Christmas Decorations 2025, Part 1: A Practical Guide to Decorating Kiwi Homes

Christmas in New Zealand looks a little different from the Northern Hemisphere postcards. Long summer evenings, BBQ smoke in the air, jandals at the door and kids running between the lounge and the deck, and somewhere in the middle of it all, a Christmas tree trying not to shed on the rug.

This year, instead of another trend forecast, we are looking at how Kiwis actually decorate. When do people put decorations up? How do you style a small lounge or open-plan space without it feeling crowded? And how can you make your Christmas decorations work with solid oak and solid wood furniture so your home feels calm rather than cluttered?

Consider this your practical 2025 guide to Christmas decorations in NZ from Oak Furniture Store, built around real questions and real Kiwi homes.

When Do Kiwis Put Up and Take Down Christmas Decorations?

A question that comes up every year is simple: when should Christmas decorations go up, and when should they come down?

There is no strict rulebook, but a few patterns are common in New Zealand. Some early birds start bringing out Christmas decorations as soon as November hits, especially if there are young kids in the house or family visiting early. Many others wait for the first weekend of December, which lines up neatly with the start of summer, school events and workplace parties. And then there are the last-minute stylers: if you are juggling work, travel and school holidays, your decorations may not appear until mid-December, but a focused afternoon is still enough to make the house feel festive.

It is the same story when everything comes down. Practical types who are travelling soon after Christmas often pack decorations away on Boxing Day so the house feels reset before they leave. Some households prefer a New Year reset instead, taking everything down in the days after 1 January so the home stays festive for visitors. If you like tradition, you might choose to wait until around 6 January, often called Twelfth Night.

In the end, the real answer to “when should Christmas decorations come down?” is straightforward: whenever it works for your household, as long as you can pack them away carefully and without stress.

✨ Solid wood styling tip
If you are decorating early, protect your furniture from long-term wear. Use felt pads under candle holders on solid oak sideboards, coasters under drinks on a solid wood coffee table, and avoid taping lights directly to timber. A simple tray or runner is often enough to keep both decorations and surfaces safe.

✨ Pre-Christmas refresh tip
The weeks before Christmas are also a good time to give your home a small “refresh”. If you have been thinking about updating your lounge or dining area, it can be worth choosing a new solid oak dining table, sideboard or TV unit before the decorations go up. That way your Christmas decorations sit on furniture you plan to enjoy for years, not pieces you already want to replace.

How to Decorate Your Home for Christmas: Room-by-Room NZ Guide

Rather than filling every inch with tinsel, focus on a few key areas. Here is how to decorate your home for Christmas in a way that suits real Kiwi floorplans.

Living Room and Lounge

The lounge is where most Christmas memories are made: movies, presents, afternoon naps in front of the fan. To keep it festive but practical in a Kiwi home, try:

• Choosing one hero surface.
  This might be your entertainment unit, a solid oak sideboard, or a coffee table. Style that area properly instead of sprinkling small items everywhere.
• Layering light sources.
  Combine a tree in one corner with LED candles on a shelf and a warm lamp on a side table. Soft lighting feels festive without being overwhelming.
• Keeping walkways clear.
  In smaller New Zealand homes, every centimetre counts. Place decorations where they will not be knocked over during day-to-day living.

✨ Solid wood styling tip – living room
If you have a solid oak entertainment unit or TV stand, keep décor low and linear. Run a garland or string of fairy lights along the back, group a cluster of LED candles at one end, and leave space in front for remotes. On a solid wood coffee table, style one tray with a candle, small vase and a bowl of baubles so the timber grain still shows and the table remains usable.

Dining Area and Christmas Table Decorations

A good dining table is where Christmas lunch stretches into board games and leftovers, so decorations need to look good and still leave room for plates and platters. You can:

• Work with the shape of your table.
  A long solid oak dining table suits a low runner with greenery and candles down the centre. A round table looks better with one central arrangement.
• Keep centrepieces low.
  You still want to see the people on the other side. Use garlands, fruit, low arrangements and short candles rather than tall vases that block conversation.
• Repeat a colour.
  Pick two or three colours from your decorations and echo them in napkins, glassware or ribbons on your crackers.

✨ Solid wood styling tip – dining room
On a solid oak dining table, avoid fully covering the surface. A simple linen runner lets the natural grain stay visible while still feeling dressed for Christmas. If you are worried about spills, place heat-proof mats and coasters strategically rather than hiding the timber under plastic or vinyl.

Entryway and Hallway

Even in a small Kiwi home, the entry can feel festive without becoming cluttered. Think about:

• Hanging a wreath on the front door or on a hallway wall.
• Using a console table or shoe cabinet for a small vignette: a bowl for keys, one festive ornament, and a miniature tree or LED candle.
• Keeping the floor clear for shoes, school bags and guests’ bags.

