15 DIY Office Christmas Decorations to Try This Holiday Season

The holiday season is a great time to brighten up your workspace. A few simple decorations can make your office feel more festive, boost your mood, and show off your creative spirit. In this blog post, you’ll find 15 easy and fun DIY office Christmas decoration ideas you can try this year.

1. Festive Desk Plant Wrap

Give one of your green desk plants a holiday makeover by wrapping the pot in festive paper or fabric. Choose red, green, gold or silver materials, and maybe tie a little ribbon around the plant’s stem or the pot. This instantly transforms a plain plant into a holiday accent without much effort.

You can also add small ornaments hanging from the stem of the plant (lightweight ones) or place a mini string of battery-powered fairy lights tucked inside the plant leaves. Since you’re in an office environment, keep things tidy and safe—make sure the lights don’t interfere with your keyboard or cables. This simple upgrade makes your workspace feel jolly while remaining professional.

2. Gift-Box Stationery Organizer

Take an old cardboard box or a shoebox and wrap it like a Christmas present. Use wrapping paper, ribbon, or even brown paper with painted stars. Then use it to organise your office supplies—pens, sticky notes, paperclips, or other small desk items. It becomes both functional and festive.

You can make several of these “gifts” and stack or arrange them on a shelf or beside your desk. Anchor each box with a small label (e.g., “pens”, “paperclips”) to keep things neat. The idea is to turn everyday office clutter into part of your holiday décor. This not only helps tidy up but also gives your space a warm seasonal touch.

3. Holiday File-Folder Covers

Give your plain file folders or binders a holiday facelift by adding decorative covers. Use scrapbook paper, holiday patterned craft paper, or printable holiday patterns. Cover the front of each folder and add a festive sticker or cut-out (snowflake, star, Santa hat, etc.). This is great because it keeps the files functional while adding cheer.

The decorative covers also give you a chance to display your personality—fun holiday fonts, glitter accents, or even hand-drawn holiday doodles. At the end of the season, you simply remove the covers and re-use the folders.

4. Candy-Wrapper Desk Mat

Rather than buying a new desk mat, turn one into a festive piece by using clean candy wrappers (from un-opened new sweets) or holiday wrapping scraps, and placing them under a clear plastic desk mat. Arrange the wrappers in a random colourful collage, then cover with the clear mat so you still have a smooth workspace. It’s playful but practical.

This decoration idea works well because you’re repurposing items that might otherwise be thrown out, and you’re adding colour and holiday feel without blocking your working area. Make sure the wrappers are clean and flat. If you don’t have candy wrappers, you can also use bits of holiday greeting cards. At the end of the season, you swap back to your usual mat.

5. Mini Stocking Pen Wall Display

Hang several small Christmas stockings (the kind 8-10 inches tall) on the wall or side of your cubicle and use them to hold pens, markers, or small office gadgets. Use adhesive hooks or small nails (if allowed). The stockings add a fun holiday element and turn storage into part of your decoration.

You can mix and match stockings in different colours and patterns, and label each one if you like (“Pens”, “Chargers”, “USBs”). Because they’re hung up, they free up desk space and add vertical interest to your workspace décor. Just ensure they are secure and don’t interfere with cables or foot traffic. Plus, after the holidays you can easily remove them and store them away for next year.

6. Holiday Themed Desk Calendar

Take your ordinary desk calendar and give it a holiday makeover. Replace some of the monthly pages with festive illustrations (downloadable or hand-drawn) or simply add holiday stickers and borders to each page for December. This adds a small decorative touch and keeps your scheduling organised.

Another twist: make a “12 days of office cheer” calendar on your desk where each day you do a tiny office treat—maybe a candy cane, a post-it compliment for a colleague, or a small decorative element. That way your calendar becomes interactive and festive, not just a scheduling tool. It’s subtle but helps build holiday spirit in a professional setting.

7. Cinnamon-Stick & Pine-Cone Jar

Fill a clear glass jar (mason or regular) with cinnamon sticks, small pine-cones and maybe a few sprigs of evergreen (real or artificial). Place it on your desk or shelf. The natural elements add texture and a hint of holiday scent (if you choose real cinnamon) and look elegant yet simple.

You could also tie a thin ribbon around the jar’s neck, or label it “Holiday Cheer”. This type of decoration blends nature and minimalism, keeping your workspace calm and festive at the same time. Just ensure the jar is stable and not near anything that might knock it over. After the holidays you can reuse the jar for other décor or storage.

