Ten Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas
There’s always something more that could be done at holiday time—one more batch of cookies to bake, one more present to buy. But these ten quick and easy holiday decorating ideas really are easy to pull off, and many of them are naturally elegant with no sign of DIY in sight. Choose a few of your favorites to add an extra shot of holly jolly spirit to your home this season.
- Ornament Your Home
Don’t feel obligated to hang every single bauble on your evergreen. Create colorful displays of ornaments around the house: A bowl full of ornaments on the dining table, ornaments hanging from staircase garland, ornaments placed on the fireplace mantle, or ornaments hung with bows in a “chandelier” shape in a hallway.
- Bring the Outside In
Pine cones are synonymous with the winter holidays. Grab yourself a bag of the cinnamon-scented ones, or pick a pile of those that have fallen in your back yard, and string up some holiday garland for a doorway. Add an oversized bow for the finishing touch.
- Gift Creatively
This year, be the one who’s remembered for some seriously fabulous gift wrapping. It doesn’t take much to stand out. Use a personalized ornament as a gift tag; add bells to a floppy bow; sweeten things up with candy canes, giant lollipops or cookie cutters. And remember, sometimes less is more. Varying shades of solid color wrapping paper with ribbon makes a stunning statement.
- Go Exotic
Peacock feathers, anyone? Whether you put them in a vase, a centerpiece, or even among the branches of your tree, these gorgeous accents are unexpected and complementary to any holiday décor.
- Wrap It Up
Want to embellish a few extra pieces of furniture in your home? Wrap them up, as loosely or as tightly as you like. Criss-cross strands of wide ribbon on your coffee table or gift wrap your picture frames or family room wall art for an unexpected change of scenery.
- De-Clutter Your Décor
Too often, we try to fit our holiday décor in with our existing décor. That leads to clutter and a sense of overwhelm. So put away the typical pillows and bring out some fluffy, bright holiday ones. Exchange your blanket for a Christmas throw. You don’t have to do a lot to make an entire room look brighter and merrier.
- Get Carded
Holiday cards—do you pile them up on a kitchen counter only to toss them at the end of the season? You have built-in decorations reaching you by USPS. Whether greeting card or photo card, get a display area ready and hang them as they arrive. Tie up a ribbon sash and hang cards by clothespins or ornament hooks. Wrap up a door and embellish the ribbon with cards. Create a greetings tree or wreath. Or buy a large, bright frame, hang it empty, and tack your cards up inside of it.
- Change the Shape
Wreaths do come in all shapes and sizes, but we tend to get stuck in that circular mode. Be creative and go for square or triangular if you’re creating your own bit of door décor. Instead of greenery, use a picture frame or substitute ornaments or beads.
- Jingle All the Way
Nothing says Christmas like jingle bells. You can find them in gold, silver or any number of holiday colors. Hang a cluster from your doors–be they closet, front door, garage door, or laundry room–and the sounds of the season will follow you everywhere.
- Spruce up Your Shelves
It’s inevitable that areas of your home get neglected while other corners get the bulk of your holiday décor. Spread the cheer throughout the house by sneaking in a small and unexpected wreath or tree, a ribbon embellishment, or joyfully wrapped (but empty) packages. Add a decoration to kitchen shelves, bookshelves or your child’s room.
