Part of the fun of Christmas is enjoying the festive holiday decorations. Here are some ideas on how to bring a little Christmas cheer into your home!
Part 1 Decorating Your Home.
1. Make an easy, quick 3D paper snowflake. For an extra wintery effect, use silvery/shiny paper or hang them in your windows.
2. Or, make a classic paper snowflake. Hang them from strings on the ceiling, or tape them on your windows and walls.
3. Make your own Christmas wreath. All you need is a wire hanger and a quick trip to the craft store!
4. For a more modern (and environmentally-friendly!) Christmas wreath, use recycled cardboard. Add embellishments like glitter, ribbons snowy white feathers to dress it up.
5. Make a cute snowman out of a gourd. Use different sizes to make a little snow-family.
6. Make an Advent paper chain. Hang it somewhere visible so you can see the chain get shorter as you snip each day. You Make it by cutting strips of paper then glueing it together.
Part 2 Decorating a Christmas Tree.
1. Give your tree an elegant, classic feel. This article can help you pick a color scheme and decide which decorations will make your tree look perfect!
2. Make tiny 3D Christmas trees. Use them as ornaments for the big tree, or hang them around the house to evoke holiday spirit.
3. Make a popcorn garland for your tree. This classic decoration is a fun, easy craft (and great for kids).
4. Make sparkly snowflake ornaments. Hang them in your windows, or add them to your Christmas tree.
5. Make a mini-tree out of books. Treat the reader in your life to a special Christmas tree, or make one for yourself instead of buying the huge classic version.
Part 3 Decorating Your Yard.
1. Deck out your front yard for the holiday. Use your trees, porch, driveway and windows to lend some Christmas spirit to the neighborhood.
2. Make your outdoor Christmas lights flash to music. You can choreograph them along to one song, or a whole playlist of holiday tunes! (Just be aware of your city's noise ordinances before you begin.)
Tips.
Choose a few permanent outside decorations to use year after year. Examples include a blinking star on your roof, a string of icicle lights across your roof-line or a few light-up reindeer.
Consider having at least one expensive, well-made decoration. Even though it may cost a little bit more money, they're more durable and can be enjoyed longer. These are good things to pass down to children and grandchildren. Austrian crystal decorations are a good example of this.
Every year or so, evaluate your decorations/ornaments. Discard the ones that are broken or those that you no longer want. By doing so, you're freeing up room for a few new decorations and also giving yourself more space to enjoy the decorations that you love.
Be sure to put some Christmas music on while decorating! You want to be in the full Christmas spirit!
Be sure to express yourself when decorating.
Christmas markets, especially European ones, are a great source for gorgeous handmade decorations.
Whatever you do, have fun with decorating. If you have children, let them help you. Christmas is about being together with friends and family.
It might also be nice to buy a fake mini tree to be also to put in the kid's room! Super fun!
Don't buy all your decorations at once. If you are decorating for the first time, buy a few inexpensive decorations. After the holidays, many stores will have drastically lower prices on many items. Buy a few more at this time each year until you feel you have enough decorations. As you get older, you will also get some decorations passed down from family members or decorations from children of your own. If you start off with too many, you may have far too many in the long run and won't have space for them all.
You can decorate for Christmas whenever you want, but think logically. Don't do it in Early-November for example. It defeats the point that Christmas comes once a year by extending it. The best time is between the day after Thanksgiving through Early December.
Warnings.
Use only outdoor rated extension cords for exterior light, and do not try to attach too many lights to one cord.
Be safe when you're hanging lights. If you use a ladder, take care and use it properly.
How to Decorate Your Home for Christmas at the Very Last Minute.
Sometimes the best laid plans for Christmas go awry and you haven't decorated the house before Christmas arrives. Changed travel plans, sudden illness, busyness at work, a full-on season of events, etc. are all reasons for why you might not have gotten around to doing it yet. Don't despair - you can still have a wonderful Christmas time.
Steps.
