3 Ways to Style a Box for Christmas Decor
What is a box? It’s a five-sided container, with or without a top. It’s perfect to use in decorating, especially at Christmas. Let me show you three ways to style a box for Christmas decor.
Have you thought about using a box in your Christmas decorating? Why not? I bet you have a box of some sort laying around your house.
Need an idea? I can show you a few ways to style a box for Christmas decor.
Boxes can be new or old, wood or glass, metal or cardboard. Maybe your box is a crate. Maybe it has a lid or not.
Whether you use a crate or a box, whether it’s made of wood or cardboard, the result is the same – a wonderful container for Christmas decorations.
Christmas in July
It’s time for my annual Christmas in July posts. Over the next two weeks, I’ll share some of my favorite Christmas creations from the past few years: Christmas decorations, Christmas DIY projects, Christmas tablescape ideas, and Christmas recipes. Join me to get a head start on your Christmas celebrations. Don’t forget to PIN these ideas now to use whenever you are ready to start creating your special holiday.
Enjoy, Carol
3 Ways to Style a Box for Christmas Decor
I have boxes, I have crates, and I am ready to roll.
The inspiration for this wood box Christmas decor was created by Jennifer of Grace House.
What does this Christmas vignette have going for it?
- the box (duh!)
- greenery
- Christmas trees
- red berries for a pop of color
My Boxes for Christmas Decor
I didn’t have to buy a box or crate to create these Christmas vignettes. I had two boxes and one crate that would be perfect. In fact, I had everything I needed to create three ways to style a box for my Christmas decor.
I hope that these three ideas will give you ideas to use boxes in your Christmas decorations.
First Styled Box – Vintage Box for Christmas Decor
When you find vintage boxes at a flea market or estate sale, you feel like you have hit the vintage jackpot.
I found my Remington Sure Shot box at an estate sale several years ago. It’s one of my favorite finds. This old box is perfect for adding a vintage vibe to my Christmas decor.
I’ve used this box in different seasons in different settings.
I have used this vintage box all during the year, but it seems special for the holidays. If you have a box or want to look for one, here are more ideas on how to use one in your home decor.
For Christmas, I decided to use my Sure Shot box as part of our entry decorations.
Styled on our entry commode (In case you were wondering, a commode is a chest of drawers or chiffonier of a decorative type popular in the 18th century.), it provides the focal point every entry needs.
I set it on our commode and filled it with greenery, a Santa, and a reindeer.
The Santa is one of our extensive collection. We have had this reindeer for over 20 years. He got a new bow with ribbon that I bought a few weeks ago for our new Christmas bows.
I added my large wood slice as a base for a Christmas tree in a galvanized container and a red candle in a cloche.
The vignette needed more color so I added a string of red beads to the greenery and some red jingle bells to the Christmas tree. A couple of white bottle brush trees completes this box Christmas vignette.
I wanted to be sure that this entry could be candle-lit, so I exchanged the cloche for an open vase.
See how easy it is to use a wood box in your Christmas decor?
Second Styled Box – Captain’s Box in the Entry
Across from the entry is our staircase. Next to the staircase is another vintage box. This is my second way to style a box for Christmas decor.
I bought this one in Jefferson, Texas, decades ago. Supposedly, it is a traditional ship captain’s storage box. Over the years, it has held everything from legos to DVDs to blankets.
I’ve used it as a little side table and plant stand. These days, it holds Nola’s toys.
We have a tall metal candle stand with a glass insert next to one side of the staircase. The first thing I did was wrap a garland of greenery and fairy lights around the candle stand.
Next, I opened the lid to the captain’s box and filled it with cardboard boxes. Then I draped a piece of Christmas plaid flannel that I bought at Joann on the lid and over the cardboard boxes.
My plan is to add either fringe or pom-poms to the flannel, but that will wait for now.
The tall snowman gives height to the scene.
I added another tree in a galvanized pail.
My favorite thing was getting to use the little vintage truck that Sweet Shark and I bought over a year ago on our anniversary weekend in Granbury, Texas.
Of course, I stuffed fairy lights inside. A couple more bottle brush trees and I have my second way to style a box for Christmas.
You may be thinking, “but I can’t see the box”. This is Christmas – imagine the pretty box under the plaid flannel.
Third Styled Box – Use a crate for Christmas Decor
Now your box doesn’t have to be vintage from an estate sale or flea market. It doesn’t have to be old. It doesn’t even have to be a box. A crate from the craft store will work – I have painted and decorated one of those.
I have had this crate for several years. (Long before I knew what a blog was, I was painting and DIYing – wish I had taken pictures of all those projects for future blog posts.) You can find this type of crate at craft stores or online.
I painted it a light grey and used some old-style vinyl stencils (This was long before A Makers’ Studio) to add Christmas words in red on both sides.
Later I found some birch branches at my local Central Market. I bought 5 of them and then sawed them into 12 – 14-inch lengths.
Next, is a project that you want to do outside because it is messy.
Spray the logs with adhesive and sprinkle glitter on them. (I’m not sure I would recommend this step as the glitter is always leaving sparkles on the floor) It sure is pretty at night when it sparkles.
TIP: Be sure to do this outside or protect your surface and surrounding area.
Another Santa is the center of this box vignette.
I divided my birch logs into two parts and used galvanized pails to hold them. Then it was easy to “stuff” a piece of greenery in the crate.
The red candle in my large candle holder finishes off this final way to style a box for Christmas decor.
