Whimsical Christmas Decor: 17 Storybook Ideas Behind This Year’s Merrymaxxing Craze

Whimsical Christmas decor is the look everyone is talking about this season, and it has a funny new name: merrymaxxing. One of the biggest online craft marketplaces says searches for whimsy items are up 110 percent, and searches for DIY holiday activities have jumped a stunning 8,500 percent. Home magazines in the US and UK spent this week sharing paper chains across ceilings, giant velvet bows and woodland creatures in tiny party hats. It is not about perfect or expensive. It is about the childhood magic of a storybook Christmas, made with paper, ribbon and felt. We gathered 17 joyful ideas you can make at your kitchen table, all using safe LED lights instead of candles..

What Makes Whimsical Christmas Decor So Magical

Imagine walking into a room like this on Christmas morning. Paper chains loop across the ceiling, a giant bow hangs over the door and little felt animals party on the mantel. That is the spirit of whimsical Christmas decor: soft sugar plum colors, handmade pieces and a big dose of fun. According to this report on the merrymaxxing trend, interest in hand painted items is up 280 percent too. Start with one corner and let it grow. Which room in your home needs a little storybook magic..

You will need: Colored paper, velvet ribbon, felt in pastel colors, a glue stick, scissors and battery LED fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. Pick a palette of rose pink, powder blue and lilac. 2. Choose one big statement, like paper chains or a giant bow. 3. Fill in with small handmade pieces and warm LED lights.

Whimsical Christmas Decor Starts on the Ceiling

Remember making paper chains in school? They are back, and bigger than ever. Designers are swagging long chains in soft pastels across whole ceilings, from corner to corner and around the light fixture. It costs almost nothing, and the whole family can help. Cut strips while you watch a holiday movie and you will have yards of chain by the end. It is the most nostalgic piece of whimsical Christmas decor there is. How long could your family make yours?

You will need: Pastel paper or cardstock, a paper trimmer or scissors, a glue stick or stapler and removable ceiling hooks.

How to make it: 1. Cut lots of strips about 1 inch by 8 inches. 2. Loop and glue each strip through the last one. 3. Hang the chains in swags from removable hooks.

Giant Velvet Bows for Whimsical Christmas Decor

An oversized velvet bow with long trailing tails turns a plain doorway into a grand entrance. It is one of the boldest pieces of whimsical Christmas decor, and you only need wide velvet ribbon and a few minutes. Pink feels sweet and playful, while deep red feels classic. Pair it with a simple green garland for extra charm. Hang it with removable hooks so your walls stay safe. Which doorway would you crown first?

You will need: Wide velvet ribbon, about 4 yards per bow, floral wire, scissors and removable wall hooks.

How to make it: 1. Make two big loops and pinch the center. 2. Wrap the center with floral wire and a short ribbon piece. 3. Cut long tails at an angle and hang the bow above the door.

Felt Woodland Animals in Party Hats

Nothing says storybook like a little fox, a rabbit and a hedgehog dressed for a party. Sew or glue simple felt animal shapes, stuff them lightly and top each one with a tiny striped paper party hat. Line them up on the mantel among pine sprigs, and they look like they are celebrating Christmas too. Kids adore them and love moving them around each day. If you have scraps of felt, you can make a whole forest. Which animal would you make first?

You will need: Felt in orange, gray, brown and white, a needle and thread or fabric glue, stuffing, striped paper and small pom poms.

How to make it: 1. Cut two matching animal shapes and stitch or glue the edges. 2. Stuff them lightly and close. 3. Roll tiny paper cones as hats and glue a pom pom on top.

Velvet Toadstools for the Mantel

Red and white toadstools are an old good luck symbol in some European holiday traditions, and they fit the storybook look perfectly. Make them from velvet or felt over foam balls cut in half for caps, with paper roll stems. Group them in different sizes along the mantel with greenery and tiny LED lights. They look like they popped up overnight in an enchanted forest. How many would you make?

You will need: Red velvet or felt, white felt dots, half foam balls, cardboard tubes, white paint, a low temperature glue gun used by an adult and greenery.

