5 Ways To Give Your Bathroom a Holiday Makeover
‘Tis the season for giving, gratitude and, of course, guests. Whether you’re hosting overnight guests or Christmas dinner, decorating your home brings merry brightness to all your holiday gatherings. But don’t let the jolly spirit stop with the dining and living room. Extend the festivities to the bathroom with simple and elegant seasonal touches.
To give your bathroom a holiday makeover, add festive linens, swap the shower curtain, and accent the space with Christmas, Hanukkah, or seasonal decor. In this guide, you’ll find decorating ideas to update the guest bath, half-bath, or your private retreat with tasteful winter style.
1. Choose Your Style
End-of-year celebrations mean something different to everyone, and your holiday bathroom should bring joy to guests while reflecting your own tastes and perspective. Start by choosing the themes, motifs, and colors you want to embrace—an elegant winter wonderland? Classic Christmas plaids and colors? Something kitschy and cute to delight visiting grandkids?
Your color and theme set the tone and should match the traditions you want to highlight. Here are some ideas to help you decorate the bathroom for Christmas and the season:
- If you love decking halls and trimming trees, lean into the traditional reds and greens that evoke Christmastime.
- Blue and white with silver or gold accents capture the colors of Hanukkah.
- Go with silver, brass, and gold to create a sophisticated, antique-inspired wintry look that carries you into the new year.
- Deep shades of blue, plum, or burgundy bring warmth without tying to a specific holiday.
With the right style in mind, the rest of your seasonal bathroom decor—from subtle accents to statement pieces—will fall naturally into place.
2. Add Festive Bath Linens
One of the quickest and easiest ways to make your bathroom Christmassy—or simply more seasonal—is to swap out the linens. Holiday bath towels, hand towels, rugs, and shower curtains bring tasteful cheer when chosen in a refined, traditional palette, but novelty prints can add a fun, festive accent to a guest or kids’ bath. Here’s what to think about when picking bath linens.
Choose Towels for Function and Style
When shopping for linens for a holiday bathroom refresh, think about use as well as style. Many themed towels are designed more for looks than everyday use, meaning they may be thinner and less absorbent than standard bath linens.
For a bathroom that’s both festive and functional, choose high-quality bath towels in shades that match your color scheme. At The Company Store, all of our towels are made from top-quality materials, so they’re:
- Thick and absorbent
- Cozy to wrap up in after a bath
- Quick to dry between uses
Even those with patterns, embroidery, or other decorative elements are crafted from premium long-staple cottons for exceptional softness and absorbency. Selecting high-quality towels in traditional colors or subtle holiday-themed prints turns your bathroom into a wintry delight.
Select a Holiday Shower Curtain
In addition to towels and bath mats, consider swapping out your shower curtain for something seasonal. Choose a color that matches your decorating scheme, and think about fabric weight and pattern:
- A heavier drape adds elegance and richness. We love the look of a sateen shower curtain for the winter holidays and throughout the season.
- A lighter fabric with a simple motif—for example, holly leaves or snowflakes—works beautifully in a smaller bathroom.
- Shower curtains with kid-friendly designs make morning or bathtime routines more fun as little ones count down to seasonal celebrations.
Together, coordinating towels, bath rugs, and a shower curtain set the stage for the rest of your holiday bathroom decor.
3. Add Subtle Accents
Make your bathroom more festive by incorporating simple holiday decor in strategic places. Here are some of our favorite (and easiest) Christmas bathroom decor ideas:
- Hang a wreath on the bathroom door or above the mirror.
- Drape a garland across shelving for a pop of greenery that brightens the space.
- Place a seasonal accent on the vanity, such as a scented candle or decorative figurine.
For a larger bathroom, consider creating a charming village display on the tub surround, extra counter space, or a table beside your shower. Use bottlebrush trees and decorative pieces, such as our metal or wood handcrafted villages, to design a scene that’s entirely your own.
4. Create Atmosphere With Scent and Lighting
The right lighting and fragrance can completely change the mood of your holiday bathroom, turning it into a warm retreat or a festive showcase. By layering these sensory details, you create an experience that’s merry and bright.
Decorate With Lighting
Layering lighting options helps you transform the bathroom into a charming holiday hideaway, a crisp winter wonderland, or something else entirely. Here are some of our favorite ideas:
- Add twinkling lights as part of your shelf displays or weave them into a garland framing the mirror.
- Place candles around the tub in decorative holders to create an indulgent wintertime retreat.
- Use battery-operated tealights in your snowy village scene to mimic the warmth of glowing windows.
Add Seasonal Scents
Holiday-themed fragrances bring another dimension to your bathroom decor. Whether you choose candles, potpourri, sprays, or an oil diffuser, pick a scent that suits the mood:
- Pine, fir, or cedar
- Cinnamon and spices
- Almond or vanilla cookies
- Gingerbread
- Peppermint
Tip: For the most inviting effect, stick to one signature scent to avoid competing aromas.
Together, lighting and fragrance create a layered atmosphere that makes your holiday bathroom feel immersive and inviting.
5. Arrange a Simple, Decorative Vignette
A vignette is a small, styled arrangement that instantly creates a focal point on a shelf or countertop. It complements the other decorative accents throughout the bathroom, tying the space together with a curated display. Here’s how to design a vignette that’s simple but full of cheer:
- Choose a base. Start with a foundation piece such as a decorative tray, platter, bowl, or plate that matches your theme. You could also use a small basket to store and display rolled towels.
- Arrange small elements. Less is more, so layer in just a few accents. Place ornaments in a bowl, create a tiny village scene on a platter, or tie seasonal ribbons around jars and rolled towels.
- Add fragrance. Complete your vignette and freshen the air with scented pieces—a bowl of potpourri, a group of candles, or a jar of essential oil with reed diffusers.
Many people decorate the bathroom for Christmas and throughout the season. If you’re hosting a holiday brunch, welcoming overnight guests, or simply adding a pinch of merriment for yourself, using these bathroom ideas to incorporate a few festive touches is a wonderful way to celebrate.
And don’t stop with the winter holidays: Any celebration or changing season offers the opportunity to make every space in your home feel special.
Looking for more decorating and hosting tips? Check out our other Guides.
