From festive vibes to colorful decor, holiday food and drinks to exchanging gifts, we certainly can’t blame you if you’re still longing for Christmas. Why not extend the excitement, fun, and cheer by throwing a Christmas in July party and kicking off the celebration early? You can exchange gifts with your loved ones and share funny and embarrassing stories while feasting your eyes on beautiful Christmas in July decorations.
Mark a date of your choosing in July, or retain the original date by scheduling your mid-year Christmas on July 25. Either way, it’s a good opportunity to deck the halls with these 15 Christmas in July decorating ideas to spruce up your mood and home.
Here are 15 Christmas in July decor ideas that’ll have you ho-ho-ho-ing ‘til December.
1. Trim and Decorate A Tree
Pull out your artificial Christmas tree or head to your yard to find an evergreen tree and trim it down to your desired length. Once that’s done, decorate the tree to make it look more festive. You can use baubles, a classy Christmas decor idea, or summer-themed decorations like dried citrus and bright candy-colored ornaments to make your summer Christmas celebration more jolly.
If you’d rather not have a tree at all, make one out of balloons. It’s the perfect way to create a festive atmosphere with an edgy twist while staying on theme.
2. Light Up Your Home
Don’t underestimate the difference that decorative lighting can make to your July celebration. If you’re decorating for a party that could stretch well into the evening, consider using fairy lights to brighten your house for a warm, Christmas-like glow.
If the party is being held outside, string LED twinkle lights over the firewood to create a magical, bonfire-like ambiance. You can also hang colorful solar lanterns, use butterfly lights for extra pizzaz, and make paper lanterns to give your party a warm and welcoming vibe.
3. Step Up Your Staircase Decor
If you have a multi-level home, don’t leave your staircases bare. For a more magical vibe, place battery-operated candles along the stairwell, and hang vivid artwork above and below your stairs for an eye-catching and more interesting look. You could also choose a wallpaper with a tranquil pattern to give your staircase a coastal vibe, or paint the stairwell a beautiful sea-foam green to give it a breezy summer feel.
4. Deck the Table
Decorate your dining table with summer-inspired Christmas decor for a meal to remember. Use checkered tablecloths, candles, ornaments, and lots of greenery to give your party a summery vibe that will dazzle your guests.
If you’re having your Christmas in July party outdoor, decorate your picnic table and chairs for a casual alfresco meal. Use your imagination and get creative.
5. Decorate with Pillows and Throws
Simple interior touches like pillows and throws can make a big difference in your mid-year holiday decor. Here are some ideas that’ll give your home a stunning summer makeover:
- Use brightly colored blankets and pillows to brighten up your couches and outdoor furniture.
- Give your patio an instant style update with colorful rugs, throws, pillows, and other accessories.
6. Customize the Place Settings
Make colorful and creative summer place settings. Place nice dinnerware on plain newspaper and checkered red and white linens with a sprinkling of seashell paintings for a beachy, waterfront look and feel. For a magical summer dining experience, use an eye-catching tablecloth and napkin rings with tiny paper flowers.
7. Make a Creative Centerpiece
To create a relaxing garden-inspired ambiance, place fresh blooms in vases and arrange them at the center of your table. You can also build a candy-filled centerpiece loaded to the brim with summertime favorites like gummy bears, saltwater taffy, licorice ropes, Lemonhead candy, and jolly ranchers.
Know someone from your guestlist whose birthday falls on or close to your Christmas in July party? Use one of our Christmas in July birthday party ideas:
- Decorate a tiered tray with yummy fruit cake
- Add plenty of flower-shaped, lemon-flavored frosting and top with fresh berries
- Add miniature cupcakes and lollipops
You and the birthday celebrant will love this creative and edible centerpiece!
8. Trade Stockings for Mugs
Swap mugs for stockings and start your own Christmas in July tradition. Fill mugs with sweets and trinkets and personalize them with the names of your guests. Once the festivities are over, they can take it home with them as a keepsake.
You can also hold a fun secret Santa for your guests. They can take turns opening their wrapped presents and make wild guesses about the identities of their Secret Santas.