How to make it: 1. Paint the cardboard tubes white for stems. 2. Wrap half foam balls in red velvet and glue on white dots. 3. Have an adult glue the caps to the stems.

Giant Folded Paper Ornaments in the Window

Big honeycomb paper ornaments look stunning hanging in a sunny window, especially with snow outside. They are light, cheap and come flat, so they store easily year after year. You can also make your own by gluing stacks of tissue paper in a pattern. Pastel pink and pale blue give them a soft, dreamy feel. This is one of the easiest kinds of whimsical Christmas decor for renters. Which window would you fill?

You will need: Honeycomb paper ornaments or tissue paper and glue, clear thread and removable hooks.

How to make it: 1. Open each ornament and clip it closed. 2. Tie clear thread through the top loop. 3. Hang them at different heights in the window.

Etched Gold Foil Gift Tags

Even the gifts can join the storybook look. Cut tags from gold foil card and gently press stars or swirls into them with an empty ballpoint pen. The pattern catches the light and looks like old fashioned etched metal. Tie them on with velvet ribbon over pastel wrapping paper. They feel special and handmade, and kids can help with the patterns. Who on your list gets the first tag?

You will need: Gold foil cardstock, an empty ballpoint pen, a hole punch, velvet ribbon and pastel wrapping paper.

How to make it: 1. Cut tag shapes from the foil card. 2. Press a star or swirl pattern into each one with an empty pen on a soft towel. 3. Punch a hole and tie on with ribbon.

Wonky Hand Cut Paper Star Garland

Perfect stars are not the goal here. Wonky, hand cut paper stars in pink, gold and blue look cheerful and full of personality. Cut them freehand or trace a cookie cutter, then sew or tape them onto a long string. Hang the garland over a sofa or across a bookshelf. It is a great craft for little hands, because every crooked star is part of the charm. For folded stars with more shape, try our paper Christmas stars. How many stars will you cut?

You will need: Colored and metallic paper, scissors, a pencil, a cookie cutter to trace and string or baker’s twine.

How to make it: 1. Trace or freehand stars of different sizes. 2. Cut them out, a little wonky is fine. 3. Tape or stitch them along the string and hang it up.

The Whimsical Christmas Decor Tree in Sugar Plum Colors

The sugar plum palette is the color story of whimsical Christmas decor this year: rose pink, powder blue and soft lilac. Choose ornaments only in those shades, add soft pastel ribbons and wrap the tree in warm white LED lights. The result feels sweet and dreamy, like a tree from a ballet. You can even mix in a few hand painted baubles from the next slide. Would you try pastels this year?

You will need: Ornaments in rose pink, powder blue and lilac, pastel ribbon and warm white LED lights.

How to make it: 1. Wrap the tree in LED lights from the inside out. 2. Add ribbon in loose swags. 3. Hang the biggest ornaments first, then fill gaps with small ones.

Hand Painted Dotty Baubles

Plain shatterproof baubles become one of a kind treasures with a few dots and stripes of paint. Use acrylic paint and the end of a paintbrush to make perfect polka dots. Stripes can be done with thin tape. Pastel colors keep the look soft and storybook. This is a lovely activity for kids and grown ups together on a cozy evening. Hand painted items are trending up 280 percent, so you are right on time. Which pattern would you paint?

You will need: Plain shatterproof baubles, acrylic paints in pastels, small brushes, thin tape and a clear sealer.

How to make it: 1. Paint a base coat if you like and let it dry. 2. Dot on polka dots with the brush end or add taped stripes. 3. Seal and hang to dry.

Feathered Birds Clipped on Branches

Little clip on birds look like they have just landed on your tree. Soft pastel feathers make them feel light and magical. You can find them at craft stores or make your own from felt with a few craft feathers for the tail, glued onto a small clothespin. Clip them at different angles all around the tree so they seem to be chatting. Kids love counting them. How many birds will visit your tree?

You will need: Clip on ornament birds or felt, craft feathers, small clothespins and fabric glue.