1. Don't give up or collapse in a heap. The fact that you haven't had the decorations out as long as the Smiths next door and the Jones over the road just doesn't matter. The intent is to do it now, for Christmas, even if it's Christmas morning. Forgive yourself the hard year or season that you've had and use this last-minute decorating as a cathartic release of tension and a precursor to making a new start for everything from hereon in.
2. Seek the tree only if there is time and it doesn't cause too many challenges or stress. Here is a list to run through quickly to see what will work in the time you have left:
Fresh tree: You might be able to find a tree at the last minute. Only get one if doing so will not cause major disruptions. They'll often be bargain priced by this time as the sellers realize their last sales rather than losses.
Artificial tree: If getting a fresh tree is too hard, think about hopping into a store that is still open late and grabbing an artificial one for what will likely be a reduced price.
Already have tree: If you already own an artificial tree, use that instead. Get it out!
Tree substitute: If you don't have one and you can't get one, what about substituting the umbrella tree that usually sits in the corner unobtrusively doing nothing? Nothing says you can't use a tropical plant instead of a fir tree! Or find a beautiful branch with twigs and decorate it à la Swedish tradition - red and white is ideal for this.
3. Keep the decorating simple but effective. Go for bold rather than for quantity. Prefer tinsel, bead chains, paper chains and some large baubles over a lot of finicky stuff that will take ages to unwrap and put up. Little and lots creates stress; big and few makes it simple.
4. Put out all your Christmas cards. Put a string across the room and hang or pin them to the string. Instant Christmas decoration!
5. Stick a wreath on the front door. If you have one, pin it up. Let the neighbors know that you're home for Christmas after all and you're celebrating it too.
6. Put on Christmas carols while you work. Decorating and cooking the meal go much more smoothly if you play the music and start the Christmas atmosphere.
Tips.
Keep last minute Christmas cooking simple. If you're doing Christmas at the last minute, forget the difficult stuff. Go for roasted vegetables, roasted meat, fresh bread, a wonderful salad, and delicious drinks such as wine, sparkling grape juice, spiced hot drinks, apple juice (the cloudy variety) and eggnog. Consider buying ready-made goodies from the supermarket or gourmet store as a treat; it's Christmas after all and it is time to pamper your sanity as much as doing the traditional things. If you don't have time for traditional, just roll with it.
If you're still feeling miserable, go and volunteer at a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter for Christmas. That'll make you realize what you have got this Christmas.
Things You'll Need.
Decorations - less is best.
A tree or a tree substitute.
Wreath.
Christmas cards and a piece of string or yarn, some pegs/clothespins.
Do you love Christmas? Are you interested in spicing up your room for the holidays this season? Well then this article is just perfect for you! Read below to find out how to decorate your room for Christmas!
Part 1 Adding Trees, Lights, and Garlands.
1. Add a Christmas tree. Christmas trees come in all shapes and sizes, but a smaller one might look more proportionate in a bedroom. You might also want to get a fake tree as opposed to a real one. They are less likely to shed leaves and do not need to be watered.
Add a small craft tree if you have some desk or shelf space. Art and crafts stores often sell mini versions of Christmas trees, ranging between 8 and 12 inches (20.32 and 30.48 centimeters). You will also find mini lights and ornaments in the same area.
Get a 2 to 4 foot (0.61 to 1.22 meters) tall tree if you have a larger room or not a lot of furniture. You can stand the tree on a small table, a stool, or even a crate to give it extra height.
Get a "pencil" tree if you have a small room or a lot of furniture. Pencil trees can range from 3 to 9 feet (0.92 to 2.74 meters) tall, but they can be as narrow as 8 or 20 inches (20.32 or 50.8 centimeters). They don't take up a lot of space width-wise and are perfect for corners.
If you yearn for that pine-scent, consider hiding a few real pine branches in your tree. You can also use a pine-scented spray as well.
2. Hang pine branches if you don't have room for a tree. If you don't have much floor space, you can hang pine branches from the ceiling in the corner of your room. You can also dress up these branches with mini battery-operated Christmas lights, tinsel, and ornaments. It might be a good idea to use plastic ornaments instead of glass ones, however.
Make sure to thoroughly rinse the branches so you don't bring home any insects.
