Office Christmas: Festive decorations & team spirit

The holidays are just around the corner, and with them comes the perfect opportunity to transform your office space into a place of festive anticipation. A carefully designed workplace boosts morale, promotes communication, and offers a welcome contrast to everyday business. Here are our best tips on how to bring the magic of Christmas to your office or even to your global remote team!

Office decoration—but with style

When decorating, the motto is: festive, but functional and professional.

Start with an inviting eye-catcher in the entrance area. A high-quality Christmas tree that is not too kitschy or stylishly lit garlands at the reception immediately create a festive atmosphere. Focus the decorations primarily on common areas such as coworking lounges, kitchens, or meeting points. Here, soft lighting, natural materials (wood, pine branches), and subtle color accents promote a feel-good atmosphere.

If you like (and if it doesn't interfere with the workflow), you can play quiet, unobtrusive Christmas music in the background. Aromas of cinnamon, orange, or vanilla (e.g., via scented candles or diffusers – please observe fire safety regulations!) can subtly contribute to a cozy atmosphere. Since everyone has a different sense of smell, we recommend talking to your employees and asking for their opinion before using diffusers, scents, etc. To promote team spirit, teams can decorate their own smaller areas themselves. Always make sure that the decorations do not block escape routes or pose a tripping hazard – accessibility and professionalism are a priority.

Celebrations and appreciation: Celebrating successes together

The Christmas season offers the ideal opportunity to express appreciation. The highlight is, of course, the Christmas party. The atmosphere should match the corporate culture, with the focus always on togetherness. Avoid long speeches and instead focus on bonding activities such as baking cookies together, crafting for charity, or an entertaining live program.

Digital Christmas parties for remote teams

Bringing together distributed teams requires creativity, but it is essential for remote team spirit. What we have learned during the pandemic can now be applied to future Christmas celebrations.

These ideas will help you create a festive atmosphere from a distance:

1. The "holiday package": Send lovingly assembled boxes to all employees in advance. Contents: mulled wine or cocoa mix, cookies, a small decoration, and perhaps a shared "tool" for the celebration.
2. Virtual (cooking) workshop: Hire a chef to guide the teams live via video through the preparation of a festive cocktail or a small dish.
3. Online escape room or quiz: Organize a digital escape room or a Christmas-themed team quiz where remote teams have to work together in breakout rooms.
4. The digital review of the year: Use the time to review the highlights of the year in a relaxed atmosphere and thank each other for their work. If you have collected photos from the past year in advance, you can compile them into a fun slideshow.

What Christmas wouldn't be complete without: gifts that show appreciation

Gestures of appreciation have a big impact during the Christmas season. When it comes to gifts for the team, you should focus on the experience: a voucher for wellness, a cultural event, or an extended afternoon off are often more valuable than a generic product. High-quality, sustainable items or a donation on behalf of the staff are also excellent choices. 

Conclusion: Christmas magic in the office is more than just glitter and fairy lights

The period leading up to the Christmas holidays offers an opportunity to express a positive corporate culture that values well-being, cohesion, and a professional yet warm working atmosphere. Invest some time in planning and preparation and use this opportunity to thank employees, coworking guests, and customers for their commitment and loyalty.