Top Holiday Decorating Contest Ideas For Work

The holiday season is here, and what better way to usher in the cheer than by hosting an office Christmas decorating contest? Whether your team is working remotely or in the office, decking out the workspace with festive decorations is a great way to build camaraderie, get creative, and, of course, celebrate the season together.

But let’s face it—planning and executing a decorating contest isn’t always as easy as it sounds. From coming up with fun themes to ensuring that everyone feels included, there’s a lot to consider. Don’t worry, though. We’ve got you covered with some super fun office Christmas decorating contest ideas to bring out the holiday magic in everyone at work!

Let’s dive into some of the most creative and easy-to-implement ideas that will get your team excited and inspire a little friendly competition.

1. Themed Christmas Tree Contest

If there’s one thing that screams “holiday season,” it’s a Christmas tree. But why settle for the same old tree when you can make it the centerpiece of your office? A themed Christmas tree contest is a great way to spice things up and let teams show off their creativity. You could have teams decorate their trees based on a specific theme, such as:

Movies: Think Home Alone, Elf, or The Grinch.

Nature: Go for a rustic vibe with pinecones, wooden ornaments, and natural garlands.

Retro Christmas: Bring back the 80s or 90s with funky ornaments and tinsel.

Color schemes: Pick a color combo, like gold and white, red and green, or blue and silver.

Once the trees are set up, have a voting session where everyone can cast their votes for the most creative, most festive, or most elaborate tree!

2. Ugly Sweater Desk Contest

We all know about the ugly sweater party, but why not turn it into a fun office tradition? An Ugly Sweater Desk Contest is a hilarious way to combine the fashion and decorating aspects of Christmas.

Here's how it works:

Everyone picks their favorite (or worst) holiday sweater and wears it to the office.

Each participant then decks out their desk area to match their sweater—think garish colors, fun lights, and cheesy ornaments that complement the sweater.

To make it even more interactive, have a photo booth set up so people can snap pics of each other’s sweaters and desks, then vote for the funniest, most over-the-top setup.

It’s all about bringing the laughter to the workplace, so make sure to encourage team members to go all out!

3. Christmas Wonderland Escape Room

Okay, maybe not a traditional decorating idea, but hear us out. A Christmas Wonderland Escape Room is a super unique way to get everyone involved and is perfect for both in-office and remote teams. The idea is to create a series of Christmas-themed puzzles, riddles, and clues hidden around the office or through a virtual meeting platform.

For in-person teams:

Set up the escape room in a meeting room, breakroom, or conference area.

Use Christmas decorations like wreaths, ornaments, and lights to make the space feel festive.

Have participants solve holiday-themed riddles to “escape” the room.

For virtual teams:

You can host a virtual escape room using online tools that include holiday challenges and tasks.

Encourage participants to decorate their own backgrounds with festive scenes or Christmas decorations.

This idea adds a fun, interactive element to the Office Christmas Decorating Contest Ideas, making it a memorable experience for everyone.

4. DIY Ornament Decorating Contest

Get everyone involved with a DIY ornament decorating contest. Not only is this an affordable option, but it’s also a perfect way for your team to bond and unleash their inner artist. Here’s how it can work:

Provide simple materials, such as plain glass ornaments, paint, glitter, markers, ribbon, and beads.

Set a time limit for everyone to create their ornaments (you can make it part of the workday or hold a special after-hours event).

Once everyone’s done, hang the ornaments on a large tree or in a communal space.

Let people vote for the most creative, funniest, or most festive ornaments!

The best part about this idea is that employees can take their creations home after the contest, making it a personal holiday keepsake.

5. Office Christmas Movie Marathon Décor

Who doesn’t love a good Christmas movie marathon? A Christmas Movie Marathon Décor contest encourages teams to pick their favorite holiday films and decorate their workspace to reflect their movie choice. For example, if a team picks The Polar Express, they might decorate with train-themed ornaments, snowy backdrops, and a hot cocoa station.

Alternatively, teams could create scenes from other popular Christmas movies like:

Elf

: Think oversized candy, Christmas lights, and a "World’s Best Coffee" sign.

Home Alone

: Have fun with cardboard cutouts of iconic moments, such as the paint cans or the tarantula scene.

The Grinch

: Decorate with Who-ville-inspired trees, wreaths, and snow!

You’ll have a festive, movie-inspired office atmosphere, and everyone will get a chance to reminisce about their favorite Christmas flicks.

6. Gingerbread House Decorating Contest

There’s nothing more nostalgic than building a gingerbread house. Bring a bit of holiday tradition into your office with a gingerbread house decorating contest! Here’s how to get started:

Provide pre-built gingerbread houses, or go DIY if you're feeling adventurous.

Offer a variety of decorating supplies—frosting, gumdrops, candy canes, licorice, etc.

Have a limited time for teams to build and decorate their gingerbread creations.

Once done, hold a voting session to determine the most creative, funniest, or tastiest-looking gingerbread house.

This contest is perfect for team-building, creativity, and making everyone’s sweet tooth happy.

7. Christmas Countdown Calendar Challenge

One of the most exciting parts of the holiday season is counting down the days until Christmas. Why not add a twist to the traditional advent calendar by having a Christmas Countdown Calendar Challenge? Here’s how it works:

Teams are tasked with creating a giant countdown calendar for the office.

Each day leading up to Christmas, the team unveils a small surprise, which could be a holiday joke, small gift, treat, or festive activity.

The team with the most creative and fun countdown calendar, complete with decorations and interactive daily reveals, wins the contest.

This idea keeps everyone excited, as there's always something to look forward to each day!