When we light the fireplace, I may have to move this box vignette farther away from the fireplace.
Thanks so much for stopping by to see my three ways to style a box for Christmas. I actually have a few more boxes to decorate for Christmas.
Did you get inspired to find a box or decorate one you already have? I hope so.
Check out some of my Christmas Boards on Pinterest:
Our Favorite
Christmas Pinterest Boards
If you don’t have a box for this Christmas, then save one for next Christmas.
Please PIN this post for your own inspiration.
I always so enjoy seeing your decor; you make it look easy and doable even by noncrafters! I am busy Christmas crafting for a Christmas in July sale. This morning it was “cat toy ornaments. Some for my church bazaar and cat moms! Sitting still in this heat and crafting at the kitchen table in front of a fan is the best thing for me to do!
Love how you style the three boxes. Very inspiring. Thanks for linking up. I’m featuring you on Happiness Is Homemade #406. Congrats!
Mel
decorcraftdesign,com
I have several wood boxes and crates around my house that I didn’t even think to use this holiday season. Such beautiful ideas! Thanks for the inspiration. #HomeMattersParty
Thank you for sharing your creative mind! Love people like you, so much. You keep my creativity flowing too.
Thank you, Donna. That makes my day. You are so sweet to comment. I’ll keep trying to deliver!
Such fantastic ways to style a crate ! I did a similar post too, last week. The bird branches is a lovely touch too.
Thank you for sharing with us at Meraki Link Party.
Naush
Carol, I love how you’ve come up with different ways to style your box and boxes!! I went for cute snowmen and toys as my theme around our fireplace and Christmas tree this year as you’ll see in my crate (not linked but published anyway). Happy to have featured your post at this week’s Share Your Style #284. <3
Hope you are enjoying your home all decorated for the Christmas season,
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
Carol,
I love your ideas with crates for the holidays. So beautiful! Crates really are so versatile. That Remmington crate is amazing!
Carol I love your take on this challenge! The whole entry vignette is so classic and elegant for Christmas. I love all the treasures!
I also love the rustic stenciled crate with logs and woodsy Santa! Just adorable!
So fun hopping with you. Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much, Amber. Love being on the Christmas blog hop with you. Happy Holidays.
Oh I really love all three ways. Adding the santa and the barkwood branches is such a great idea to the boxes. Such creative ideas and so fun.
Thank you, Marty. I appreciate your feedback. On to a new year of creativity!
Carol, this is so well done! I always enjoy seeing you do multiple vignettes for challenges like this. It really gives us plenty of ideas to work with. I especially love your Santa and crate collections. You have some really unique pieces that make for a very eye-catching display, and you style it all so well! Have a great Thanksgiving!
How fun…I’m planning on paint/staining an old apple crate to use on my front porch under our vintage sleigh for a ‘coffee table’. Not that is ever nice enough to be out there in the winter. Hugs, and great ideas! Sandi
Carol, you were definitely ready to roll! I barely had one idea and am jealous of your three ideas and how you styled each one so festively. Love that Santa and gold deer! Thank you so much for joining in. You always have great ideas. Happy Thanksgiving!
Carol, what a nice variety of looks, all fabulous in their own way! I love your reindeer and vintage Santa!
It was so fun particpating in the Pinterest Challenge with you. I’m so excited to do it again!
Niky @ The House on Silverado
Beautiful inspiration Carol, I might have to steal that Remington wood box. Love the rustic weathered look and how you have it styled so elegantly!
You know I’m loving that old Remington box, Carol. Oh, the dovetailed corners; so awesome! Fun that you showed 3 different ways to decorate with 3 different boxes; great ideas!
Your Christmas crate boxes are so pretty… I especially love the one filled with the birch logs and greenery. So pretty! Inquiring minds want to know… what is a ‘commode’? I’ve always thought it was another name for a toilet! 😉
Carol, I love what you have done with your crates! They are so pretty! I love the reindeer, your Santa collection and the birch branches! If I lived closer to you, I would be able to give you some birch branches! Our home here on the lake is surrounded by birch trees! They are so beautiful!
We have an antique milk crate filled with “real” pine boughs (in water), pinecones and birch branches on our hearth. I added a plaid bow to match the ones on our mantel. We love Christmas! It’s such a wonderful time of the year!
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thanks for always bringing us such wonderful inspiration! We appreciate what you do, Carol!
So many wonderful and inspiring ideas Carol! I adore the vignette with the reindeer. It captured my heart!
I love that there are so many different way to style a crate for the Holidays. Thanks for the inspo – they were really beautiful! Have a great Thanksgiving!
The Sure Shot box is my favorite. I love that your banister echos the inspiration picture and it is reflected in the mirror. Such a fun detail. Your house looks all ready to go for Christmas.
Every version that you shared is so pretty! My vintage loving heart picks the Remington box as my favorite. I love vintage crates with writing on them. The crate that you made long ago makes a great base for a Christmas display. You may have to make another one for a blog post!
Carol,
I loved all three of your crates. So much talent.
Rachel
Hi Carol, I love the backstories you included in your finds. Those reindeer bring back memories! And you know I love anything repurposed! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Say hi to Mr. Shark ;0) I just love his nickname! Oh and I love the cloche and wood slice! laura
Laura, thank you so much for your sweet comments. Memories do make items and holiday decorations more special. I hope you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving. PS. My son is back living on Denver. Hope to visit in the spring.