22 Christmas Door Decorating Contest Ideas

Nothing stirs up holiday spirit quite like a Christmas door decorating contest.

Whether it’s in an office, a school hallway, or a neighborhood event, your door becomes more than an entrance—it turns into a canvas of cheer.

1. Giant Christmas Present Door

Turn your door into the biggest gift in the room. Use shiny wrapping paper for the base, add an oversized bow, and stick a fun “To: All, From: Santa” tag.

The key is scale—make the bow massive and the paper glossy. For extra points, use 3D elements like foam ribbons instead of paper ones. Fun fact: oversized decorations can boost perceived “wow factor” by up to 40% in visual contests.

2. Santa’s Workshop Entrance

Transform the door into the entrance of Santa’s busy workshop. Use cardboard cutouts of elves peeking out, fake snow at the bottom, and string lights around the frame.

Personal anecdote—once at my old office, the winning door had tiny handmade toy replicas glued on, and it felt like walking right into the North Pole’s production line.

3. Cozy Fireplace Scene

Nothing says Christmas like a crackling fireplace. Use printed or hand-painted brick paper for the background, add stockings with names, and a paper cutout of a fire. Pro tip: battery-operated flickering tea lights hidden behind tissue paper make the flames glow for real.

4. Gingerbread House Door

Cover the door with brown paper, add white icing-like trims using cotton batting or white felt, and glue colorful candy shapes (paper, foam, or plastic).

For extra realism, sprinkle on glitter to mimic sugar. According to a 2023 survey by Holiday Decor Trends, gingerbread designs ranked in the top 5 most memorable Christmas themes.

5. The North Pole Signpost

Turn your door into a snowy pathway with a big North Pole signpost in the center, arrows pointing to places like “Candy Cane Lane” and “Reindeer Stables.” Add footprints in fake snow leading to the door.

This works well in long hallways because it naturally draws eyes toward your entry.

6. Ugly Christmas Sweater Door

Recreate the chaotic charm of an ugly sweater. Use fabric or felt with bold patterns—think snowflakes, reindeer, and pom-poms glued in random spots. A tip I learned from a crafty coworker: use an actual thrifted sweater stretched over cardboard for an authentic knit texture.

7. Candy Cane Wonderland

Go bold with giant candy canes framing the door. Use PVC pipes wrapped with red and white tape for durability. Scatter candy cutouts and peppermint swirls across the surface. Bright red and white color contrasts can increase visual pop by over 30%, making it more noticeable from afar.

8. Winter Wonderland Scene

Cover your door in icy blue wrapping paper, sprinkle with fake snow, and add silhouettes of deer, snow-covered trees, and snowflakes. This minimal yet elegant approach stands out in contests filled with red-and-green heavy designs.

9. Christmas Tree Extravaganza

Build a 3D Christmas tree right on the door using layered green paper or felt. Decorate with mini ornaments, real tinsel, and even battery-powered fairy lights. A bonus is adding little paper gifts at the bottom—it makes the whole design feel grounded.

10. Elf Surveillance Camera

Play off the “Elf on the Shelf” idea. Have a big, cheeky elf peeking through the door with a sign saying “Santa’s Watching You.” For humor value, add a fake camera lens made from a jar lid. Contest judges love entries that make them smile.

11. Polar Express Train Door

Recreate the magic of the Polar Express with a train cutout bursting through the door, steam made of cotton, and golden tickets taped around. Kids especially love interactive touches like a “ticket punch” station beside the door.

12. Advent Calendar Door

Make your door an interactive countdown to Christmas. Use envelopes, little boxes, or flaps that open to reveal treats or notes. This isn’t just a decoration—it’s a daily event that keeps people coming back to see what’s behind the next number.

13. Frosty the Snowman Scene

Craft a giant snowman using white paper circles stacked vertically. Add a 3D scarf, real buttons, and a felt hat. Position him slightly off-center to create room for “snow” falling all around.

14. Nutcracker Guard

Stand tall with two giant Nutcracker soldiers flanking your door. Use foam board for structure and metallic paint for details. Fun fact: nutcracker figures are tied to German Christmas traditions dating back to the late 17th century—bonus points if you include a mini history note on your display.

15. Grinch Stole Christmas Door

Bring the Grinch to life with green felt or painted cardboard. Show him sneaking away with a sack of gifts or peeking mischievously around the frame. This playful design often scores well because it’s instantly recognizable and nostalgic.

16. Snow Globe Fantasy

Turn your door into a life-sized snow globe with a clear plastic sheet dome, winter scene inside, and white confetti for snow. Adding movement (shaking snow manually when people pass) makes it unforgettable.

17. Christmas Movie Tribute Door

Pick a classic Christmas movie—Home Alone, Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life—and recreate a famous scene on your door. A “Kevin screams” Home Alone door, complete with hands on cheeks and wide eyes, once won our office contest by sheer laugh factor.

18. Santa’s Sleigh Ride

Show Santa mid-flight with reindeer pulling his sleigh across a night sky. Use black paper for silhouette reindeer and yellow paper for glowing moonlight. Adding depth by layering clouds and stars can make the scene more dynamic.

19. Peppermint Swirl Explosion

Go all-in on peppermint patterns—spirals, stripes, and candy pieces everywhere. The repetitive pattern naturally grabs attention, much like store displays that use visual repetition to pull shoppers in.

20. Nativity Scene Door

For a traditional touch, create a nativity silhouette against a starry night background. Use metallic gold and deep blue to create a warm, reverent atmosphere. This theme resonates deeply in religious settings and adds a classic tone to the contest.

21. Christmas Village Panorama

Recreate a miniature Christmas village across your door—tiny houses, street lamps, snowy streets. Use foam for raised surfaces and LED lights inside the windows for a magical evening glow. According to decor research, miniature scenes rank high in perceived craftsmanship.

22. Santa Chimney Entrance

Build a 3D chimney from brick-pattern paper or foam, with Santa’s legs sticking out as if he’s halfway through delivering gifts. Hanging a little gift bag from his boot is the kind of whimsical touch that earns extra smiles.

Conclusion

A Christmas door decorating contest is more than a chance to win bragging rights—it’s a moment to turn creativity into community cheer. The best entries balance theme clarity, color impact, and interactive elements.