3. Drape some pine garlands around your room. You can even decorate the garland with mini battery-operated Christmas lights, tinsel, and ornaments. Great places to hang such garlands include above your bed, over your window, around your ceiling, and draped over your bookshelves.
4. Decorate your tree, pine branches, and pine garlands. Find some ornaments, lights, beaded garlands, and tinsel. Drape these around your tree, pine branches, or pine garland. If you are hanging your branches or garlands, consider using plastic ornaments instead of glass ones.
Mini Christmas ornaments might look better on pine garlands. You can find them in art and crafts stores, in the same section that sells mini/craft Christmas trees.
If your tree is less than 3 feet (0.92 meters) tall, use mini battery-operated Christmas lights. The plug-in lights might be too long for smaller trees.
5. Hang up some tinsel. If you can't find any (or don't like) pin garlands, you can hang up some tinsel garlands instead. Great places to hang them include above windows and around ceilings. If you use tape to hang the garlands up, be sure to use clear tape. It will be less visible.
6. Put up some Christmas lights. Great places to hang up lights include above your bed, over your shelves, and around your window. You can get ones that plug into an outlet or battery-operated ones. If you use tape to hang up your lights, try to use clear; it will be less visible on your wall.
If your room has white walls, try to get Christmas lights with white wires instead of the traditional green ones. They will blend into your walls better and clash less.
Unless you are putting them up in your window, avoid getting blinking or flashing lights; those can be very distracting after a while.
Consider matching the lights to your room and decorations. For example, if your room has a lot of cool colors, try getting blue or clear lights. If your room has a lot of warm colors, try getting white or multi-colored lights.
Consider putting "icicle" style lights in your window.
Part 2 Bringing the Festive In.
1. Switch out curtains, blankets, bedspreads, and pillowcases. You don't need to use curtains with Santas and snowmen on them, but red ones might look more festive than pink ones. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Use colors such as red or green. Darker shades might look better than brighter ones.
For a rustic cabin feel, switch out your throw or blanket for a cozy quilt or sweater/knitted blanket. Anything made from plaid flannel will also work.
Make an easy sweater pillow by slipping a square-shaped pillow inside a bulky sweater and tying the sleeves in the back.
2. Buy scented candles, wax melts, or potpourri. If you can't put up a lot of decorations, you can still make your room feel more festive by bringing in scented candles, wax melts, or potpourri. You don't even have to light candles; many scented candles are potent enough on their own. If you are getting candles, consider displaying three different-sized ones on a red, green, gold, or silver candle charger/plate. Listed below are a few Christmas scents:
Gingerbread, Peppermint and Candy Cane, Winter Wonderland, Fireplace, Pine, Spruce, Balsam, and Cedar
3. Bring out snow globes, nutcrackers, and figurines. Shelves, dressers, and desks are great for displaying trinkets such as snow globes, nutcrackers, and figurines. If you already have some on your shelves, consider switching them out for Christmasy ones instead. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
If you like nature, put up some pine tree or reindeer figurines.
If you are religious, put up figurines related to the Nativity.
If you like the classical look, put up a snowman, a Santa Clause, or even a nutcracker.
If you don't want to put away any of your existing decorations, consider decorating them instead. For example, if you have a figurine of a cat, try putting a little Santa hat on it.
4. Hang some decorations from your window, shelves, or walls. If you don't have a lot of room for a tree, you can hang small decorations using thread or clear thread/fishing line instead. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Candy canes and jingle bells can be slung over doorknobs or strung from ribbon.
Christmas cards can be clipped to yarn, jute cord, or ribbon using wooden clothespins.
Christmas stockings can be tacked to your wall using nails or thumbtacks/pushpins.
Ornaments, plastic icicles, and snowflakes (plastic or paper) can be suspended from thread. They'll look delightful against a wall or window.
5. Set up a Nativity or Christmas Village scene. If you like to collect things, setting up a Nativity or Christmas Village scene on your desk or dresser can be just the thing for you. You'll have lots of fun buying figurines and arranging them. You can find them at most arts and crafts stores.