How to make it: 1. Cut two felt bird shapes and glue them together. 2. Add feathers for the tail and wings. 3. Glue a small clothespin underneath and clip it to a branch.

Whimsical Christmas Decor for the Table: Paper Houses

A row of little white paper houses running down the dining table looks like a snowy village. Fold them from cardstock using simple templates, and add tiny bottle brush trees between them. Slip a battery LED tea light inside a few houses so the windows glow. It is a magical centerpiece that costs very little. Guests always lean in for a closer look. How many houses would your village have?

You will need: White cardstock, a house template, scissors, a glue stick, mini bottle brush trees and battery LED tea lights.

How to make it: 1. Print and cut house templates from cardstock. 2. Cut out tiny windows, fold and glue. 3. Line them up with mini trees and tuck LED lights inside.

A Storybook Bowl of Pears and Walnuts

Old storybooks often show holiday tables piled with fruit and nuts, and that look is back. Fill a footed bowl with green pears and walnuts, tuck in some greenery and tie a velvet ribbon around the stand. It looks like something from a fairy tale feast. Best of all, you can eat it later. It is simple, natural and lovely for a sideboard or coffee table. What would you add to your bowl?

You will need: A footed bowl or cake stand, green pears, walnuts in their shells, fresh greenery and velvet ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Fill the bowl with walnuts first. 2. Nestle the pears on top. 3. Tuck greenery around the edge and tie ribbon around the stand.

Wrapped Candy Tucked Into Shelves

Here is a playful trick from the merrymaxxing trend: tuck brightly wrapped candies into little gaps on your shelves, between books and ornaments. It feels like a treasure hunt, and the shiny wrappers add sparkle without any extra decorations. Kids especially love finding them. Use candies that do not melt easily and keep them out of reach of pets. Which shelf would you fill first?

You will need: Brightly wrapped candies that do not melt easily, open bookshelves and small ornaments.

How to make it: 1. Clear a little space in front of books and between items. 2. Tuck in small groups of candy. 3. Refill as family members find them.

Garlands Framing Every Doorway

Framing an entire doorway with a full garland makes walking from room to room feel like a celebration. Add pastel ornaments and pink ribbon for the whimsical look. Use lightweight faux garland and removable hooks so the door frame stays undamaged. Doing every doorway in a hallway creates a magical tunnel effect. It is a big impact project for a little money. Which doorway in your home would look best framed?

You will need: Lightweight faux garland, removable hooks, pastel ornaments, floral wire and pink ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Place removable hooks at the top corners and halfway down each side. 2. Drape the garland and secure with floral wire. 3. Wire on ornaments and ribbon.

Gingerbread Icing Style Ornaments

Puffy white paint lines make plain ornaments look like freshly iced gingerbread cookies. Use dimensional fabric paint or puffy paint to pipe swirls, dots and zigzags onto brown or red ornaments. They look good enough to eat, but they are not edible, so keep them high if you have little ones. Hang them near the lights so the white lines glow. It is one of the cutest pieces of whimsical Christmas decor to make together. Which design would you pipe first?

You will need: Brown, red or wooden ornaments, white puffy or dimensional paint and a soft cloth.

How to make it: 1. Wipe the ornaments clean. 2. Pipe swirls, dots and zigzags with the puffy paint. 3. Let them dry flat overnight before hanging.

A Whimsical Christmas Decor Reading Nook

Finish your whimsical Christmas decor with a cozy corner made for stories. A soft velvet chair, a knitted throw, a stack of picture books and a string of warm white LED fairy lights above make the perfect spot for holiday reading. Add a small tree or a few pastel ornaments nearby. It becomes everyone’s favorite place to sit on cold December evenings. Which Christmas book would you read there first?

You will need: A comfy chair, a soft throw, a small basket of holiday books, battery LED fairy lights and a few pastel ornaments.

How to make it: 1. Pick a quiet corner near a window if you can. 2. Hang LED fairy lights above the chair with removable hooks. 3. Add the throw, books and a few ornaments.