Have fun with do-it-yourself holiday decor
Christmas decorations always put me in a festive mood and I love how they make my home feel warm and cosy during the holiday season.
It can be costly and time consuming to decorate for the holidays, but it can also be a lot of fun and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Today, I am sharing a few simple tips for creating dazzling do-it-yourself (DIY) holiday decor that will save you time and money — and make your home look fabulous.
The best way to set the stage for a frugal and fantastic holiday home is to pick a cohesive colour scheme. In my home, I like to use a lot of red and gold, which is very traditional, and this year I have added a few black and red checkered cosy cabin items that are currently very trendy. The most important thing is to pick what you love and stick with it.
One trick you should always employ is to build on what you have. For example, you can buy inexpensive pillow covers for existing throw pillows or fill old vases with bells and ornaments. Using what you have saves money and it limits the number of holiday items you need to store when Christmas is over.
Another way to re-purpose items for the holiday is to wrap photos that are already hanging on the walls. This is a simple idea that makes a big statement. Simply wrap your existing pictures in holiday paper that matches your colour scheme, add festive bows and hang them back up on the walls. Or, alternatively, you can replace existing family photos with holiday photos. Every year, I decorate with several old photos of my boys with Santa. It adds a sentimental and nostalgic element to my Christmas decor that I love.
Decorating with garland and lights is another easy and inexpensive way to add instant holiday sparkle to the interior and exterior of your home. I love the idea of putting garland around the front door and on the banister going up the stairs. You can decorate the garland with ornaments, add lights or leave it plain.
Creating a few handmade pieces of decor is also a wonderful way to add a personal touch. One of my favourite DIY pieces is the square wreath I made for my front door. I removed the glass from a dollar store frame, painted the frame red, added felt floor protectors to the back of the frame to protect my door, hung ornaments from the frame and attached a bow with hot glue. The best part of crafting your own decor is that you can customize the colours and styles to match your personal taste.
Crafting a few handmade ornaments for the tree (and getting the kids involved) is another great way to relax, spend time together and enjoy the lead-up to Christmas. My blog (EastcoastMommy.com) is full of crafty Christmas ideas, but some of our family favourites include the following: paper ornaments made from tracing Christmas cookie cutters and handprints, plastic ornaments filled with fun items (e.g. pompoms, Skittles, strips of coloured paper, pictures or mementos), Popsicle stick snowflakes and trees decorated with jewel stickers, as well as felt ornaments.
The most important part of the holiday season is spending time with family and friends, but setting the stage with festive and fun DIY Christmas decor can really enhance the holidays. So, keep things simple, get crafty and have fun!