You can also make a Nativity scene at home using popsicle sticks, straw, and wood or clay figurines.
6. Spray some fake frost onto your windows. Try to spray the frost towards the bottom corners of your window to make it look more realistic. Fake frost usually comes in a spray can, like spray paint, and washes off your window with soap and water. They are great for those who don't get snow for Christmas.
7. Make your own Christmas decorations. Not all Christmas decorations have to be store-bought. Homemade ones can have their charm too. If you don't have a lot of money to spend, or just like to be crafty, you can make some of your own decorations and display them in your room. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Find some pinecones outside and paint them with acrylic paint or glitter. Display them on your windowsill.
String cranberries and popcorn into thread to make garlands.
Make some paper chains using construction paper.
Cut out some paper snowflakes from white printer paper.
Make a gingerbread house and display it on your dresser or desk.
Cut out some letters from glitter paper to spell "Merry Christmas" and tack them to your wall.
Part 3 Finding Inspiration.
1. Choose a color scheme that matches your existing room decor. Many color schemes inspire Christmas, but not all of them might work with your room. For example, if your room has a lot of pink and white, the traditional red and green might clash. Red and white might be more suitable. Here are some common Christmas color schemes to get you started:
Red and green : Red, green, and white/gold : Blue and white/silver : Blue, white, and silver : White/ivory and gold : Red and white/gold : Green and white/gold.
2. Decide on a theme. Sometimes, having a set theme can help you choose which decorations to put up. It can also help your room look more unified and less cluttered. As with colors, choose a theme that matches your room. For example, if your room has a lot of heavy, Victorian-era furniture, a rustic or nature theme might clash. Themes that are more Victorian or ornate might work better with your room decor. Here are some common Christmas themes to get you started:
1900s, Charles Dickens, Victorian era, and Vintage inspired
Rustic, woodland cabin-inspired, with lots of gingham, knit, wood, and burlap
Nature, with lots of snow, pine trees, pinecones, reindeer, and woodland creatures
Traditional/classic with lots of red and green, snowmen, and Santa Claus
Fancy/royal with lots of silver or gold, ornate scroll patterns, and lots of rich brocade
Winter wonderland, with lots of blue, silver, and white, snow, snowflakes, icicles, and pine trees
3. Go window shopping. Look at how stores step up their displays. If you see any you like, try to copy them. Take pictures, write down what you see, or make a quick sketch. You don't have to copy the display exactly; you can just use elements from it, such as silver ornaments and glittery snowflakes.
You can also get ideas from a nature walk as well.
4. Consider having some background noise while you work. If you have a laptop, radio, or TV in your room, consider playing some Christmas music or a Christmas movie. They might inspire you or get you into the Christmas spirit.
5. Work with your existing room decor. Sometimes, what you already have in your room might inspire your Christmas decorations. For example, if your room has a lot of wooden furniture in it, you can decorate it with some rustic Christmas decorations to make it look like a cozy, woodland cabin.
Keep the size of your room in mind. If your room is very small and cramped, it might not be a good candidate for a Christmas tree. Some pine garlands, however, would be perfect for it.
6. Look around your room for blank spaces. If you don't know where to start decorating, take a look around your room. See if there are any blank spaces or surfaces, and start decorating there. For example:
Is there a bare wall in your room? If so, consider decorating it with some paper snowflakes or Christmas cards.
Is there a blank corner on your desk or dresser? What about on your shelf? These places are great for displaying mini trees, figurines, and scenes.
Curtain rods and doorknobs are great places to hang decorations from.
Windows are great places to hang decorations, such as lights and ornaments, from.
Tips.
Some decorations need to be hung up. While some are light enough to be taped (such as tinsel), others will need hooks and nails (such as pine garlands). If you live in a rental unit, you might need to keep this in mind.
Keep your decorations proportionate. The smaller your room is, the smaller decorations you should use.
Less is more. It is easy to get carried away and over-decorate. If your room starts to look garish and cluttered, you might need to put some decorations away.
Consider decorating just one part of your room, such as a dresser top or a window.
