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.
This year I'm in the curious position all of us are in. I really want my house to envelop me in every bit of Christmas coziness it can muster but at the same time I'm exhausted and unhinged. That means, I don't know if I have the energy to do over the top decorating. It also means, I'm eating a lot of fried foods.
I'm also not sure that I want that kind of oppressive, over the top, choking on garland look I'm normally partial to. I need calm. I need easy. I need french fries.
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.
So EVEN if I do things "easier" this year, it'll still take me forever because I'll have to figure out the best way to do it by trial and error.
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. THIS look is pretty calm. I like it for this year.
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 Paperwhite 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.
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, candle melts, car air freshener 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 make 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.
10. 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.
11. 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. This year it might feel like too much to me and I'd probably just have the garland and one other thing.
12. 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 love sit 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 Amazon has tons of replica vintage metal trucks.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
I still have the same glass ornaments I walked into this house with and I'll never get rid of them. I didn't decorate with them this year but I did 2 years ago and I'm sure I will again in the future. So they stay.
But in the same box I have a bunch of older decorations that I loved at one point but kind of roll my eyes at now. 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 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.
→Follow me on Instagram where I'll be sharing a lot more Christmas stuff.←
Eileen
I love this post. I seem to be doing a little "Santa barfing" routine, in spite of the fact that I just love the photos with the "less is more" feeling. I unpacked over 50 little ceramic houses after storing them for ten years. They are cute, but I'm not sure they'll be out next year. I dread packing them up.
Karen Too
That cutting board you have on the wall is the best! Loverly!
Karen
Thanks Karen! It's actually a pizza peel! But really now it's just decoration since it's too big to fit in my pizza oven, lol. ~ karen!
Kim
" I mean, we put entire, full sized, living trees in our living 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 "
Lmao. Seriously. Golden.
Susan
I have been collecting old rolling pins for years, but never could figure out how to display them all, besides drilling holes in the back, which I hesitated to do.
Those rolling pins on your wall made me so happy! Tell me how you hung (hanged?) them! If you say "drill" I'll drag out the Makita.
I was so excited to find another nut out there, like me, who loves those beat up, ancient rolling pins! (Got some Old Amish ones-is that not cool?) As a woodcarver, I've carved a wood spirits into the pins, Santa's too!
I am so excited and look forward to your advice! BTW I really like your blog. Your sense of humor often has me Rotflmao. Thanks for that!
PS: My Christmas present to myself was just delivered-Makita die grinder! A friend gave me a foot pedal for it...really...can Christmas get any better? Rolling pins and die grinders! Ho Ho Ho!
Beth
Here's where Karen posted about the rolling pins (great pics of the kitchen here as well). https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/my-kitchen-the-reveal/
Don't forget to love your librarians at this time of year (and all year 'round!).
Karen
Hi Susan. Technically I haven't drilled into the rolling pin ... buuuuuut ... I did screw a small cup hook into one end of each. The cup hook then hangs from the brackets. (which are actually antique French curtain tie backs) I couldn't figure out any other way to do it. It barely makes a hole in the wood plus the cup hooks don't get in the way when I'm actually using the rolling pins. So there you have it. :) ~ karen!
Vanessa
Some how I have managed to amass a collection of rolling pins. I am now on the look out for interesting tie backs to hang them from. I have a wall of brick too, but it's not white, so I'm not sure how they'd look hanging there. I have a olive green wall in the kitchen, might try them there...
Susan
Oh Mama! That is so cool! I want to display mine the same way. Let's me check my list:
Have the wall space-check!
Have the rolling pins-check!
Have the small cup holders-check!
Antique French Curtain Tie Backs? Gee... Good Will was all out of them and the 3 antique stores in town just looked at me funny.
Karen...need your HELP here. You have the brains. Can you figure out an alternative, or how to make faux antique French curtain tie backs at a reasonable price?
Counting on you, girlfriend. If anyone can figure this out-you can!
PS: thanks go to Beth for directing me to Karen's original rolling pin post, and, yes.. I love librarians all year long! They are heroes!
Karen
Ha! Well, I don't think that even I could figure out how to build antique French tie backs. Etsy actually has a bunch of them for sale but they're around $150 US per pair. If I were you I'd just find new curtain tie backs that have an antique shape. And if they look too "new" just paint them white and be done with it. ~ karen!
holly
Slatkin and Co. candles......my favorite is Winter if it is still available. I stick my nose in them during 100+ summer days when they are unlit of course! just to bring back winter memories.
Amy in KC
I second the Slatkin and Co. candles. There are so many great scents, but I have my favorites. We had a pumpkin one burning this fall and it smells heavenly, both lit and unlit. There are always great sales on them at Bath & Body Works.
Alyssandra
I concur, that Winter scent is THE BEST!!!
I buy sooo many Bath & Body Works candles - they really are wonderful. And in my little apartment, some of them are actually too strong to keep burning for long! Definitely recommend them. =)
brenda
if you life the glass they will wonder ... you really must lift it
Elaine
I love eveything you did, Karen! Keeping it simple really is the best way to go; a bit of restraint makes everything look classy, in my opinion. It really is quite surprising (and fun) to see what adding just a tiny tree and fur rug does to your bedroom!!
Kathleen
All my peeps will be away for Christmas. So I was really debating whether to go to all that effort... Having seen your beautiful decor.... I think I should make the effort!