✨ Solid wood styling tip – entryway
A slim solid oak console table is ideal for narrow hallways. Style it with one mirror above (you can wrap a garland around the frame), one practical bowl for keys, and one Christmas accent such as a ceramic tree. Three considered items look better than a clutter of small pieces.

Bedrooms and Guest Rooms

Christmas decorations in bedrooms do not need to be elaborate. The goal is to keep the room restful while adding a seasonal touch, for example:

• Draping a soft string of fairy lights along a headboard or bed frame.
• Placing a single LED candle or small ornament on each bedside table.
• Using a tiny tabletop tree or wall-mounted advent calendar in kids’ rooms so it feels special without taking up floor space.

✨ Solid wood styling tip – bedrooms
On solid wood bed frames and oak bedside tables, use soft, non-glitter décor: fabric stockings, ceramic houses, or wooden ornaments. Glitter can migrate into timber grain and be hard to remove, so keep sparkly pieces on trays or in bowls rather than directly on the surface.

Outdoor and Balcony Christmas Decorations for NZ Summers

“Outdoor Christmas decorations” look very different in a New Zealand summer, with BBQs, decks and balconies taking centre stage. To make the most of those spaces:

• Balconies and small decks
  Use rail-friendly lights, a small potted tree and a lantern or two. Foldable furniture helps if space is tight.
• Front porches
  A wreath, a doormat with a subtle Christmas motif, and a pair of planters with seasonal greenery are often enough.
• Back decks
  Decorate the area where you actually gather. That is usually around the BBQ or outdoor table. A line of bunting, fairy lights overhead and a simple table runner work well.

Safety matters too. Choose outdoor-rated lights, keep cords away from walkways, and avoid decorations that might blow away in a strong nor’wester.

Christmas Tree Decorations for Kiwi Homes

The tree is the piece everyone remembers, and for many families it is the first thing that goes up.

A Simple Tree-Decorating Formula

You can use the same basic approach no matter your style.

1. Start with lights.
   Wrap lights from top to bottom, pushing them slightly into the branches so the glow feels even.
2. Add ribbon or garlands.
   Drape them loosely in soft diagonals or loops rather than wrapping too tightly.
3. Place statement ornaments.
   Put your favourite baubles and special pieces at eye level and spread them evenly around the tree.
4. Fill in gaps.
   Use smaller baubles and plain ornaments to balance the look.

Style Ideas for 2025 Christmas Tree Decorations NZ

Instead of chasing complicated trends, choose a simple theme that works with your furniture.

• Kiwi Coastal Tree
  Whites, sandy beiges and sea greens with a few shell or starfish ornaments. Works well in light, airy rooms and beside pale oak furniture.
• Bush and Berry Tree
  Eucalyptus stems, red berries, natural wood ornaments and warm white lights. Perfect alongside mid-tone oak or ash furniture.
• Soft Neutrals Tree
  Clear glass baubles, linen or velvet ribbons in cream, taupe or soft sage, and lots of warm lights. Calm, timeless, and easy to update each year.

✨ Solid wood styling tip – trees and furniture
If your tree is next to a solid oak sideboard or bookcase, pick at least one decoration colour that matches the warmth of the timber. For example, pair honey-gold baubles with natural oak, or deeper burgundy and brass with darker walnut pieces. Repeat a few tree ornaments on the sideboard so the whole room feels connected.

Packing Away: How to Store Christmas Decorations So They Last

How you pack decorations away is just as important as how you display them.

• Wrap fragile items in tissue or soft cloth and store them in solid boxes.
• Coil lights loosely and label each set so you know where it goes next year.
• Group items by room or by type so you can decorate in stages next season.

✨ Solid wood styling tip – storage
If you have a solid wood blanket box, storage chest or sideboard, consider dedicating a drawer or section to Christmas decorations. They stay protected, you always know where everything is, and the furniture works hard for you all year round.

Ready to Refresh Your Home for Christmas?

Christmas decorations in NZ do not need to be complicated. Choose a few key areas to focus on, answer the practical questions, and let your solid oak and solid wood furniture do some of the heavy lifting.

If you are planning a pre-Christmas refresh, you can explore:

• our Christmas decorations collection for wreaths, baubles and LED candles
• our living room furniture for solid oak TV units, coffee tables and sideboards
• our dining room furniture for extendable solid wood dining tables and chairs
• our bedroom and storage ranges for bed frames, bedside tables and blanket boxes

A well-chosen tree, a balanced table, a welcoming entryway and a handful of thoughtful details are more than enough to make your home feel festive, calm and ready for a long Kiwi summer holiday.