White House Unveils “Home Is Where the Heart Is” Holiday Theme

The White House is officially in holiday mode, transformed by a new theme from first lady Melania Trump: “Home Is Where the Heart Is.” It took 150 volunteers, thousands of ornaments, and weeks of planning to bring this year’s design to life, all while major construction continues on the property.

With the East Wing demolished to make way for a new 90,000–square–foot ballroom, public tours will follow a reimagined route this season, beginning at the White House’s front entrance instead of the traditional East Colonnade. Visitors are welcomed into the East Room, decorated with an “America 250” theme that looks ahead to the nation’s 250th birthday, complete with evergreens lit in red, white, and blue.

Each historic room carries its own twist on the larger theme. The Green Room features “family fun” displays, including Lego portraits of President Donald Trump and George Washington, plus playful card castles and domino trees. In the Blue Room, this year’s official White House Christmas tree, an 18–foot concolor fir from Michigan, is dressed with blue velvet bows, star accents, and ornaments showcasing each state and territory’s official flower and bird.

The Red Room connects to the first lady’s “Be Best” initiative, with blue butterflies cascading across trees and mantels. In the State Dining Room, pastry chefs created an intricate gingerbread White House using about 120 pounds of gingerbread, complete with a detailed peek into the Yellow Oval Room.

According to her office, Melania Trump drew inspiration from the “joys, challenges, and constant motion” of motherhood and business, emphasizing that home is more about feeling than location. Volunteers selected from across the country say decorating the People’s House left them with a powerful sense of pride and history.

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