MissChris SA
The downfall of living in a hot climate over Christmas - our décor is never as awesome as yours!!
However, we (the old man and I) have two grandbabies now so I will be making a concerted effort to make the house look magical!
And yes, I have not even started my décor - that is my weekend project (still working and it is a busy time of year - and that sounds like a poor excuse!!).
LOVE your Christmas home!!
Pat
Love the tip...put your lights on timers! Now why didn't I ever, ever think of that. Instead, I crawl under the tree to switch them off and then debate about who is going to pop outside to pull the plug on the outside lights. Duh!
Paula
First Christmas in our century home and I have officially been 'inspired'.
Thank you for being you, and for sharing you, with all of us!
Karen
Oh! have fun with it. Love even just plain fresh garland in a century home. ~ karen!
Robert
I think I just read my favorite sentence from you ever "JUST BECAUSE YOU OWN IT DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO PUT IT OUT" great for many occasions even sexual arrasment
brenda
that's a good comment - tee hee
Karin
Hahaha!
Ardith
Great, inventive ideas, Karen. Still want to transport that one wall into my home, BTW. Meanwhile, may I suggest Thymes Frasier Fir fragrances? It does come in candle form, although I chose the reed diffuser oil. O.M.G. it smells like heavenly Christmas tree. A little goes a long way, and it lasts quite a while. In fact, I pored enough to fill a third of a small bottle, and I just keep turning over the reeds to refresh the scent. I bought it on Amazon. Cheers, Ardith
Sboo
Frasier Fir is lovely! A local boutique always has it out this time of year and walking into the shop is like being hugged by a 10-ft Christmas tree while tiny reindeers prance in the snow around you.
Catherine
Ha! Yes exactly. The shop near me sold out last year, so I went early this year to buy a few boxes.
I never usually buy scented candles, the smell is usually too fake but the Frasier Fir ones are different. I love them.
Nancy in Atlanta
Ditto for Thymes Frasier Fir. I have both the diffuser and the Wood Wick candle. My tree lights are on timers so when I get home from work, I'm greeted at the door with a lovely sight and a heavenly scent.
Amanda
Love reading about your Christmas preparations! Someday my 2 year old son won't climb the tree and I can have glass cloches throughout the house again!
Gillian
My mom had two at that age during Christmas one year (my older brothers, not me, I'm a perfect Angel. Then and now) who wouldn't leave the tree alone. She put the tree in the playpen and solved the problem!
Robbin
Hi Karen:
Love it all! Did you get those Ikea wreaths this year? I'd like them!
Thanks
Karen
I didn't Robbin. I got the 3 years ago! They had the last year I think, but I haven't been to Ikea this year so I'm not sure if they're still there. ~ karen!
Paula
I just looked it up on the Ikea website - they are $12.99
Mondo | I bake he shoots
Your home looks so cozy; a sleepover is in order!
Mark
Very nice.
cc
YOU ALWAYS MAKE IT REAL, AND I LOVE THAT ABOUT YOU..
it is what it is, thank you
cc
Karen
Thanks CC. ~ k!
sandra
Karen your beautiful home and creative decorations have inspired me to get decorating. just the boost I need to move on from a very traumatic 2014 holiday season. Thank you
Karen
Well good Sandra! Get your ass in gear and pull those decorations out. Even just half of them. By next year you'll be happily hauling them all out. I am the voice of reason and experience! ~ karen
Lynn
You want your house to smell like Christmas. Try this put a pot of water on stove add 1 cinnamon stick , 1 orange peel an a apple peel boil as long or as little as you like . The smell will float through out your house better than any candle .
Karen
Hi Lynn! I've tried that before and it never seems to work for me. But because of you I will give it one more shot! ~ karen!
Eve@BlueRidgeRunner
Karen, add some whole cloves too.
Keith
If you want the world's best scented candle, basically Christmas with a wick, this is by far THE BEST candle. It smells of evergreen nirvana. Not Pine-sol. Not something that smells fake. And it permeates the room without requiring a gas mask.
http://www.thymes.com/Fragrances/Frasier-Fir/
Seriously, I've tried them all. It is worth every single cent. The gingerbread is very nice as well. Not sickly sweet - warm, delicately spicy.
Merry Christmas
Karen
Thanks Keith. According to their website I just happen to have a few stores right near me that carry them. ~ karen!
Diane
Yes! I agree. I buy them on clearance the year before and then I can burn them without worrying that they cost an arm and a leg. I have a stash for gift giving as well. FYI They still smell wonderful a year later.
Laura Bee
This does work. Unless you are easily distracted. After creating orange cinnamon charcoal last year, I'll be switching to my mini crockpot this year. ( I had it turned up to get it hot, then wandered away & didn't turn it to a simmer. This is also why I have a kettle with an auto shut off now. )
Jenn
I've found a small stock pot sized pot with 3 cinnamon sticks, one sliced up orange, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and a half cup of cranberries really does the trick for us. We leave it on the lowest simmer setting on the stove. Top up the water so all the ingredients are always covered (it needs refreshing once or twice a day). Really fills up our open kitchen with the smell of Christmas. It lasts about 3 or 4 days before I refresh it with a new batch.
sarajane
I use a (thrifted) mini crock pot with cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and dried orange peel. If I'm feeling sassy, I also add a star anise or two.