A Bow-Lover’s Guide to December Decorating

December decorating is all about adding warmth, charm, and a touch of personality — and nothing does that better than a perfectly placed Holiday Bow. Whether you love a classic Gingham bow, a bold pop of red, or a cozy patterned ribbon, bows can elevate every corner of your home. Here’s your go-to guide for styling with intention, creativity, and plenty of festive flair.

1. Dress Up Your Mantel With Cozy December Layers

Your mantel is the heart of holiday decorating — the place where stockings hang, garlands glow, and photos get taken all month long.

If you want something effortlessly charming, style your garland with the Blue Gingham Bow

Place one at the center of the garland or space two smaller bows on each end for a balanced, classic look. Pairing this with ideas from our blog How to Style Your Mantel with Garland and Bows helps you build dimension, layering textures and soft colors for a cozy, welcoming scene.

2. Add Instant Charm With a Bow-Topped Wreath

One of the simplest and most show-stopping ways to use a Decorative bow is on your wreath. Indoors or outdoors, a bow instantly transforms a wreath from plain greenery to a full holiday statement.

A favorite option for this is the Christmas Plaid Bow

Its heavier cotton fabric creates the perfect drape, and the pattern gives a warm, traditional December feel. Whether placed at the top of the wreath for a classic look or at the bottom for a modern twist, this bow brings texture and visual interest. For more decorating ideas, the blog Front Door Magic: Holiday Bows for Every Season shows how to use bold, graphic bows in ways that still feel soft, warm, and festive.

3. Elevate Your Bed or Guestroom With a Statement Bow

The Black Gingham Bow adds a crisp, clean contrast to soft bedding, creating a chic boutique-hotel moment. It’s stunning in neutral rooms, farmhouse décor, or spaces that need just a touch of graphic pattern. For inspiration on why black gingham works year-round — even in December — take a look at our blog Timeless and Chic: The Classic Appeal of the Black Gingham Bow.

4. Swap Everyday Bows for Festive Door Bows

A Door Bow is one of the easiest ways to make your home instantly festive without spending hours decorating. Style a large bow at the top corner of your door or wrap ribbon around the entire door for a gift-wrapped effect.

The Red Gingham Bow is perfect for this. It’s bright, festive, and classic — the kind of bow that looks good with greenery, wood doors, white doors, or porch lights. Look for  inspiration from the blog The Art of the Tree Topper for ways to play with scale and position.

5. Style Your Staircase for a Magazine-Worthy Moment

Since you also have photos of a bow tied on a garland along a stair railing, bring that idea forward here. A staircase wrapped in greenery becomes even more magical with bows spaced evenly down the railing.

You can use either the black gingham bow or the blue gingham bow for this — both create structured, polished lines that make your staircase look straight out of a holiday home tour.