decorate

Decorate means to make something more attractive or appealing by adding ornaments, colors, finishes, or other embellishments. It can also refer to the act of arranging or dressing a space or object for a particular purpose or occasion, such as decorating a room, a cake, a Christmas tree, or a public venue. The noun forms are decoration or décor.

Etymology traces the word to the Latin decorare, meaning to honor or embellish, via Old French decorer and Middle English decoren. The term has historical ties to both aesthetic embellishment and ceremonial display.

Common uses and contexts include interior design, where decoration encompasses color schemes, lighting, furniture, textiles, and art chosen to create a cohesive atmosphere; events and holidays, where décor conveys theme and mood through banners, flowers, and lighting; culinary arts, where cake decorating uses icing, fondant, and edible toppings; and outdoor or landscape settings, where plants, hardscaping, and furniture contribute to a curated exterior.

Methods and considerations involve principles of design such as balance, proportion, rhythm, and color theory, as well as practical concerns like scale, function, maintenance, and budget. Sustainability and durability are increasingly emphasized, with preference given to recyclable or reusable materials and low-impact finishes.

Beyond physical spaces, the term appears in computing in the decorator pattern, where additional behavior is attached to objects at runtime by wrapping them, allowing extension without altering original code.

See also decoration, adornment, ornament, and décor. Decor reflects cultural norms and personal taste, influencing perceived space, atmosphere, and experience.