Puerto Rican Christmas Decorations: Ideas for an Island-Style Home

Puerto Rican Christmas decorations have something unmistakable: next to the tree and lights you'll find the Three Kings, the flag, carved wood and Caribbean colors. It's not about choosing between traditional and Boricua, but blending them with style.

Here are ideas, room by room, to decorate your home this Christmas, whether you're on the island or far from it.

The Christmas tree

• Pick a palette of two or three colors and repeat it. Red and white for classic, blue and silver for something cooler and more elegant.
• Mix ornament sizes. Large ones go deep inside, near the trunk, for depth; small ones at the tips. The 23-piece ornament sets already combine sizes and finishes, and 6-piece sets fill in the gaps.
• Add texture with a garland. A 6 ft velvet ball garland spiraling around the tree changes the whole look.

The Boricua touch: hang wooden ornaments of the Three Kings or the nativity house among the ornaments.

The living room

• Holiday pillows on the sofa, like the nutcracker and Santa pillows.
• Candles on the coffee table with a double Christmas candle holder.
• A garland on the TV console or along a shelf.

The front door and balcony

In Puerto Rico, Christmas is visible from the street. Balconies and carports light up, and the front door is the first impression for any surprise parranda.

• A wreath on the door: the rustic pine and berry Christmas wreath works with any door color.
• Balcony lights: the 288-bulb LED icicle lights, warm white or multicolor, fall like a curtain from the eaves.
• A hanging accent: the bells and pinecones hanging ornament on the door handle rings every time someone walks in.

Walls and corners with a Boricua touch

This is where the decor becomes ours. The Three Kings hold a special place in a Puerto Rican Christmas, and they stay in the house until January.

• A wooden Three Kings "Feliz Navidad" sign for the entryway or kitchen.
• A Three Kings canvas, one of our best-selling Christmas items.
• An artisan macramé Puerto Rico flag ornament for the tree or the wall.
• A nativity scene with manger on a shelf or side table.

Learn more about the tradition in Three Kings Day in Puerto Rico.

The Christmas table

The Nochebuena table deserves its own decor: gold placemats, gold-rimmed glasses for coquito and a centerpiece with candles and greenery. For the menu, see Puerto Rican Christmas food.

A practical tip: decorating several rooms? Put it all in one order. Over $100, 10% off is applied automatically in the cart; shipping within Puerto Rico is free over $40, and 50% off to the continental U.S. For the whole season, read Christmas in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rican Christmas decorations FAQ

When do Puerto Ricans put up the Christmas tree?

Many families put it up after Thanksgiving and keep it until after Three Kings Day or Las Octavitas.

What makes Christmas decor Puerto Rican?

The Three Kings, the Puerto Rican flag, wood crafts, folk music instruments and lights on balconies and carports.

What colors work best for the tree?

Red and white for a classic look, blue and silver for something elegant, or gold with wood for a rustic feel. Repeat two or three colors.