9. Decorate Your Ceiling
Cover the ceiling with paper lanterns, foil-paper leaf garlands, paper pinwheels, or artificial vine garlands for enticing Christmas in July decorations. You can also use your ceiling decorations to conceal any unsightly marks and cracks.
10. Add an Instagram-Worthy Backdrop
Add a photo wall where guests can take pictures to remember your event. Decorate a designated area in your home with a backdrop of fresh blooms, foliage, and balloons to make it Insta-worthy and inviting.
Keep an instant camera on hand to capture the wonderful moments and use the photographs as tree decorations for when December rolls around. If you invite the same set of guests, they’ll relish remembering how much fun your mid-year celebration was.
11. Make a Wreath
Wreaths are symbolic of the continuity of life. Make them part of your fiesta in July by decorating a wreath with bright cocktail umbrellas or pom poms. Hang it on your front door for the perfect way to welcome guests and let them know that the festivities are about to begin. You can also use smaller wreaths to adorn your windowsill and make a statement. It won’t cost you an arm and a leg but it sure helps everyone get into the spirit of things!
Looking for more wreath designs? We’ve got you covered. Celebrate July in style with one of these summery wreath ideas:
- Make a wreath out of colorful handkerchiefs tied around a wire for a bright and unique decor.
- Fill a bucket with fresh, vivid blooms to make a floral bucket wreath. (Here’s one that teaches you how to make one with lilacs.)
- Create a lemon-inspired wreath with crepe paper to brighten up your Christmas decorations.
- Make a tropical wreath with banana leaves made of crepe paper (or actual banana leaves!) to add texture.
- Drape a moss wreath with delicate paper butterflies to create a romantic summer display that everyone will adore.
12. Scent Scape Your House
Haven’t heard of scent scaping? Scent scaping is assigning different scents to different parts of your house. You can choose scents based on your personal favorites or scents that remind you of happy times.
As you can imagine, scent scaping can make your decorations a full sensory experience that goes beyond the visual. You can use it to create a festive environment for your party.
If you want a summer vibe, use tropical, citrusy scents or a unique mix of summer scents. Here are some in-season scents to consider:
- Lemon
- Lavender
- Lime
- Orange
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Bergamot
- Eucalyptus
- Spearmint
- Coconut
13. Decorate Your Mantle
Amid all the decorating flurry, don’t forget to spruce up your mantle! Mix fresh or faux greenery with blooms and wood accents. Go all out with lush floral arrangements and pair them with a handwritten chalkboard note to give summer Santa a warm welcome. You can also use sea glass, shells, and driftwood to create a beach vibe.
If you don’t want to light a fire due to the soaring temperatures but still want the ambiance that dancing flames bring, why not drape lights over artfully placed firewood for a visually pleasing Christmas in July decorations?
14. Dress Up Your Menu
Who said food and drinks can’t be part of Christmas in July decorations? From jalapeño popper Mexican street corn, summer squash salad, and blueberry pie to piñacolada slush topped with fresh berries, a summer-themed Christmas menu will remind you of the bounties of summer and help you celebrate.
You can also reinvent Christmas classics. Here are some suggestions you can try:
- String marshmallows on skewers and decorate them as snowmen.
- For a refreshing summer treat, drizzle syrup over shaved ice or ice cream. Offer a diverse range of flavors so that guests can pick and choose.
- Dress up gingerbread cookies in pastel green, nautical blue, and other summer colors.
15. Customize Invites
Now that you have every aspect of Christmas in July decorations covered, it’s time to send out invites. Make sure it includes information about the venue, timing as well as dress code (if applicable).
Instead of getting the invites done professionally, consider making your own for a personalized touch. You can use the PosterMyWall flyer maker tool to guide you. The site has an incredible collection of Christmas in July flyer templates that you can choose from and personalize for free or at a reasonable cost.
Which of these ideas are you most excited to try? Let us know on social media or try our new Christmas stickers!
Senior editor at PosterMyWall.
