How to make a sensational Santa’s grotto for your kids

4 min read

Last Modified 12 November 2024 First Added 2 August 2022

This festive season, many of us will be determined to ensure our family Christmas celebrations are more special than ever.

From creating new traditions to embracing the joy of a full house, it really is the most magical time of the year. If you’re planning to go the extra mile to make this Christmas unforgettable, why not give your children the gift of a fully decked out bedroom wonderland that they’ll fondly remember for years to come?

Here are some inexpensive and creative ideas that’ll delight not only your kids, but the whole family and anyone else who pops in to visit. Santa may even stop by if you’re lucky…

Deck their rooms in traditional red and green

Let’s face it, it just doesn’t feel like Christmas without decking out the halls in traditional tones like green and red.

These most Christmassy of colours are perfect to give your children’s rooms the right festive feeling. If you think of yuletide, you’re likely to picture holly trees with beautiful bright-red berries contrasting against the deep green foliage of the tree.

It’s a colour combination that evokes magical memories of Christmases past. But, you don’t need to go as far as us in painting the whole room green, just add touches of the colours wherever you can. Take a look at how we’ve dressed the Westbrook Bunk Bed from our range of kids’ beds in soft red bedding and cushion accents to bring out the festive spirit. Ideal for siblings that share or those planning Christmas Eve sleepovers, this sturdy bunk bed is an exceptional choice.

A festive green and red children's bedroom, with a black metal bunk bed

Why is red and green so popular?

When it comes to festive décor, there’s a deep history of holly and its association with Christmas. Did you know that long ago, Celtic folk believed holly plants brought beauty and good fortune in the middle of winter? To promote a prosperous new year, they’d regularly dress their homes with the red and green plants. This routine of putting up red and green holly has evolved into our tradition of hanging decorations of the same colours.

Elevate your Santa’s grotto with garlands

Take your little one’s Santa’s grotto to the next level with some festive foliage.

Adding a little greenery into your children’s bedroom is one of the easiest way to transform their room into a real Santa’s grotto. From their own mini Christmas tree to gorgeous garlands draped over their bed frames, there are endless ways to use foliage to inject some festive spirit. You can even add fairy lights or festive red bows to dress up the garlands – we love how this looks on our Margot bed, below.

And good news! Our Margot now has a “mini me” – the Margot Kids bed. Thanks to its super soft teddy fabric, this bed will provide oodles of cosiness – they won’t be able to wait to go to sleep on Christmas Eve…

Main Bedroom featuring Margot bed in Christmas decor with tree, garland and festive decorations

Add a touch of sparkle with twinkling lights

They say it’s all in the details. Complete your little one’s yuletide bedroom look with these finishing touches…

Playing around with lighting is one of our top tips for creating a warm and cosy wintry bedroom. Getting the lighting right will elevate your Christmas grotto from run-of-the-mill to wondrous and spectacular! Here, we’ve opted for white hanging star lamps and some adorable light-up Christmas trees which create a totally magical atmosphere.

You could also consider twinkly fairy lights, (flame-safe) candles or warm glow night lights to illuminate your kids’ bedroom and create a cosy winter wonderland this December. There are endless ways to add some festive sparkle through lighting.

A festive green and red children's bedroom, with a black metal bunk bed

Hopefully this will have inspired you to create a truly special Christmas grotto for your little elves! For new parents, don’t forget to check out our nursery ideas to welcome your baby into the world – and introduce them to Christmas! And if you’ve got time to spruce up your own space, we’ve got some great ideas for decorating your own bedroom for Christmas.

Be guest-ready with our spare room tips