The bathroom is the one room every guest visits during the holidays, yet it’s often the last one we decorate. A few festive touches, like a garland over the mirror, a tiny tree, or holiday towels, make it feel part of the celebration without getting in the way.
These nine ideas come from real bathrooms and powder rooms decorated by home bloggers. Each one notes what makes it work and how to adapt it to your own space. Candle advice follows the NFPA candle safety tip sheet.
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1. Frame the Shower With a Frosted Garland
Giusti of Domestically Blissful framed her arched shower opening in a frosted garland for a snowy, all-white bathroom. She lists flocked garland, Command hooks, zip ties and fairy lights among the supplies for her look.
Make it fuller: She doubled the garland to give it more body. Faux greenery is the practical choice near a shower, where steam can be hard on decorations.
Try it: Removable adhesive hooks such as Command small clear wire hooks can hold a garland along a doorway or opening without drilling. Check the package for the weight limit and suitable surfaces.
2. Set a Small Flocked Tree on the Vanity
In the same bathroom, one small flocked tree sits between two arched mirrors on the double vanity. It adds Christmas cheer while leaving room on the counter for everyday routines.
Why it works: A single tree centered between two sinks reads as intentional, and its reflection in the mirrors doubles the effect.
Try it: If you’d rather group several small trees, a set of mini bottle brush trees like these 9-piece green and silver trees can be split between the vanity, a windowsill and a shelf.
3. Tuck a Lit Tree Into a Basket in the Corner
Sonya Barker of At Home With The Barkers put a small lit tree in a woven basket in her black hall bathroom. She first tried a bathroom tree the year before, liked it, and brought it back with red beads and a bow, alongside a stuffed snowman in a wire wall basket.
Why it works: The warm lights and natural basket stand out against the dark walls, and a slim tree fits in a corner where floor space would otherwise go unused.
Safety note: Keep plug-in lights and cords well away from the sink, tub and shower, and choose a spot where the tree won’t be bumped or splashed.
4. Dress the Toilet Tank With a Candle Tray
In the same bathroom, a wooden tray of pillar candles sits on the toilet tank under a woven wall plate decorated with a large white snowflake. A small lamp on a side table adds a warm glow.
Why it works: A tray corrals small decorations into one tidy group, and you can lift it off in seconds for cleaning.
Try it: The NFPA recommends flameless candles for home use. A remote-controlled set such as these real-wax LED pillar candles with a timer gives the same soft glow with no flame near towels or tissue.
5. Drape Garland and Bows Over the Mirror
Carol of Bluesky at Home hung garland above the large Venice artwork over her vanity, finishing each end with bows of blue velvet and skinny silver mesh ribbon. Three glass ornaments tied with dusty blue wired ribbon hang in the center.
Why it works: She chose blue and silver to suit her blue walls and wallpaper rather than forcing in red and green. Matching your bathroom’s colors keeps holiday decor looking like it belongs.
Try it: The same garland, bow and ornament combination works over any bathroom mirror. Carol suggests trying it there, too.
6. Set Up a Holiday Bathtub Tray
Carol also decorated a new teak bathtub tray with a Christmas candle, small gold and blue ornaments and her felt birds. She calls it a great place to relax after a long day of decorating.
Why it works: A bath tray is decoration you actually use. Swap the everyday items for a few seasonal pieces and the tub instantly feels festive.
Candle note: If you light a real candle at bath time, the NFPA says to keep it at least 1 foot from anything that can burn, set it in a sturdy holder, and blow it out when you leave the room.
7. Hang a Mini Wreath on the Powder Room Mirror
Dixie Delights describes her powder room as tiny and hard to photograph. Once again she hung a small wreath with a red velvet bow on the mirror.
Why it works: In a tiny room, the mirror is the focal point. One small wreath against busy chinoiserie wallpaper is festive without crowding the space.
Try it: Choose a wreath much smaller than your mirror so the glass stays usable, and hang it from a ribbon looped over the top of the frame.
8. Put Out Holiday Guest Towels and Soaps
In the same powder room, Dixie Delights uses holiday soaps, monogrammed guest towels and red roses to keep things easy and festive.
Why it works: Guests notice towels and soap first. Switching them for the season costs little and needs no extra counter space.
Try it: Stack paper or linen guest towels on a small tray so they stay neat and dry, and put one festive hand soap on display.
9. Build a Blue-and-White Winter Wall Display
A Debbie-Dabble Christmas gives every room in her townhouse its own Christmas theme. Her powder room becomes a blue Christmas wonderland, with wall shelves full of snowy village pieces, mini trees, greenery and hanging snowflakes.
Why it works: Wall shelves lift decorations off the counter and away from splashes, so even a small powder room can hold a large display.
Try it: Pick one color story, such as blue and white, and gather collectibles you already own instead of buying new.
Tips for Decorating a Steamy Bathroom
- Use faux greenery near showers and tubs. Save fresh stems for a powder room or a vanity away from steam.
- Keep cords, plugs and string lights well away from water.
- Choose flameless candles. The NFPA recommends them, and if you do burn candles, keep them at least 1 foot from anything that can burn and put them out when you leave the room.
- Leave space on the counter for toothbrushes, soap and daily routines.
- Use trays and wall shelves to keep small decorations together and off wet surfaces.
Pick one or two of these ideas, like a garland over the mirror and a set of holiday towels, and your bathroom will feel as festive as the rest of the house.