Clean your room before you decorate it. Vacuum the floors and dust the shelves. Once you put up your decorations, it will be difficult to clean.
Try to keep your color scheme and theme consistent.
If you can't decide on a theme you could just do red and white.
Warnings.
Avoid hanging tinsel and paper too close to lamps, TVs, computers, heaters, and other electronic devices. These can heat up quickly and create a fire hazard.
If you have cats and are planning on putting up a tree, consider using plastic ornaments instead of glass ones. Most cats will knock over a Christmas tree at some point in their lives and break a couple of ornaments.
If you have pets, make sure that you hang your decorations where they can't reach them.
Be sure to rinse any pine branches before bringing them into your room, or you may also bring in a few six or eight-legged "guests."
If you are decorating for Christmas, you may need some fresh ideas to brighten up your living room! Pick a Christmas tree as the centerpiece, whether you choose a large one to fill the corner or a small one to set on a table. Once you have that up, spread decorations throughout the room, such as wreaths, evergreens, and ornaments to bring joy to the whole space.
Method 1 Putting up a Tree.
1. Pick a live tree for an eco-friendly option with a good scent. A live Christmas tree brings the holiday home for many people with its rich scent and deep green color. When looking at trees, pick a full tree with a strong scent. Look for green all the way to the tips. Try snapping a needle; if it's a pine tree, it should bend without breaking. If it's a fir tree, it should break in half easily if it's fresh.
Make sure to choose one that's the right size for the space. Too big, and it will take over. Too small, and it will look puny. Measure the width and height you need to fill before you go, then measure the trees you're looking at.
This option is environmentally friendly because live trees are raised as a sustainable crop. When you support the industry, you're supporting more trees being planted and producing oxygen.
Noble firs are a popular Christmas tree.
2. Choose a fake tree for convenience and longevity. Pick a tree that's full and fits the space you have. Also, look for convenient features like easy setup or ones that are pre-lit. When it comes to fake trees, it's mostly up to your preference, though higher quality trees will be made of PE or PVC, and when you run your fingers over the needles, you should feel small ridges.
Most Christmas trees aren't recyclable, so if you're concerned about the environment, be prepared to hold on to your tree for a long time. For this option to be more environmentally friendly than a real tree, you'll need to keep it for about 20 years.
3. Place the tree in a prominent spot or window. Try putting it near the front window or to the side of the television. Set it up where you'll be able to admire it often. You may need to rearrange a bit to fit your Christmas tree in the living room. Keep live trees away from heaters or fireplaces, as they can catch fire.
When putting up a a live Christmas tree, cut off the very bottom when you get home before you stick it in water. Put it in the stand and ensure it has plenty of water at all times.
Follow the instructions for your artificial tree. With some, you'll need to put up the trunk then insert individual branches. Fluff them out as you go. With others, it will come in several main sections that you attach at the trunk.
4. Add lights moving from the bottom to the top. Twine the lights around each of the main branches, going up and down the tree instead of around. As you wrap the lights, make sure you are getting them up close to the trunk, as illumination from within gives the best effect. Make sure to hit as much of the tree as you can as you move around it in vertical lines.
Keep in mind that many artificial trees come pre-lit.
Lights come in 2 main varieties, incandescent and LED lights. LEDs last longer and stay cooler, but the warmth of incandescent will help spread the pine tree scent around the room with a live tree. These 2 types come in many shapes and sizes, as well as colors, so pick whatever you like best. Just try to be consistent with what you pick. You'll probably need at least 2-4 strands for an average size tree.
Opt for a wire color that matches your tree.
5. Drape a garland around the tree for a traditional look. Try thin garlands like strung cranberry, beaded strands, or sparkly tinsel strands. Position smaller garlands so they dip from branch to branch. You can also add larger garlands, such as wide ribbon or paper chains. Twine larger garlands around and around the tree, tucking them in a few places but mainly keeping them loose.
6. Choose a color theme or scheme for your ornaments. Try drawing on colors you already have in your room or just pick a color or two you love. You could also pick a theme, like "snow," "candy," or "plaid" to decorate your tree. Of course, your theme could also be "all my favorite ornaments!" A loving mixture of old and new ornaments, handmade and store-bought, can make a lovely tree.
