Frazzled by how to get your house festive without the use of more f words? 17 easy, inexpensive and calminggggg Christmas decorating ideas for a fantastic holiday season.
It takes me 3 days to decorate my house for Christmas. I'm not sure if this makes me uniquely qualified or unqualified to give tips on Christmas decorating, but I have some of my best tips laid out for you in this post.
The main reason it takes me so long to decorate my house is that I change it up every single year. Part of that is because I'm nonsensical and the other part is because I feature my house on my blog every year and figure you'll report me to the bloggers authority if I don't feature new and exciting things every year.
I don't begrudge you that. It's kind of your duty as a blog reader.
You can see how I've decorated for Christmas over the past 8 years in my Christmas House Tours here.
I'm counting on there being a few tips in here that you can implement yourself this year; like placing twigs around your flopping paper whites. Or getting drunk.
In no particular order,
17 Christmas Decorating Ideas
as told by a Christmas addict.
1. To hang a wreath from cupboard doors, install a screw in cup hook or a 3M sticky hook on the inside of the cupboard door. Wrap fishing line around your wreath then hang it from the cuphook on the inside of the door. To make it look like it's hanging from ribbon just wrap ribbon around the wreath and attach it to the cup hook as well. It'll look like the wreaths are hanging by the ribbons but they're actually being supported by the fishing line.
2. FOR EVERY CHRISTMAS PIECE YOU PUT OUT, TAKE AWAY A REGULAR ACCESSORY. Keep a Rubbermaid bin or cardboard box with you as you decorate, placing all the regular accessories into it. Then when you take Christmas away you'll have all your regular stuff together in one spot making it easy to put out again in January.
3. Sometimes all you need to do is add a little Christmas colour. I had these berry sprigs that I bought for a wreath but didn't like them in it. Which is a good thing because they look a million times better bunched in a vase. Again. It's simple but looks Christmassy without making you feel like you're being eaten alive by the ghost of Santa.
4. ADD SPARKLE. I like a rustic Christmas more than anything else but even I make sure there's some glitter going on. You can get glitter from candle holders, a bowl of glittery pine cones, shaking an exotic dancer around your house, wine glasses or using sparkly ribbon on top of a burlap table runner.
5. Keep your Amaryllis or Paperwhites upright by surrounding the plant with twigs. The twigs stop the leaves and flowers from toppling over when they get too tall. Also ... I get my glitter fix.
Bonus tip for Potted Bulbs
Adding a little booze when you water your bulbs will stunt the growth of amaryllis or paperwhite stems by about ⅓rd so they won't flop over.
I tested this theory and outlined the steps for it last year and it worked 100%.
6. SCENTED CANDLES or plugins. If it smells like Christmas it'll feel like Christmas.The world's best scented Christmas Candle is Frasier Fir by Thymes. It is OUTSTANDING. They also make hand soap, car fresheners and reed oil dispensers all in the delicious Frasier Fir scent. I own the room spray, candles, refresher oil, (which I use to make my own Frasier Fir foaming hand soap) and reed diffuser. And yet - I want more.
7. Santa doesn't have to barf on your room to make it seem festive. In the case of my bedroom just adding a sheepskin mat to the floor and a cheap Ikea Christmas tree made it cozy and holiday-like. Again - nice and calm.
8. PUT YOUR LIGHTS ON TIMERS. Just do it. Inside, outside ... doesn't matter. Do 'em all.
9. Ornaments you already own are the cheapest way to decorate. Put them in bowls, mugs, vases or baskets. In this case, my antique egg basket holds my antique ornaments.
Below my DIY hanging magazine rack shows off some vintage ornaments. You can learn how to make the magazine rack here.
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0. DOME IT. Glass cloches (otherwise known as domes) are available everywhere now. Big, small, it doesn't matter. Slip a glass dome over just about anything and it looks great and makes the thing inside seem as special as 5 legged cat. Only cuter.
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1. The snowy scene on my sofa table is just a platter with white Dollar Store trees and plastic snow sprinkled in. That's it. O.K., and a garland and a sparkly candle and a white tree.
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2. Vintage metal trucks SCREAM Christmas. I have no idea why. I blame Hallmark movies. I can also tell you that this random white truck that I bought at an antique store is one of the most commented on things in my house. Everyone loves it and no one really knows why. So if you can, pick up an antique metal truck if you ever see one. If you're impatient I found one truck on Amazon that's similar. The Amazon replica truck is 12" long while my vintage truck is 14" long. The majority of die-case trucks online are only 7" long so if you want a bit one, make sure you check the size.
The Amazon replica truck is 12" long, while my truck is 14" long. The majority of die cast trucks online are only 7"long, so if you like a different one make sure you check the size.
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3. FRUIT! One of my favourite holiday decorations are fruit and nuts. They're festive AND edible. Mixed nuts in their shells, clementine oranges and pears are my favourites.
