22 Christmas Door Decorating Contest Ideas
If you’ve ever been part of a Christmas door decorating contest, you know it’s not just about slapping a wreath on the door and calling it a day.
Nope—this is serious holiday business. It’s about creativity, storytelling, and that little extra sparkle that makes people stop in their tracks and say, “Now that’s festive!”
1. Santa’s Workshop Theme
Turn your door into Santa’s toy factory. Imagine candy-striped borders, cut-out elves, and miniature toy boxes peeking out. Use brown craft paper for a wood-like workshop effect.
A simple “Santa’s Workshop” sign can tie it all together. People love nostalgia, and this instantly makes them think of the North Pole hustle.
2. Gingerbread House Door
This one is a crowd favorite. Cover your door in brown butcher paper, then add colorful paper “candies,” gumdrops made from tissue paper, and a white icing border made from cotton or puffy paint. It’s like Willy Wonka meets Christmas, and trust me, judges eat this up (figuratively).
3. 3D Wreath Explosion
Instead of one wreath, create a door with multiple mini wreaths stacked and layered. Add bows, bells, and even tiny ornaments. This works especially well if your style is more elegant than playful. It looks classy but still festive enough to win points.
4. Frosty the Snowman Door
Cut out large white circles for Frosty’s body, stack them down the door, add a scarf, a carrot nose, and a big smile. Bonus tip: Use fabric for the scarf so it pops out in 3D. Kids especially love this one because Frosty feels like a friendly doorman welcoming them.
5. Fireplace with Stockings
Turn your door into a cozy Christmas fireplace. Use red brick-patterned wrapping paper or draw your own bricks. Hang mini stockings with people’s names on them. A little cotton fluff at the top can mimic smoke, and suddenly your door radiates warmth and family vibes.
6. Grinch Stealing Christmas
Everyone loves the Grinch. You can have him peeking from the top of the door, stealing ornaments, or even wrapping his long green fingers around the handle. It’s playful, it’s funny, and it grabs attention instantly. Add a quote like, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store…” and you’ll tug at hearts too.
7. Snow Globe Effect
Make your entire door look like a giant snow globe. Use silver or blue paper for the background, cut out snowflakes, and add a plastic sheet or cellophane to give it that shiny, glass-like look. Sprinkle fake snow at the bottom. Judges love unique concepts like this.
8. Nutcracker Soldiers
Decorate your door with life-size nutcracker guards standing tall on each side. Use bold reds, blues, and golds. The nutcracker look is regal and timeless, plus it makes your door look like the grand entrance to a holiday ballet.
9. Penguin Wonderland
Cover the door in icy blues and whites, then fill it with playful penguins sliding around on ice. You can cut them from black and white construction paper or print templates online. Add cotton batting at the bottom for snowbanks. This one’s adorable and lighthearted—perfect for schools.
10. Candy Cane Forest
Line your door with oversized candy canes made from wrapping paper tubes. Add peppermint swirls, lollipops, and gumdrops. This one works especially well if you’re competing in a group contest because everyone can contribute to making “sweets.”
11. Reindeer Stable
Turn your door into the stable where Santa’s reindeer hang out. Draw or cut out reindeer faces with their names above each stall. You can even leave one stall empty with a sign saying “Reserved for Rudolph.” That detail alone will make people chuckle.
12. Snowman Family Portrait
Instead of one snowman, create a whole family. Make each snowman’s scarf or hat personalized to represent your coworkers, classmates, or family members. This makes the door personal, funny, and memorable.
13. North Pole Signpost
Transform your door into a North Pole entryway. Add a big candy-striped pole with arrows pointing toward “Santa’s Workshop,” “Reindeer Barn,” and “Candy Cane Lane.” It feels interactive, like guests are stepping into the North Pole themselves.
14. Ugly Christmas Sweater Door
Cover the door in felt or fabric and decorate it like a giant ugly Christmas sweater. Think pom-poms, tinsel, glitter, and over-the-top patterns. The tackier, the better! It’s hilarious and guaranteed to stand out.
15. Nativity Scene Door
For a more traditional approach, create a simple nativity silhouette with black cutouts against a golden or starry background. Add a shining star at the top. This works beautifully for churches or anyone who wants to highlight the faith side of Christmas.
16. Elf on the Shelf Mischief
Design your door around the famous Elf on the Shelf causing trouble. Have him zip-lining across candy canes, tangled in lights, or peeking out of stockings. Kids love spotting all the silly scenarios.
17. Christmas Movie Theme
Pick a classic like Home Alone or Elf. For Home Alone, you could have Kevin holding his famous scream face at the door. For Elf, add Buddy saying, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Pop culture references usually score well.
18. Christmas Tree Farm
Create a mini Christmas tree lot right on your door. Use green triangles layered with ornaments and labels like “For Sale.” Add a string of fairy lights to make it sparkle at night. It looks festive, organized, and cheerful.
19. Snowy Village Scene
Design a cozy winter village with paper houses, twinkling lights, and snowflakes falling above. If you have the patience, you can even cut out tiny windows and place little LED tea lights inside the “houses.” It’s magical.
20. Santa Stuck in the Chimney
Make it look like Santa is halfway down the chimney—with just his boots and red pants sticking out at the top of the door. It’s funny, unexpected, and people will stop to laugh.
21. Present-Wrapped Door
The simplest but still effective idea: wrap your door like a giant Christmas present. Use metallic wrapping paper, add a huge bow in the center, and maybe tag it with “To: Everyone, From: Santa.” Sometimes clean and bold is all you need.
22. Interactive Advent Calendar Door
This one is ambitious but unforgettable. Turn your door into a giant advent calendar, with 25 numbered flaps people can open each day. Inside each flap, you can hide a funny note, picture, or small treat. It’s interactive, fun, and sure to be the talk of the contest.
Conclusion on 22 Christmas Door Decorating Contest Ideas
At the end of the day, a Christmas door decorating contest is about more than paper, tape, and tinsel—it’s about sparking joy and creating a little holiday magic. Whether you go with a classic gingerbread house, a hilarious Santa-stuck-in-the-chimney look, or an elaborate advent calendar door, the real trick is to choose something that makes people smile.
Here’s my personal secret: the doors that win aren’t always the ones with the fanciest materials, but the ones with the most heart. Once, my team won just because we turned our door into a funny reindeer barn where everyone’s names were on stockings. It wasn’t perfect, but it made people laugh and feel included—and that’s the spirit of Christmas.
So pick your favorite idea, grab some supplies, and let your door tell a story. Who knows? This year, the prize might be yours.