Start with the bigger ornaments. Put your favorites up first in places where they'll be seen the most. Try to hang the other large ornaments at even intervals around the tree, though you can leave the back sparser if it's up against a wall.
Once they're in place, fill in the gaps with smaller ornaments.
Method 2 Adding Decorative Touches throughout the Living Room.
1. Hang your stockings in a prominent location. Stockings make a great homey decoration, and you don't need a mantelpiece to hang them! Opt for fun, personalized stockings or sophisticated designs based on your preference. Simply hang them on an open wall, centering them in the space.
Above the mantel is a great option, too, if you do have a fireplace. Just make sure they are well away from the fire.
2. Place smaller trees around the room in larger living rooms. If you have a big living room, try adding a small tree here or there. Place a 1 to 2 ft (0.30 to 0.61 m) one on a stand in a corner, for instance, or group several 6 in (15 cm) or smaller trees on the mantel.
Think beyond plastic trees. Pick up a small potted rosemary bush, for instance, or try out some stylized trees made out of wood.
3. Scatter evergreens and pinecones around to bring freshness to the room. Even if you don't have a live tree, you can still get that wonderful scent. Purchase or gather some branches and place them in a vase or basket. Toss some pinecones in with the greenery, along with something red, such as apples or cranberries.
If you want your branches to stay fresher for longer, cut off the ends and put them in water.
Try adding an evergreen garland along the mantel or along the tops of curtain rods.]
4. Put up a wreath on the wall for a traditional touch. Christmas is a perfect time for wreaths, and almost anything can be made into a wreath! Create a wreath out of evergreen branches accented with cranberries and white flowers to hang up, for instance.
Alternatively, wrap red ribbon around a foam craft wreath for a quick pop of color.
Get creative! Paint or decorate any round object in a Christmas style, such as a wagon wheel, a bicycle tire, a picture frame, or even the bottom of a bundt pan!
5. Make the room sparkle with metallics and candles. The sparkle of metallic ornaments and the bright flames of candles add warmth to the room. Place silver and gold ornaments in a bowl, for instance, and surround them with candles in a variety of sizes. Hang glittery snowflakes in the windows or along the mantelpiece.
These little touches will add brightness and joy to the space.
Method 3 Creating Themed Looks.
1. Add vases of white flowers to your evergreens for a floral take on "White Christmas." This is a great way to get that "White Christmas" look without snow. Simply tuck vases of fresh or silk flowers in among your evergreens, including placing a vase on the mantel and one as a centerpiece on your table.
Try white tulips or white poinsettias. Add other touches of white, too, such as twirls of white ribbon and white candles.
2. Scatter your favorite holiday figurines throughout the room. Picking one style can help create a cohesive look. For instance, collect Santa figurines and place them all over the room in small groups. However, you can also mix-and-match to your heart's content. Go for a variety, including different sizes. Group smaller ones together and then place a large one by the tree, for example.
You could also try doves, snowflakes, nutcrackers, angels, reindeer, snowpeople, or anything else you fancy!
3. Group odds and ends in greens and reds for a traditional color scheme. While your color scheme doesn't necessarily need to be red and green, an easy way to create a "Christmas" look is to follow this scheme. You can even use things other than Christmas decorations. Just find a variety of items in these colors and set up a display or group them in small bunches around the room.
For instance, if you have a white couch in front of a bookcase, throw green and red pillows and blankets on the couch. On the bookcase, put out green and red items, such as candles, baskets, knickknacks, and decorative plates. Add a few touches that are purely Christmas, such as a small Santa Claus.
4. Create your own Christmas color scheme for a modern take. If bright red and green aren't your favorite colors or they simply clash with your existing decor, opt for your own Christmas colors. For instance, decorate your tree with silver and blue, and then add touches of those colors around the room, such as silver snowflakes, bowls of blue ornaments, and blue stockings.
You could also do a twist on bright red and green, such as a burnt orange and sage green.
