21 Christmas Door Decorating Contest Ideas That Win

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These Christmas door decorating contest ideas are the perfect excuse to get creative with paper, cardboard and a little holiday cheer. Whether you are decorating a classroom, a hallway, an office or an apartment door, the right theme is half the work.

Below are 21 Christmas door decorating contest ideas, each with what it looks like and how to build it. After the list you will find six tips for standing out and a short FAQ. If you want a more traditional look for your own front door, see our Christmas door decorating ideas.

1. Santa’s workshop door

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This one turns a plain door into the busiest toy shop at the North Pole. Red paper, brown wood strips and little shelves of paper toys give it a real workshop feel.

Cover the door in red paper, then lay brown paper strips over it like wood panels. Cut toy shelves from thin cardboard, fill them with paper teddy bears and wrapped boxes, and hang a bold workshop sign across the top. Frame the door with garland and leave the handle clear.

2. Gingerbread house door

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A gingerbread house is easy for judges to recognize from down the hall. The brown door, white icing and candy columns say sweet and festive at a glance.

Cover the door in brown kraft paper and leave any window uncovered. Cut wavy white strips for icing along the top and sides, then add red and white striped columns on either side. Finish with foam gumdrops, paper peppermints and a big bow above the door.

3. The Grinch stealing Christmas

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A mischievous green thief makes a funny door that people stop to look at. It works well for offices and for teachers who love a joke.

Cut a big green silhouette from lime paper and set it across the middle of the door. Make a red gift sack from paper and stuff it with flat cardboard presents. Scatter a few gift cutouts along the bottom and keep everything away from the handle.

4. Winter wonderland door

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A calm snowy scene stands out among all the bright reds and greens. Layers of white on a cool blue background look quiet and elegant.

Cover the door in pale blue paper and hang oversized snowflakes at different heights. Add white evergreen shapes and a small deer cutout. Lay cotton batting along the bottom for a snowdrift and tuck in a few silver touches for sparkle.

5. Christmas fireplace door

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Everybody loves a cozy fireplace, and a paper one is easier to build than you might expect. The glowing flames give the door a warm focal point.

Cover the door in red or brown paper and add rows of darker brick strips. Build a light cardboard mantel across the top without blocking the way the door swings. Hang three or four paper stockings, layer orange, yellow and red flames against black, and finish with a small wreath.

6. Elf surveillance door

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This is the funny one. A pretend North Pole control room where the elves watch the kids is a great fit for an office or a classroom with a sense of humor.

Make screens from cardboard and show tiny scenes on them. Add paper cameras, a panel of colorful buttons and a few elf cutouts peeking around the frame. Hang a sign that says something playful and add a checklist for naughty and nice.

7. Polar Express train door

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A big steam train barreling out of a snowy night looks dramatic and a little magical. It tells a story, and judges like a story.

Cover the door in midnight blue paper and build the train from black, red and gold cardstock. Lay white strips for snowy tracks and cut yellow windows so the train looks lit from inside. Keep the train flat and light so the door still opens easily, and skip extra decorations that would crowd the scene.

8. Candy cane lane door

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Giant candy canes are about as festive as it gets. Bold stripes and oversized peppermints make a cheerful entrance in any hallway.

Run red and white diagonal stripes across the door and add big peppermint circles. Make tall candy cane columns for the sides and a striped arch across the top. Use removable adhesive strips and finish with a few paper bows and a small wreath.

9. Giant Christmas present door

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The whole door becomes one big wrapped gift. It is simple, bold and very hard to get wrong.

Cover the door in glossy red wrapping paper and cut wide ribbon strips from metallic gold cardstock. Run one strip up and one across, then set a big three dimensional bow near the top. Add a gift tag with a short greeting and stack a few paper gift boxes beside the door, keeping the walkway open.

10. Snowman family door

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A cheerful family of snowmen is friendly and easy for kids to help with. Give each one its own hat and scarf and the whole door gets personality.

Cover the door in pale blue paper and build snowdrifts along the bottom from layered white cardstock. Cut three snowmen in different sizes from poster board and dress each one in a different scarf and hat. Add paper snowflakes, little mittens and a short greeting above them.

11. Reindeer stable door

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A big friendly reindeer peeking over a wooden stable door brings a rustic feel. The red nose gives the judges something to remember.

Use brown kraft paper with darker horizontal strips to look like stable boards. Cut large antlers from sturdy cardstock and put the reindeer face in the center. Add paper hay bundles, small wooden looking nameplates and a few red bows.

12. Whoville door

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Crooked rooftops and curly poles in bright pink, lime and turquoise make the most playful door in the hall. Nothing here has to be straight, which makes it forgiving.

