Best Decor and Ideas for Your Christmas in July Celebration

If the summer heat has you dreaming of a white Christmas, you can embrace all the holiday season has to offer before you know it. Christmas in July is a prime opportunity to deck your halls with a sun-kissed twist.

Imagine hanging Christmas lights on your indoor plants, creating coastal Christmas tablescapes and baking summer-themed Christmas cookies with loved ones. This isn’t the Christmas decorating you’re used to. Instead, it’s a fusion of warm-weather fun and traditional festive merriment.

Is Christmas in July a Real Thing?

No one knows the exact origin of Christmas in July, but the “holiday” is traced to a summer camp in North Carolina on July 24th and 25th over 90 years ago. By 1940, the film Christmas in July spotlighted the annual festivity despite the plot having nothing to do with the holidays. 

In 1944, the military and U.S. Post Office started a Christmas in July early mailing campaign for soldiers deployed overseas during World War II, while retailers began capitalizing on it with summer discounts in the 1950s.

Why Celebrate the Holidays During the Summer?

People wait all year for summer to roll around, especially in colder climates with long winters. However, there’s a point when you can’t help but start thinking about the holidays. 

Christmas in July is a chance to celebrate the season’s magic without the chaos of buying and wrapping gifts, planning five-course meals and dealing with familial conflicts. Instead, it’s a great excuse to decorate your home, throw a small gathering and enjoy a few Santa-on-the-beach-themed treats. 

According to psychologist Deborah Serani, decorating for Christmas produces dopamine, which puts you in a good mood. Much of this sensation is due to the bright lights and colors, which boost your energy, pleasure and sense of nostalgia.

7 Ways to Embrace Christmas in July 

With Christmas in July approaching, these seven decorative ideas can help you achieve a cheery holiday while sporting a tank top and flip-flops.

1. String Holiday Lights With a Summery Vibe

Holiday lights are some of the most beloved Christmas elements throughout the season. Instead of traditional green and red, opt for a multicolored string of pink, teal and yellow bulbs. 

Install them around your garage, front porch, patio or living room to assemble a lively ambience. You can also use whimsical fairy lights throughout the garden and around large plants or trees.

As you know from past Christmases, lighting can drive up your electricity bills. To save energy and money, consider LED bulbs for longer performance. Solar-powered lights are also energy-efficient and capture sunlight for a dreamy nighttime glow.

2. Make Christmas in July Vignettes

Christmas in July vignettes are the perfect decoration for a console or countertop. Start with a mini tree, lights, ornaments, tea light candles or shells and build a small holiday display with a summery aesthetic.

There are plenty of opportunities to add tropical colors or stick with a crisp, white snowscape. You can also incorporate Santa and snowman figurines or beach toys for a playful contrast that encapsulates both seasons. 

3. Create a Festive Tablescape

Spruce up your dining room table with a festive setting. A turquoise, coral or bright yellow tablecloth provides a warm-weather base. Running jute or burlap down the center is another option for bringing in natural or organic elements. 

Add holiday placemats and chargers, or opt for Christmas-patterned napkins. Likewise, consider using silvery napkin rings or make your own by gluing shells to unfinished wood or wicker rings. Scattering shells, starfish and succulents around an eye-catching centerpiece can tie the decor together.

4. Decorate a Beach-Themed Christmas Tree

Adorn a mini tree with summer decorations. Drill holes through seashells and create a garland with jute. You can also make your own seashell and starfish ornaments. 

If you don’t feel like pulling out your mini Christmas tree, any large houseplant or palm tree would work. To hang lights, it is best to start at the top of the tree and work your way downward. 

5. Hang a Holiday Wreath

A holiday wreath is a simple decorative touch that can have a massive impact on curb appeal. While you can unpack one of your favorite wreaths from storage, you might upgrade a summer one with Christmas decor.

Using a hot glue gun, add blue ribbon, ornaments, jingle bells and pinecones to a premade floral wreath. Conversely, if you’re decorating a Christmas wreath, garnish it with seashells, sand dollars, mini flip-flops and tropical flowers.

6. Create Snowflake Suncatchers

Snowflake suncatchers are a fun and simple project you can do with kids to embellish your home for Christmas in July. You’ll need black, white or blue construction paper, transparency film, permanent markers in various colors and glue tape. 

Fold the construction paper to create a triangle, cutting off the leftover rectangular strip. You’ll then make several folds and cuts for unique snowflake designs.

Add glue tape along the backside of each snowflake and apply the transparency film, trimming away the remaining sheet. Fill in the plastic sections with colorful permanent markers to give the suncatchers a stained-glass effect when you hang them in the window. 

7. Throw a Christmas in July Pool Party

What’s the point of decorating for Christmas in July if you have no one to celebrate with? Fortunately, you can eliminate the stress of having to RSVP to endless party invites by hosting a small gathering for friends.

A Christmas in July party might entail a pool party of epic proportions, a delicious dinner or a movie marathon. You could even bake sugar cookies with beachy cookie cutters.

Enjoy the Holidays in Any Weather

You don’t need snow on the ground to celebrate the holidays. Welcome the festivities in the summertime with a cheery Christmas in July. Some sparkly decor and handmade crafts can put you in the holiday spirit, even as you prepare to dive into the pool. 

Make Your Own Beach Christmas in July Tree!

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. When Is Christmas in July?

People celebrate Christmas in July on July 24th and 25th. However, you can decorate and enjoy the holiday all month long.

2. Where Can You Find Deals for Holiday Decorations?

Finding Christmas decorations at the store during the summer may be challenging, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of excellent sales.

Some retailers — especially craft stores — offer July 4th discounts, making art materials more affordable. Homeware shops might also sell leftover holiday decorations in July to make room for new inventory in the coming months.

3. What Are Some Christmas in July Themes?

Incorporate a summertime Christmas theme to put everyone in the holiday spirit, such as the following:

• Beach Christmas: Decorate with seashells, starfish, sea glass, sand and coastal hues.
• Christmas luau: Infuse Hawaiian culture with Christmas traditions using leis, tiki torches, fruits and holiday lights.
• Tropical Christmas: Celebrate by adding Christmas elements to palm trees, flamingo decor and vibrant colors.

Of course, a traditional holiday theme with red and green also creates a unique juxtaposition against the summery backdrop.