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4. Pine Cones. If you can shove, hang, prop or display a pine cone in or on it DO IT. They're cheap, festive and available everywhere from stores to the street. If you're fancy you can buy the big ones that are covered in gold glitter.
Glue them on presents, put them in bowls, scatter them on tables or bookshelves.
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5. Get your wrapping done. Just having wrapped presents around makes your house feel like Christmas. This year, it's going to be simple for me. No over the top crazy wrapping but it will be beautiful. I haven't entirely decided what I'm doing and with what materials, but I do know it's going to be simple, oversized ribbon and plain paper similar to what I did a few years ago. Just a classic, simple, old fashioned Christmas look.
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6. Just a few sprigs. You don't need masses of store bought greenery, garland and wreaths. Just a few sprigs of anything evergreen from your yard can have an impact.
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7. Don't forget the porch or whatever main door you use to get into your house. Just a little porch tree will make you smile with its Christmas cheer every time you come home.
BONUS CHRISTMAS DECORATING TIP: JUST BECAUSE YOU OWN IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO PUT IT OUT.
If you have decorations that you loved at one point but kind of roll your eyes at now there's no rule that says you HAVE to put them out. I used to try to find a place to just stick them but now I realize just because I own them doesn't mean I have to put them out. If I don't like them or don't have room for them I either don't put them out that year or I get rid of them.
MY FINAL BONUS TIP.
The most important thing to remember when you're decorating for Christmas is, you really can't go wrong. It's pretty forgiving and pretty hard to make a mistake. I mean, we put entire, full sized, living trees in our rooms and don't think a thing of it. What other time of year would this seem sane to us?
Then we cover it with flashing lights.
So no. You really can't screw up Christmas decorating. Just have fun, make it cozy and shake that ho, ho, ho around.
My mom-in-law LOVED Christmas and decorated every room. As she aged, she wasn't able to do that, so I stepped in to do it. She passed away this summer and as we were sorting through all of her things, there was SO much Christmas stuff. We sold much of it (see pic!) but I kept tucking away favourite pieces to keep.
We have now purchased the family home and are frantically painting it before we move in. We may not get many decorations out this year, but there'll definitely be some lights, wreathes, and vintage balls around, even if I am putting them out on Christmas Eve!
WOW! That's a lot of Christmas. I hope you got some good ones and good luck with the painting! ~ karen
I saved some fun vintage items and know I'll be discovering new-to-us stuff for years, as they were tucked away in a whirlwind of trying to empty a 5 bedroom home stuffed to the brim.
Merry Christmas!
I spy with my little eye a vintage Eatons box! I recently got rid of some old glass ornaments in their original boxes with the Eatons price stickers still on them. I still have a few shopping bags and cardboard boxes that I just can’t seem to throw out. I may have a problem. 😬
Our wedding bands came from Eatons, so I'll always have memories of that long gone Canadian shopping icon!
Love the twig idea to hold amaryllis upright!
I will be gluing pinecones to empty wooden spools to add to my tree collection.
Everything on my sideboard went into the box where the Christmas decorations were stored. Easy peasy.
Intended to purchase red carnations today as they are long lasting. The ones in the store were already past their prime. :-( Festive in the holly teapot.
Cut greenery from last remaining spruce last month. Added trimmed holly. Should have added arborvitae. Needs some red.
Tree this year is red birds, snowflakes and icicles. Intended to put up the angel tree but felt I needed a bright color these dark days. Many ornament decorations invoked memories of loved friends.
Hi Judy! The twig trick works great for holding up those scraggly paperwhites! ~ karen!
Looks great Karen! But it always does. Merry Christmas! 🎄
I love your clean approach and it does feel VERY Christmasy. Seeing the green sprigs in a row of white cups down the middle of your table made me so happy. I recently cleaned out my canning jars and found a basket of antique jars with glass flip top wired lids and fell in love all over again. But what to do with them? Wait for Karen's ideas to show how gorgeous they would be in a row on my table with greens from the backyard. WOW!
Your home looks lovely as always. My paper whites I bought last year are already tall and floppy. Going to find some sticks today. Maybe next year I'll get them drunk, unless I give them away at the end of the season. Because I am one of those who can't stand the smell of them. But they are so pretty I forget and buy more every few years.
Oh, I needed this.
So: I live in Brooklyn, NY, in an apartment with a roommate; my family lives in Massachusetts. My roommate is going out of the country for the last half of December so it would be me alone in the apartment except for the few days I go visit the family. And - now on top of all of that, I have been in a MISERABLE HORRIBLE CRAPPY-BUTT JOB for the past few months that is so bad that I have lost sleep, appetite, and 20 pounds just from sheer stress. This afternoon I am going to quit without another job lined up because SERIOUSLY it is hurting me. My last day is going to be a week before Christmas.
A part of me was thinking "screw it, why decorate, because it's just going to be me and I'm not even going to be AROUND THE HOUSE on Christmas Day and I need to be economical and stuff because I'm leaving a job, maybe I should just pack it all in". But you have inspired me to say "no, dammit, I should see what I've got around the house and just spruce things up a tiny bit because even if it IS just me around the house I deserve a bit of fun, especially as a reward for having endured THAT SUCKY-ASS JOB."