Cover the door in vivid turquoise paper and build a lopsided row of houses from colorful cardstock. Add curled candy striped poles, oversized ornaments and glowing yellow windows. The sillier the shapes, the better it looks.

13. Ugly Christmas sweater door

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The ugly sweater is a favorite at every holiday party, so it makes a perfect door. Pile on the patterns and nobody will mind.

Cover the door in red paper and add white ribbed cuffs and a neckline at the top. Arrange green trees, snowflakes and ornaments in rows, then add pom poms, paper reindeer and felt patches for texture. A small sign naming the ugliest sweater champion is a fun finish.

14. North Pole post office door

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A busy post office for letters to Santa works well when you want people to take part. Add a slot and the door becomes interactive.

Build a big red cardboard mailbox with an envelope slot and surround it with oversized paper stamps and letters. Add elf stamps, snowflakes and North Pole labels. Leave a small pocket where visitors can drop wish cards.

15. Christmas tree farm door

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A snowy tree farm feels like a family outing, and it is inexpensive to make from paper. Trees in different sizes give it depth.

Cover the door in pale blue and white paper for a snowy woodland. Cut green paper trees in several heights and top a few with tiny stars. Add a rustic sign and a short white picket fence, and skip real branches because they drop needles.

16. Nutcracker soldier door

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A life sized nutcracker looks grand and formal, and the symmetry is easy on the eye. It suits school hallways and offices that want a classic look.

Build the uniform from layered paper in ruby red, royal blue, gold, black and white. Add gold buttons, white cross straps and black boots, with the face near the top and the body running down the door. Use felt for the hat and trim to add texture.

17. Christmas movie night door

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A holiday movie marathon makes a fun theme. A red curtain and a glowing screen make the door look like a tiny theater.

Cover the door in deep navy paper and frame it with a red paper curtain. Make a movie screen with a small sleigh scene, add film reels and golden stars, and put a striped popcorn box near the bottom. A ticket sign finishes it off.

18. Santa stuck in the chimney door

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Two legs kicking out of a chimney is a sure laugh. It is a simple build with a big payoff.

Cover the door in brick pattern paper and outline the bricks with thin white strips. Cut red trouser legs from poster board and attach black boots with white fur cuffs. Pile white paper snow along the top, scatter gift cutouts below and add a sign that reads Santa Needs a Hand.

19. Christmas countdown door

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A door that doubles as a giant advent calendar gives people a reason to come back every day. It works well in a classroom.

Cover the door in deep green and add 24 numbered paper pockets in red, cream and gold. Tuck a holiday note or a simple activity into each pocket. Add a big gold star on top and garland around the frame.

20. Peppermint candy shop door

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A little sweet shop storefront looks great in soft pink and candy stripes. It feels different from the usual reds and greens.

Start with a soft pink or cream background, then frame the door with alternating red and white strips. Add a striped awning, oversized peppermint swirls and paper candy jars in the window. A hand lettered sign across the top completes the storefront.

21. Christmas village door

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A snowy village at night feels like a holiday card. The glowing windows are what make it look so warm.

Cover the door in midnight blue paper and scatter white stars across the top. Cut cottages in different sizes from colorful cardstock, with pitched roofs and tiny windows. Layer white snowdrifts between them, add lampposts and a little town tree, and put yellow paper behind every window for the glow.

Six tips for picking Christmas door decorating contest ideas that win

1. Pick one clear theme and stick with it. A door that tells one story beats a door with ten ideas.
2. Make one big focal point, like a train, a sweater or a reindeer face, so the judges see it from across the hall.
3. Add depth with layers. Raise some paper pieces with foam tape or fold them so they cast a little shadow.
4. Choose colors that pop together. Two or three strong colors look better than a rainbow.
5. Add something people can do, like a mail slot, a pocket calendar or a lift up flap. Interactive doors get remembered.
6. Read the rules first. Most schools and offices want handles, windows, exits and safety signs left clear, and some limit what you can hang.

Once the door is done, our Christmas Eve dinner ideas make a nice follow up for the holiday week.

FAQ

Quick answers about judging, materials and keeping your door in good shape.

What do judges look for in a Christmas door decorating contest?

Most judges score creativity, how well the theme comes through, neatness and how well the door matches the contest rules. A strong focal point and clean edges help every time.

What materials do I need for a paper door?

Colored craft paper or bulletin board paper, cardstock, a little lightweight cardboard, foam tape, removable adhesive strips, scissors and a craft knife for the adult. Felt and cotton batting add texture.

How do I keep the decorations from damaging the door or falling off?

Use removable adhesive strips or painter’s tape instead of regular tape, and keep pieces light. Test a corner first. Take everything down slowly after the contest.

How much time should I plan?

A simple door takes an afternoon. A layered scene like the train or the village takes a few evenings, so cut and sort your pieces ahead of time and assemble on the door last.