White House unveils holiday décor theme: ‘Home Is Where the Heart Is’

White House unveils holiday décor theme: ‘Home Is Where the Heart Is’

(The Hill) – The White House is ushering in the holidays with a message that aims to strike close to home, unveiling its annual Christmas decor theme: “Home Is Where the Heart is.”

The decorations are an ode to the “enduring American spirit of generosity, patriotism and gratitude,” the White House said of its seasonal look unveiled Monday. 

“Every detail” in the crimson-heavy decor was personally chosen by Melania Trump, according to White House officials.

The first lady’s touch is evident in the Red Room, where her Fostering the Future campaign, part of her Be Best initiative, is highlighted on ornaments and amongst cranberry trees. More than 10,000 blue butterflies are seen aflutter around the historic space.

President Trump’s image also appears in several spots — depicted both in painted and puzzle form.

The Green Room is dedicated to the “playfulness and imagination that make a house a home,” with centerpieces made out of dominos and structures constructed of playing cards. Two presidential portraits created with more than 6,000 Lego puzzle pieces each, one of Trump and another showing George Washington, are featured on either side of the room. 

A painting of Trump, showing the president raising his fist immediately following the attempt on his life last year at a Butler, Pa., rally, is also displayed prominently in the Cross Hall. Trump’s portrait is seen amid the hall filled with several trees adorned in crimson and gold. “The space captures the heart of the theme, reminding us that love — steady, selfless, and ever-blooming — is what truly makes a home,” a White House program about the holiday decor said. 

The residence-centric theme comes at a time when major changes are underway to the president’s home. Crews demolished the East Wing — the traditional starting point for public tours of the White House — in October to construct a $300 million ballroom. The razing of the East Wing amid the construction of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which Trump has said will be paid for through private donations, triggered an outcry from critics.

In the Blue Room stands the official White House Christmas tree, doubling as a tribute to Gold Star families this year. The concolor fir hales from Sidney, Mich., measuring in at more than 18 feet, and includes ornaments emblazoned with the official bird and flower from each U.S. state and territory. A separate tree honoring Gold Star families was traditionally displayed in the East Wing as guests entered the White House. 

The East Room — currently the largest space in the White House — is an early ode to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Trump has long emphasized the nation’s 250th birthday, saying he looked forward to a “most spectacular” yearlong celebration leading into 2026. 

The State Dining Room is where visitors will find a sugar high-inducing highlight: the White House Gingerbread House. This year’s colossal creation — made with 120 pounds of gingerbread — depicts the South Portico with a view into part of the private residence of the White House. 

Public tours of the White House — which were paused in August amid the ballroom construction — are poised to resume on Tuesday with an “updated route offering guests the opportunity to experience the history and beauty of the People’s House.” Tens of thousands of visitors typically tour the White House throughout December and the holiday season. 

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