8. Christmas Light Show Contest

When it comes to holiday decorations, Christmas lights take center stage. Get your team involved in a Christmas Light Show Contest by challenging them to create the most dazzling light display. This can work in several ways:

For office spaces: Teams can decorate their desk, workstations, or even the entire office with lights.

If you have outdoor spaces: You could extend the contest to include window displays or office exteriors.

Virtual teams can even have a competition of who can decorate their Zoom backgrounds with the most lights or who can find the most creative light-themed décor.

Add a twist by having a "Best Use of Lights" category to encourage teams to get imaginative with their designs!

9. Holiday-Themed Potluck & Decor

Why not combine food and decorations for a Holiday-Themed Potluck & Decor contest? This contest would allow employees to showcase their culinary skills alongside their decorating talent. Here's how you can organize it:

Teams are asked to bring in their favorite holiday dish (cookies, casseroles, eggnog, etc.), but there’s a catch: their dish must be presented in a way that matches their holiday decor theme.

For example, someone decorating with a

nutcracker

theme might bring in gingerbread men, while a

winter wonderland

theme could feature a snowy cupcake tower.

You can judge based on both decoration and the tastiness of the dishes, giving points for creativity and presentation.

This event combines two elements of the holiday season—festive food and décor—into one fun competition.

10. DIY Wrapping Station Contest

One of the most popular holiday activities is gift wrapping, so why not make it a contest? Teams can create a DIY Wrapping Station Contest, where each group is assigned a gift to wrap in a creative, festive manner. Here’s how you can organize it:

Provide basic wrapping supplies: paper, ribbons, bows, and gift tags.

Allow each team to bring in their own unique wrapping accessories or materials—think fabric, holiday stamps, and glitter.

Teams will have a set time to wrap and decorate their assigned gifts, with the final creations judged on creativity, neatness, and holiday spirit.

This contest encourages collaboration while tapping into those wrapping skills we all secretly wish we had!

11. Santa’s Workshop Desk Contest

For those who want to get crafty, try a Santa’s Workshop Desk Contest where teams decorate their workstations to look like Santa's workshop. Here's how it can unfold:

Teams will use traditional holiday crafting supplies like felt, ribbon, and pom-poms to transform their desks into Santa’s cozy little workshop.

Think toy-making stations, gingerbread assembly lines, or even an elf “break room.”

The best desk will be judged based on how well it conveys the fun, busy energy of Santa’s workshop!

This contest can be a great way to get those creative crafting juices flowing, and it’s a great team-building activity as well.

12. Winter Sports Decor Challenge

For the more adventurous employees, a Winter Sports Decor Challenge adds a bit of competition and physicality to your office holiday celebrations. Here's how to pull it off:

Assign teams a winter sport like ice skating, skiing, or snowboarding, and have them decorate their workspaces accordingly.

Teams can get creative with mini skis, ice rink-themed decorations, or even little snowmen made out of cotton balls or marshmallows.

Virtual teams can incorporate winter sport-themed backgrounds, GIFs, or even dress up as their favorite winter athletes.

This festive competition gives everyone the chance to combine their love of winter sports with creative office decorating.

13. Festive Cookie Decorating Contest

Get the whole office involved with a Festive Cookie Decorating Contest! This is a delicious way to spark some creativity. Here’s how to organize it:

Provide sugar cookies (pre-baked or DIY) along with a variety of decorating supplies—frosting, sprinkles, edible glitter, and candy.

Teams can then decorate their cookies according to a theme, such as snowflakes, reindeer, or Christmas trees.

Hold a vote for the best cookie design based on creativity, humor, and overall festive spirit.

The best part? You’ll have plenty of sweet treats to munch on after the contest!

14. “Best Christmas Traditions” Memory Lane

The “Best Christmas Traditions” Memory Lane contest adds a personal touch to the decorations. Teams can create a festive display that represents the most cherished holiday tradition in their family or culture. Here’s how:

Teams will choose a favorite holiday tradition—whether it’s decorating cookies, holiday caroling, or attending a Christmas Eve church service—and decorate their desk area or office space around that tradition.

The team should explain their tradition to the rest of the office as part of the contest.

Employees vote on which tradition and display brings the most holiday cheer or best represents the spirit of the season.

This is a beautiful way to celebrate diversity and bring unique holiday memories into the workplace.

FAQs

1. Can I host a Christmas decorating contest for remote teams?

Absolutely! Many of the ideas above can easily be adapted for virtual teams. For example, you can have a themed decoration challenge where remote workers decorate their home offices or Zoom backgrounds. Just encourage creativity, and don’t forget to take lots of photos!

2. What’s a good prize for the winners?

A festive prize can be anything from a gift card to a fun holiday-themed gift like a cozy blanket, holiday mug, or even a custom trophy for the best decorator. The prize should be something lighthearted and fun, keeping the spirit of the holiday alive!

3. How do I ensure everyone participates in the contest?

Make sure the contest is voluntary but fun! Announce the event with plenty of time for everyone to prepare, and make it inclusive by suggesting decorating ideas that everyone can easily take part in—whether it’s minimal effort or more elaborate setups.

Conclusion

Incorporating office christmas decorating contest ideas into your holiday celebrations is a fantastic way to foster team spirit, creativity, and a little friendly competition. Whether you're decorating a Christmas tree, hosting a gingerbread house competition, or setting up a Christmas movie marathon, the possibilities for festive fun are endless.

These contests not only make the workplace more cheerful but also encourage employees to engage with one another and unwind during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. So, gather your coworkers, break out the decorations, and get ready to turn your office into a winter wonderland this Christmas!