The holiday season is basically the Super Bowl of creativity when it comes to door decorating contests.
Whether you’re sprucing up an office door, a classroom, or your front entryway, this is the time to pull out all the glitter, tinsel, and craft glue you own. It’s not just about looking festive — it’s about standing out.
And since competition gets fierce (trust me, I’ve seen coworkers turn a simple door project into a full-blown construction site), I’ve gathered 22 clever, fun, and show-stopping Christmas door decorating contest ideas to help you win hearts — and hopefully, the trophy too.
1. Santa’s Workshop Door
If you want to capture the spirit of Christmas magic, a Santa’s Workshop theme is pure gold.
Cover your door in red wrapping paper, add printed toy blueprints, a “North Pole Manufacturing Co.” sign, and some cheeky elves peeking out from behind gift boxes.
Add LED fairy lights around the frame for sparkle. You could even make it interactive: have a “Naughty or Nice” list that lets people write their names. It’s playful, colorful, and makes everyone smile — perfect for classrooms or office settings.
Pro tip: Cardboard boxes wrapped as presents can be glued to the bottom to create a 3D look that feels straight out of a holiday movie.
2. Gingerbread House Door
There’s something irresistibly charming about a gingerbread house theme. It’s sweet, nostalgic, and lets you go wild with design.
Start with brown craft paper as the base (to mimic the cookie walls), then decorate with cut-out candy canes, gumdrops, and icing patterns using white paint or puffy cotton. Add a “Welcome to Candy Lane” sign, and you’ll have people craving cookies instantly.
You could even spray a light scent of vanilla or cinnamon near the doorway for an immersive experience — small sensory details like that make a huge difference in contests.
3. Winter Wonderland
If your taste leans elegant rather than whimsical, Winter Wonderland is a timeless theme. Think cool tones — white, silver, and icy blue.
Cover your door in shimmering white paper, add silver snowflakes, and use cotton for faux snow. Hang delicate paper snowflakes or glittered icicles from fishing lines.
Stat alert: According to Pinterest 2024 trends, searches for “blue and silver Christmas décor” rose by 48%, proving this minimalist winter vibe is definitely in style.
4. Grinch Stole Christmas Door
Nothing beats a bit of humor in a contest. Recreate The Grinch peeking mischievously from the side of your door, stealing a strand of lights or an ornament.
Paint or cut out his green hand holding a red ornament, and add the quote: “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store…”
You’ll grab everyone’s attention — even the ones who secretly relate to the Grinch during the holiday rush.
5. Christmas Fireplace Scene
Few things feel cozier than a roaring fireplace. Turn your door into a Christmas hearth, complete with stockings and flickering (LED) flames.
Use brick-patterned paper for the background, cut out stockings for each team member or classmate, and add a cardboard “mantel” across the top.
You can even tape small battery-operated candles inside cut-out “fire logs” for a flickering effect. It’s warm, nostalgic, and absolutely contest-worthy.
6. Elf Surveillance Door (“Santa Cam”)
Play up the modern idea of Santa keeping an eye on everyone. Create a “Santa Cam” door with elf cut-outs holding cameras and signs saying “Smile! Santa’s Watching!”
You can add real mini cameras or stickers that mimic lenses for effect. This one’s hilarious for offices — especially if you add coworkers’ photos under “Naughty” or “Nice” columns.
It’s cheeky, creative, and guaranteed to get laughs.
7. Snowman Family Door
Snowmen never go out of style. A Snowman Family Door lets you personalize and add charm.
Create large snowman cut-outs stacked vertically, each representing a family or team member, with names or funny titles (like “The CEO of Hot Cocoa”).
Add scarves, buttons, and paper carrot noses. A sprinkle of cotton snow at the bottom and you’re golden.
8. Polar Express Door
If you love nostalgia, the Polar Express is a masterpiece idea. Recreate a train scene heading toward the North Pole, complete with “tickets” and golden bells.
Use black and yellow paper to build the train, cotton for smoke, and a big “All Aboard!” sign on top.
Pro insight: Adding a speaker behind the door playing the movie’s soundtrack creates a magical, cinematic feel that most participants overlook — that’s how you stand out.
9. Christmas Tree Door
Classic but powerful when done right. A Christmas Tree Door can be made from green paper or even folded napkins arranged in tree layers.
Add ornaments made from glitter paper, bows, or even mini photos of your coworkers or students. Top it with a big 3D star.
If you want to take it up a notch, make it interactive — let people write what they’re thankful for on the “ornaments.”
10. Reindeer Stable Door
Perfect for those who love rustic vibes. Label your door “Reindeer Stable”, and feature each reindeer’s name on wooden-style planks.
Hang faux hay, twine, and maybe even antlers for fun. Add a “Reserved for Rudolph” stall sign for a playful twist.
This one gives off cozy barn charm and is especially fitting for schools or libraries.
