Top holiday decorating ideas from Pinterest Creators at the White House
December 1, 2023
’Tis the season for magic, wonder and joy. And 12 Pinterest creators brought their expertise and creativity to deck the stately halls of the “People’s House,” as part of the rich tradition. This week, First Lady Jill Biden unveiled this year's White House holiday decor and celebrated those who tied every bow and hung every ornament with such care throughout 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Representing communities across the country, the creators spent several days getting inspired, rolling up their sleeves and transforming the White House with festive decor to delight and inspire children and families as they visit the White House this holiday season. Here, they share favorite behind-the-scenes moments and best tips for holiday decorating—whether for a grand event or an intimate gathering with loved ones.
Brittany Watson Jepsen, @houselarsbuilt
‘Dream come true,’ magical, reverent, awe-inspiring, exhausting ;)
What’s your holiday decor aesthetic?
Think folk, Scandinavian, English but with some whimsy and color thrown in.
What was the most inspiring DIY decoration you saw?
This was a DIYers Super Bowl. Every project screamed "Make me!" I saw a number of advent calendars that are inspiring me, a popcorn garland made from a yarn, and of course, candy placed on non-traditional items like topiaries.
What’s your most memorable moment from the weekend?
I have the pleasure of saying that I'm one of the few people to grace the rooftop of the East Wing at the White House. I got to put some ornaments on a tree that was made to look like it grew from beneath the roof and popped out of it. Quite whimsical!
What’s your top holiday decorating tip?
Find joy in the unexpected. I LOVE how a major theme of the Christmas decor this year is oversized objects—an oversized sugar cookie of the White House, ginormous candies hanging from the ceiling. It reminds me of the time that I made candies out of corsage boxes and wrapped them in cellophane as Christmas decor. It would be great strung along the banister or as a mantle.
Lauren Beavers, @handmakeshome
How would you describe your experience in 5 words?
Magical, surreal, bustling, memorable, empowering
What’s your holiday decor aesthetic?
My decor aesthetic has always been more neutral, natural and a bit elegant, but I’m leaning more towards classic Christmas decor lately. My kids love color, and I’m learning to lean more into that!
What’s your unique take on this year’s White House theme?
Seeing the holiday through a child’s eyes is what the holiday is all about for me! I love the childlike elements and fun installs in each room.
What was the most inspiring DIY decoration you saw?
I loved the popcorn garland in the Red Room. When I first walked in, I saw Johanna Burke's example on the tree and thought it was real popcorn. Later, I learned it was chenille yarn and my mind was blown! I love the idea of being able to save it to use year to year, and it was so fun and simple to make!
What’s your top holiday decorating tip?
Have fun with it! Decorating is all about giving people (or yourself) an experience, so incorporate things you love and make it fun. When decorating a garland, maybe throw something that ties into the things you or your loved ones love, even if it doesn’t ‘scream’ Christmas.
Yuni Min, @Loveyourabode
How would you describe your experience in 6 words?
Life-changing, honored, epic, overwhelmed with gratitude
What’s your Christmas decor aesthetic?
Transitional with some whimsical flair
What’s something unexpected you learned?
I knew going in there was going to be a lot of DIY and crafts, but I was surprised to see how many items were handmade. Though the White House has so many high-end decorations, I still loved how much of it was small DIY projects creating the grand vision.
What’s your most memorable moment from the weekend?
My most memorable moment was working with so many volunteers from around the nation. We all came together with a united purpose, and the joy, excitement and hard work that was shown was such an amazing bonding experience.
What’s your top holiday decorating tip?
Give it your own unique spin. It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Small meaningful crafts, like a simple garland, can look beautiful and so unique. And it’s so special to get your family involved in the decorating process, too.
Beth Kingston, @thekingstonhome
How would you describe your experience in 5 words?
The honor of a lifetime
What’s your holiday decor aesthetic?
Bright and clean with a touch of grandmillennial!
What’s something unexpected you did?
I learned how to tie the official White House bow!
What’s your top holiday decorating tip?
Layer, layer, layer! Whether you’re decorating a tree, dressing your mantel or setting a table, begin with a colorful base and build with layers of pattern and texture. Finish with special details and your holiday decor will be unforgettable!
Charlotte Smith, @atCsHouse
How would you describe your experience in 5 words?
Magically wonderful and soul filling.
What’s your holiday decor aesthetic?
Very similar to this year's White House. Colorful and whimsical!
What’s your most memorable moment from the weekend?
I love the sense of teamwork and camaraderie as all these people from around the country come together to make this project come to life!
What’s your top holiday decorating tip?
More is more! Most of the White House decorations are handmade from scratch and, in isolation, they could feel somewhat simple—but when you fill a tree or a garland with 200 of them, you’ve created a wonderfully elevated and grand holiday moment.
Dennis Setteducati & Andrew Boza, @CraftyLumberjacks
How would you describe your experience in 5 words?
Magical, inspiring, whimsical, surreal, emotional
What’s your holiday decor aesthetic?
Traditional, vintage, kitschy, handmade, whimsical, cozy
What was your favorite thing to work on or create while decorating?
We worked on the larger-than-life White House advent calendars. The first day we were there, we had no idea how this would come together. By day three, we were blown away with the amount of detail the designers came up with, and working on the process from start to finish was magical.
What’s your most memorable moment from the weekend?
We had a moment when we were practically alone in the entrance hall with the President's Own Marine Chamber Orchestra playing classical Christmas music surrounded by all of the stunning decorations all the volunteers spent all week on. It was an emotional moment of pause and reflection after a long, wonderful week of hard work.
What’s your top holiday decorating tip?
Add lights to your space wherever you can. Whether with strands of lights or candles, you can turn off your overhead lighting and lamps, and capture that holiday glow.
Holiday countdown on Pinterest
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