I mean, hell, I can go to a park and find pine cones and twigs for free, and I can get fairy lights for five dollars somewhere. I have the means to MAKE candles and I have some ornaments somewhere. And I'll have the time now (I'm not even going to THINK about job hunting until the day after New Year's).
Thank you. I do deserve to decorate the house.
Absolutely you do! And congratulations on making the decision to change your life!
Best wishes for a bright future. :)
This year, unlike most other years, I went ALL OUT decorating my humble bungalow abode. Christmas has been a melancholy holiday for me since I was 15. But traditions must be kept or endured, whichever comes first -lol So .... here ya' go.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea its really help me a lot keep posting such amazing ideas
Dearest Karen ♡I stumbled across your blog a couple of years ago. I find you to be quite entertaining and inspiring. Then boo I lost my phone and my contacts and you. felt like my arm had been cut off .after purchasing another phone (which killed me)some of my contacts were restored and life was somewhat 🙃 going on. Fast forward another couple of years and your blog popped up out of nowhere,needless to say I hadn't noticed that you were missing until you reappeared like a long lost friend. I hope I never lose you again. I really am grateful to the powers to be reunited us. you just don't know. Thank you for being you ❤ 💛 ♥ 💕 💓 💗 ❤ 💛 ♥ 💕 💓 💗 ❤ 💛 ♥
Karen,
May I offer a little trick that I use to keep those annoying lamp cords from showing like in the knee space of the desk in the bedroom decorated for Christmas here. I use regular cup hooks on the back of my leggy furniture to keep cords out of view. It works like a charm.
That *is* a good idea! ~ karen
I love all these ideas! Thank you for the inspiration!
Thanks, Karen. You made me realize that I paid twice as much for a new mailbox swag from Pottery Barn than could have paid for the same item from Amazon!!! JK - posting this so your readers won't be sucked into buying the overpriced mediocre item from Pottery Barn like I did. I have had one for years (prelit, cordless battery operated, with a timer) but it looked tired so I replaced it. They are a nice touch when lit up at night. XO
I bet it's beautiful. ~ karen!
Beautiful. Simple details that are cheerful little pops of joy. And I'm head over heels in love with that truck. Thanks for the great ideas.
Like you, I take down my non- seasonal items when I put out holiday decor. But now....I will do it smarter, all my take downs go in 1 bin. Thanks for idea
These decorating suggestions were just what I needed this year. I'm old enough to have a LOT of ornaments but not energetic enough to put up a tree anymore. Last year, a local Christmas tree vendor let me collect the branches he'd cut off his trees, and I put them in a big pot and decorated them with lights (took just one string) and a handful of my oldest, shinest balls. I was still in the mood for decorating just then, so I grabbed some of the most meaningful ornaments and festooned the houseplants. Then I poured myself a glass of wine and flopped on the couch to enjoy my Christmas bush, and Christmas fig tree, and Christmas cacti.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Karen, and all your friends, just crack me up. Down here, we are still dressed for our Thanksgiving. I am going to bust my budget buying candles. What I take away for decorations, I put in the box that the decorations were in. Then the switch out is easy. Your bonus tip is pure wisdom.
Peace
Since I'm so late to this party, there's probably nothing left to say, so I'll just say I love it! I shared your post with my three daughters, since we're all into thrifty solutions for the holidays. Your blog is such a treat, Karen. It's one of the few things I do not delete automatically from my inbox. I always pop by for a little look, because you are such an entertaining internet pal. Thanks for all the hard work you do. I know you can't help being busy and this is your job 'n all, but you do it so well, and your fans out in cyber space appreciate it. Really, really. xo
Karen, the scented candle you need is Kenneth Turner Original. It is divine. From an aromatherapist that says a lot. That is all.
I clicked "post comment" before I saw your update, but still think Kenneth Turner are THE best candles, ever.
And THE best decorating tip, ever, is yours "JUST BECAUSE YOU OWN IT DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO PUT IT OUT."
Miriam! I just looked on Amazon Canada for the candle and it's $1,000 😂 Do you have any $2,000 potpourri you'd like to recommend? 🤣 I see on Amazon.com it's cheaper at $350. And other than that they don't have the original, just "signature". :/ ~ karen!
I buy Yankee candles at Goodwill. They look like crap, but you can clean the glass up.
When I pay full price and burn it twice, it will look just like the Goodwill candle. NOT PAYING 365#^%$.
For those in the US near a Kroger or King Sooper's grocery store, they sell a Candle-Lite limited edition, hefty 18oz "Christmas Tree Farm" scented candle jar on sale for less than $5 - smells amazing.
My favorite time of year when I get to shake my Ho, Oh No...
Well, way back when I slept with a guy who lived in a truck like that ... it wasn't exactly a Hallmark movie, but hey, close enough.
Best comment ever!!!!