11. Christmas Movie Marathon Door
Why choose one theme when you can celebrate all the classics? Create a collage-style door featuring mini posters of your favorite holiday movies — Home Alone, Elf, The Grinch, It’s a Wonderful Life, etc.
You can even title it “The Ultimate Christmas Movie Marathon”. It’s a conversation starter and a nostalgia hit rolled into one.
12. Ugly Sweater Door
Every office or school does an ugly sweater day, so why not extend it to your door? Cover the surface in fabric or paper “knit” prints and layer it with tacky decorations — think pom-poms, tinsel, and oversized ornaments.
Bonus points if you make it 3D or let people “design” their own sweaters with stickers or paper cutouts.
It’s loud, festive, and impossible to ignore — which is exactly the point.
13. Nativity Scene Door
For those who prefer traditional Christmas themes, a Nativity Scene Door can be simple yet deeply meaningful.
Use silhouettes in black or gold paper — Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus under the star — against a midnight blue background. Add a shining Star of Bethlehem cutout and perhaps subtle string lights to highlight the manger scene.
It’s timeless, respectful, and beautiful in its simplicity.
14. Christmas Countdown Calendar Door
Turn your door into an Advent calendar where each day reveals a small surprise or message. Use 25 envelopes, boxes, or flaps that open.
Fill them with holiday trivia, candy, or motivational quotes. People will look forward to visiting your door daily — which means more engagement, and higher contest votes.
Fun fact: Studies show interactive displays increase participation by 73% in holiday-themed contests. So this one isn’t just cute — it’s strategic.
15. Candy Cane Lane
Transform your entryway into Candy Cane Lane, where red and white stripes rule.
Wrap your door like a giant candy cane, add peppermint swirls, and place cardboard “street signs” labeled “Candy Cane Court” or “Peppermint Place.”
You can even attach real candy canes as giveaways. (Just make sure to restock… people will grab them.)
16. Frosty Forest Door
Bring the outdoors in with a Frosty Forest scene — pine trees, snow-covered branches, and woodland animals.
Use muted tones of green, brown, and white for a cozy, natural vibe. Cut out deer silhouettes or foxes, and sprinkle fake snow across the bottom.
Add a sign that says “Silent Night Forest” for a poetic touch.
17. North Pole Post Office
This one’s both clever and adorable. Turn your door into a North Pole Post Office, with “Mail to Santa” slots, envelopes, and stamps.
Have people actually drop letters or wishes into a pocket — you can even read them later as part of the fun.
It’s interactive, cute, and heartwarming — a triple threat in door-decorating contests.
18. Santa’s Sleigh in Flight
Go for drama and motion — a Santa’s Sleigh Door that looks like it’s flying across the night sky.
Use deep navy paper as the background, add glitter stars, and cut out Santa with reindeer trailing behind.
A great touch is using cotton batting to create “clouds” or “wind trails,” making it look like they’re mid-flight.
19. Cozy Cabin Door
Turn your door into the front of a log cabin — wooden textures, a wreath, faux window with “frosted glass,” and twinkle lights framing it.
Add a little “Welcome Home for Christmas” sign and maybe a paper fireplace “inside” the window.
This one feels like stepping straight into a Hallmark movie. It’s warm, nostalgic, and sophisticated.
20. Christmas Around the World
Showcase how different cultures celebrate by creating a Christmas Around the World door.
Divide it into panels or sections — one for each country — and include flags, decorations, and brief descriptions of their traditions (like Germany’s St. Nicholas Day or Mexico’s Las Posadas).
It’s not just beautiful; it’s educational. Perfect for schools or offices that value diversity.
21. Naughty or Nice Meter
Here’s a fun idea with a dash of humor. Make a “Naughty or Nice” meter, like a thermometer that swings between the two sides.
Add photos or cartoon avatars of coworkers/students and move them up or down depending on their week’s behavior.
This interactive, funny design gets everyone talking — and laughing — which means it’ll be memorable to the judges.
22. Christmas Village Door
If you really want to go big, create a Christmas Village scene — tiny shops, snow-covered roofs, lamp posts, and twinkling lights.
Use layered paper to add depth — a bakery here, a toy shop there — and sprinkle cotton for snow.
Adding mini figurines or cutouts of your coworkers/students as “villagers” makes it incredibly personal.
It’s time-consuming but breathtaking when done right — a guaranteed showstopper in any contest.
Conclusion
When it comes to Christmas door decorating contests, the key is not just creativity — it’s storytelling. Each door tells a little holiday tale, from Santa’s Workshop chaos to the peace of a winter forest. Whether you prefer elegant silver snowflakes or laugh-out-loud Grinch humor, your door should feel like you — warm, joyful, and full of personality.
Remember, judges (and people) are drawn to doors that spark emotion. Add small details that make people linger — lights, scents, interactivity, humor.
And above all, have fun with it. Because at the end of the day, the best doors aren’t just the ones that win — they’re the ones that make people stop, smile, and whisper, “Wow, that’s so creative.”