Fill An Empty Hallway With Festive Cheer Thanks To This Charming Holiday DIY

Long and narrow hallways are known for presenting a challenge when it comes time to decorate, which may be why these in-between spaces are often overlooked altogether during the holidays. If your front room is lit up for Christmas, but the hallway is plain and boring, consider bringing some festive cheer into your home via a few hallway-friendly decorating ideas. From decking the ceiling with lights and ornaments to hanging gift-wrapped boxes on the walls, there are plenty of ways to add seasonal charm to these liminal spaces. One striking approach that's definitely worth a second look is the "ski lodge" entryway that TikTok creator itgirlchay made recently.

In a video that went viral with over 4.8 million views, itgirlchay shares a winter-themed setup that oozes charm. With lights and snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, she sets the stage for a pretend trek through snow to reach the ski lodge. Snow-laden trees line the path, while more blankets of winter white drape over the pretend fence. A sign at the end of the hall reads, "Welcome to the Lodge," inviting guests to step into a whimsical winter-wonderland.

From the comment section of her viral post, it's clear that this is one of the best holiday ideas for decorating a boring hallway. However, a visit to her profile reveals that it's much more than that. She's turned her entire home into a magnificent, make-believe ski lodge, showing that an overlooked hallway can even become the centerpiece of your holiday decorations.

It turns out a hallway can do more than just look like a magical portal. Well, at least in the case of itgirlchay, who has a playlist on TikTok with over 17 videos about the ski lodge Christmas decoration idea. She starts by shopping at Walmart and Dollar Tree for some inexpensive mini artificial Christmas trees. These stores are some of the best places to buy artificial Christmas trees if you're looking for cheaper options. Since her artificial trees are going against the hallway wall, they can be spread out to look twice as full as they actually are.

In another part of her hallway tutorial, itgirlchay shows how she taped several pieces of foamboard together and put a wood-look contact paper over them to make a faux fence. It sticks out slightly from the wall, an effect achieved by repurposing cardboard packaging. Between flocking, using snow blankets, and adding some fluffy Buffalo Snow to make it look real, her trees appear authentic enough to bring the theme together.

@itgirlchay

Here it is... the full detailed walkthrough of my Ski Lodge Christmas transformation. I still have to fix a couple this but overall it's done❤️#SkiLodgeChristmas #ChristmasDecor #HolidayDIY #WinterDecorIdeas #ChristmasMakeover

♬ original sound – Itali

In a detailed walkthrough video, itgirlchay shows off the final result. Complete with a gift shop and registration area, the ski lodge also features a ski lift in its sunroom and a Ski Lodge Cafe in the kitchen. By repeating textures and motifs from room to room, she creates a cohesive winter narrative that ties the whole home together. It's a reminder that holiday decor doesn't have to stop at the tree.

With thousands of people waiting to see how it all comes out, itgirlchay doesn't appear to feel anything but excited for each stage of her decorating journey. It's obvious that a lot of work went into this project. Whether there's still time to create a winter wonderland of your own this year may depend on how far you want to take the project. Even if you don't have the time or space for a full-home transformation, you can still bring festive cheer to your hallway in a couple of afternoons with just a few supplies. You can shop at Walmart or Dollar Tree for inexpensive decorations like artificial trees, string lights, and blankets of snow. 

Although yours might not be as elaborate as the one on TikTok, you can still easily create a small ski lift area in your living room or add a hot cocoa corner for the "skiers" in your family. You can also bring the ski lodge theme to life by including fun pathway markers to direct traffic. This TikTok creator knows her audience is looking for budget-friendly Christmas decorating tips. In her price breakdown for the hallway transformation, she says she spent $61 but notes that you could spend less by repurposing old cardboard instead of foam board. For decorators working within a tight budget, small substitutions like these can meaningfully reduce costs without compromising the final look.