10 Funny Office Christmas Decorating Contest Ideas: Turn Your Office Into a Holiday Wonderland With Laughter and Creativity

Last year, I learned the hard way that “less is more” does not always apply when decorating for Christmas. My team turned our entire department into a giant gingerbread house, and while the postman thought we were a bakery, the fire marshal… did not. That moment taught me something: small spaces (yes, even cubicles) can spark huge creativity if you give people a fun challenge. Today, I’m sharing my 10 favorite funny office Christmas decorating contest ideas, inspired by projects I’ve worked on and some that, well, went hysterically wrong.

1. Desk as Santa’s Sleigh

Once, a colleague used cardboard, fairy lights, and a random office chair to turn his desk into Santa's sleigh. It was hilarious but also marketed our holiday spirit perfectly. Just make sure you leave enough room for actual work—or at least a space for your coffee.

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2. The Cubicle Snow Globe

Wrap your entire workspace in clear plastic sheets, add cotton batting for snow, and hang paper snowflakes. I once helped a team map this out using a room planner so we didn’t suffocate ourselves under the décor!

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3. Ugly Sweater Cubicle

Cover every wall of your cubicle with patches of ugly sweater fabric. It’s cozy, ridiculous, and surprisingly warm in December—though your coworkers might need sunglasses.

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4. Reindeer-ify the Boss’s Office

This works best with permission (or forgiveness). Add antlers to chairs, red noses to photos, and a sleigh bell to the doorknob. You’ll know it’s a hit if even finance starts laughing.

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5. Christmas Movie Theme Park

Assign each desk a classic holiday film. We once turned a marketing corner into ‘Home Alone’ complete with cardboard burglars. Planning was half the fun, especially when testing ideas in a free floor plan creator to see if a giant fake tree would fit.

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6. The Over-the-Top Tree Forest

Mini trees on every surface, battery lights, and tinsel everywhere. The challenge is avoiding glitter in your lunch.

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7. Present Wrap Everything

Literally cover your desk, chair, computer, stapler—everything—in wrapping paper. Best done with a buddy so you don’t gift-wrap yourself inside by mistake.

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8. Elf Workshop Assembly Line

Line up desks like factory stations, each making “toys” (or just sorting candy canes). Done right, visitors will feel like they stepped inside the North Pole. It helps if you play Christmas jingles nonstop. I once visualized it in a kitchen layout planner just to organize the crowd flow for our holiday open house.

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9. Reverse Christmas – Summer in December

Swap snowmen for beach balls, fairy lights for tiki torches, and serve piña coladas (virgin, of course). Weird? Yes. Memorable? Absolutely.

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10. DIY Photo Booth Corner

Set up a backdrop, silly props, and a tripod. Not only funny, but it gives everyone a chance to take a souvenir home—and HR gets proof that the office does, in fact, have fun.

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FAQ

1. How do you organize an office Christmas decorating contest?

Pick a theme, set a budget, and decide on judging criteria like creativity, humor, and effort.

2. What’s a good budget for office decoration contests?

Anywhere from $20–$50 per desk can work. Encourage DIY to save money.

3. How do you judge fairness in contests?

Create clear scoring rules and have multiple judges to avoid bias.

4. Can we use real plants in decorations?

Yes, but check sunlight and watering needs to avoid wilted décor.

5. Are themes better than freestyle decorating?

Themes help unify the look and make judging easier.

6. How long should the decorations stay up?

Most offices keep them for 2–4 weeks, until after Christmas.

7. Should we allow off-hours decorating?

If security permits, yes—it gives teams more time and less disruption to work hours.

8. Where can I find layout inspiration?

Online design tools and past contest photos are great starting points. Sites like Coohom offer visual planning help.