8. Holiday Colour Pop File Tray

Change the look of your file trays (in-box/out-box trays) by painting or wrapping them in holiday colours—red, green, silver or gold. If painting, use removable spray or craft paint so you can revert later. If wrapping, use holiday paper to cover the sides and top edge. You’ll have functional trays with an instant festive update.

You might coordinate the trays with matching decorative items like a red pen holder or a green sticky note pad. The idea is to make even the most routine office items part of the holiday theme. Because the trays hold papers, you don’t affect their function. When the season is over, you remove the wrapping or repaint, and you’re back to standard trays.

9. Seasonal Mouse Pad Swap

A small but effective idea: swap your regular mouse pad for a holiday-themed one. You can buy one or make your own by printing a festive design on paper and placing it under a clear plastic mouse pad. Choose a design with snowflakes, Christmas lights, or holiday typography to brighten your workspace.

A themed mouse pad gives you daily visual enjoyment each time you use your computer mouse. It’s a simple change but one that helps communicate holiday fun without going overboard. Make sure the surface remains smooth for mouse movement. After the season, you can keep the pad for next year or use a generic one.

10. Holiday Memo Board Pins

If you have a memo board or corkboard in your office, swap your usual board pins with holiday shaped pins—stars, mini Christmas trees, candy canes. You can also add a felt holiday banner across the top of the board with small lights or garland. This keeps the memo board functional while adding festive touches.

attach small holiday greeting cards from colleagues or clients to the memo board with those themed pins. It becomes a kind of “holiday happy wall” in micro-format. Because it uses what you already have (memo board + pins), it’s cheap and easy. At season end, you simply replace the pins and remove the banner.

11. Festive Laptop Skin or Cover

Add a seasonal skin or cover to your laptop—it can be a removable vinyl sticker or a simple cut-out paper design placed under a clear cover. Choose a design that suits your office environment: something like subtle gold pine branches on a white background, or red and white stripes. This decoration is personal and moves with you if you take your laptop to meetings.

This kind of decoration also communicates your holiday spirit to colleagues and clients without being too loud. If you use a removable sticker, you can store it and reuse next year. Make sure the skin doesn’t block ventilation or ports. It’s a simple upgrade for your main work tool.

12. LED Candle Cluster on Shelf

Rather than real candles (which may be unsafe in the office), use battery-operated LED candles. Group 3-5 of them in different heights on a shelf or cabinet. Surround them with a few pine sprigs or star ornaments to create a holiday “glow zone”. This adds warmth and ambience without risk.

Choose warm white or soft yellow LED lights so the glow is gentle and work-appropriate. You can also place a small mirror behind the cluster to reflect the light and make it feel bigger. Keep wires hidden and batteries fresh. At season’s end, store the candles for next year or use them for other décor.

13. Holiday Cup-Coaster Set

Make or buy a set of holiday coasters for your desk. You could craft your own by cutting cork into squares and painting them with holiday motifs, then sealing them with a clear coat. Alternatively, wrap existing coasters in holiday paper and laminate them. They’ll keep your desk clean while adding holiday flair.

Using a holiday coaster set also gives your colleagues permission to place their own cups by your desk without fearing they’ll mess up your decor. You can choose colours that match your office furniture or add fun contrast. After the season, rotate to a plain set or store these for next year.

14. Seasonal Air-Freshener Clip

Bring holiday scent into your office furniture by making a simple seasonal air-freshener clip that attaches to your chair or cubicle wall. Use a small wooden clip, thread a mini sachet of cinnamon-pine scent or peppermint, and tie a red ribbon. This adds aroma and decoration quietly.

Smell strongly connects with memory and mood, so a subtle holiday scent can make your workspace feel special. Just be considerate of others: choose scents that are mild and office-safe (avoid anything too strong). After the season ends, you can refresh the sachets or swap them out for a new scent.

15. Winter-Theme Edge of Desk Trim

Add a simple winter-themed trim to the edge of your desk or shelf. Use felt strips in white and silver, and attach snowflake cut-outs or small holiday lights (battery powered). This gives your desk a crisp ‘ice/ snow’ look that’s still professional and clean.

The trim skirts the bottom edge of your desk, so it doesn’t interfere with your working surface. Choose materials that are easy to remove and leave no residue. The visual effect is subtle but effective: you’re dressing your workspace for the season in a quiet and stylish manner. When the holidays are over, roll up the trim and store it for next year.

Conclusion

There you have 15 fresh DIY office Christmas decorations you can try this holiday season. Each idea is simple, affordable and designed for an office environment—so you won’t disrupt your workspace or stir too much fuss. Mix a few of these ideas to create a cohesive holiday look: maybe a festive desk mat, holiday file-folders, and an LED candle cluster.