created a lovely coastal tablescape. To come up with the centerpiece, I mixed evergreen garland with this similar eucalyptus garland. I then wrapped two different types of ribbon around the garland. They were the same ribbons I used for the cabinet wreaths I mentioned earlier.
Who needs a napkin ring? Pick your favorite ribbon and tie a bow around a cloth napkin for a charming effect. Here, I used the same dusty blue velvet ribbon as napkin rings.
Hang Ornaments
You do not have to keep the string Christmas ornaments come with for hanging. Instead, replace it with a pretty ribbon like I did.
For instance, McGee & Co. carried lovely large matte white glass ball ornaments a few years back that came with a string to hang it by that I did not care for. I changed that string out for this caramel-khaki velvet ribbon and I just love how elevated the ornaments look now! I have since changed out all of my ornaments to hang via ribbon.
Add Ribbon to Other Christmas Decorations
Some neutral Christmas decorations, such as mini ceramic houses, nutcrackers, and trees, could use a little something extra to give them personality. That's what I found when I decorated last year. So, I got creative, adding ribbon here and there.
To the natural wood nutcrackers I added a ribbon bow tie in a soft blue velvet. Yes, it's the same blue velvet ribbon from at least two other mentions in this list.
Then, I wrapped a different ribbon around each of these whimsical white wooly trees I got years ago. I especially like how the trees look coordinated with the nutcracker's ribbon bow tie.
How do you decorate with ribbon at Christmas? Share in a comment below!
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