We are excited today to be answering a question about easy christmas decor thanks to a sweet reader named Angie who wrote in recently with this question:
I have a love hate relationship with Christmas. This is our second year of marriage, and I am always confused with what to do in our home. We’re hosting at our home this year, and while things are still half done, I would love it if you have any tips or ideas. I am struggling to find the motivation, what goes with what, and how to make things look good. I think I am feeling a real disconnect and it’s frustrating, when I know it shouldn’t be. Help. Do you have any tips and tricks for easy christmas decor? Any sage advice would be so appreciated!
easy christmas decor
First things first… we get it. Been there, done that.
Today, we’re sharing our photos of our home that I was able to snap last week in hopes of sharing some inspiration for easy christmas decor.
But let’s remember two things. A. I was feeling like a bit of a realist before and needed my own motivation because the kids really wanted us to decorate… so I get it and B. There’s a whole lot of JUNK shoved out of the way to make the photos. The only reason the kids’ beds are made is because of said photos, and within 5.5 seconds of my exit of their space, the boys were spread out again in a lego hurricane. We’re making lego zombies today with random body parts.
So be it.
One of our very favorite things is this little homemade manger from wood, by our kiddos. Simple and so sweet.
how to make a garland, here.
Even if our home looks prepped and ready, know we’re totally with you. It did feel quite festive to finish trimming the tree, but we were dragging our feet this year.
I assure you that by the time you’re reading this, there’s probably some form of child residue on the walls (It’s like this surprise – you never know what you’ll find) milk has been spilled and splattered in the kitchen, and I still haven’t tackled that leaning tower of laundry I stuffed in the closet, so I could share a few ideas with you guys. Oh, and our live tree just may topple this year because it keeps going all wonky and it scares me.
Good times.
Our advent calendar how to
But before I list any tips, let me start with a hard, fast rule: Don’t do it if you don’t feel like it.
And don’t feel guilty about not doing it. Plain and simple.
For example: We couldn’t be bothered with the outside this year. This is our second year in a row of not being bothered. We just couldn’t. So while the inside looks festive, the front is still decked out with pumpkins and mums. And that’s perfectly okay. The holidays just came too quickly with the other things we had going on, so we went with what was important and left the rest. The kids wanted that tree up, so I may take the effort to hang a wreath at some point, and I may not. Pressure is off.
Only do what you feel like doing, and unapologetically keep your sanity.
That’s all that matters.
Complete honesty being established, we’re in our twelfth year of marriage, and I have to say that each year, it gets a little easier. I don’t know what your situation is, but when we were first married, we were fortunate enough to have an ornament shower, but barely had enough moolah to buy a little tree at Walmart. {And those are some of my fondest memories, because we were so proud of our little hodgepodge tree. These are the days you will remember.} I say all that to say that over the years you accumulate to the point where you can pick and choose a little, like a lifetime collection of special memories. Edit and save.
The entire process is exactly like a home… it flows a little better as you become more comfortable with your dwelling place, wherever you live.
So we approach christmas decor just like we would with anything else in our home, in a real, livable manner.
But here’s a few of our favorite tips to apply when we’re a little lost with what to do. Our no-pressure, simple approach to creating fresh fun for the holidays.
Stockings made by the fabulous a good home.
How to make a tassel garland
Tutorial coming soon on It’s A Wonderful Life Sign – my all time favorite movie that I may or may not torture the kids with.
easy christmas decor : tip 1
1. Keep it simple with what you love. Lose the rest.
You’ll find on our tree, for instance, a hodgepodge of memories, keepsakes, favorites and things we simply love. I’ve let go of perfection, so if you see a few oddly placed ornaments, that’s all them. We also let the kids trim their own trees in their rooms – it’s their very favorite thing to do.
Our tree probably looks the same to everyone every year, because we like it that way. To each his own, but we love a natural tree, and they’re a bit harder to manipulate with branches and lights, so it is what it is. But it’s a tradition with us, and we love it. My point? Keep the idea of the things you love front and center, and it will help with choosing what to use, and where.
It also helps with tossing a bit of those inhibitions when it comes to Christmas decor. If something feels tired, pack it up for a bit and bring it out again next year. Maybe.
If you don’t like a color and need something fresh, see what happens when you take out one element. If it feels like something’s missing, hit the sale at the local craft store.
There are no rules, and once upon a time I really limited myself with my made up ones, just like I did in our home. Not sure what our style really was, we emulated what we thought we were supposed to do.
Our home ended up not us at all, and christmas felt more like a burden than a fun addition to our home.
Figure out what you want to communicate, start in a fresh spot where you feel inspired, and let the rest of your decor evolve from there. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and remember to do what you can do now, and let those ideas grow in the following years.
Free printable advent calendar
easy christmas decor: tip #2
2. Don’t stress over fancy.
And this doesn’t just apply to tablescapes. But layer what you love, with different plates, dishes, and cheap finds. We found all things tables can be expensive, and we never registered for fine china. Instead, we did some every day plates and year after year gradually mixed in and added on to that original collection. Fabrics are the same way.
We love this one from online fabric store, and it’s actually a much cheaper option that searching for an ill fitted tablecloth/runner with limited choice. Bonus round: You can use it later and sew it into something for your home if you simply ‘fake and fold’.
Things don’t have to be official or all match matchy to have their own charm. See vintage goblets, plates mixed in with old pyrex and the silverware {we no longer have a complete set of } for an easy, festive tablescape.
The same goes for the rest of your home. Bring out the warmer blankets, pillows and easy things to create layers of warmth and fun… but more on that below.
easy christmas decor: tip #3
3. Think multidimensional with color.
Let it reflect who you are, and what you love. Don’t limit yourself to ‘traditional stuff’ only.
We’ve found that we started with a basic color scheme in our ornaments, and added to them over the years, with cheap ornament balls from our local craft store.
They make great decor, and easy texture for tables and beyond, for cheap. Who would have thought orange and aqua and purple and lime were a fun combo? Not me. But we gradually found a color combo that we really love, that reflects us.
Let it be your spring board, and build from there. Be patient with yourself and tweak it as you go… you’ll find it, and when it truly reflects you, your christmas-decked home will feel like a real sanctuary rather than an exasperating project.
easy christmas decor: tip #4
4. Mix it up
Everyone is different, but I found that I hated the obligation of using things in the very same way, and needed a little creativity with the little things beyond the tree.
Don’t stress over using the same things the same way every year. This goes with what I mentioned above, but I think that gets easier with time. Where’s the fun in monotony? Though our kids love tradition in some things, it’s also fun to branch out.
Let things be a fresh start every year, with a twist.
This year, you can find last years wreath in the playroom. Or the garland from the mantel in the homeschool room. We added cheap, easy additions with paper chains for that space as well, and the kids ate it up, they loved it so. They literally thought it was the coolest addition ever, and it’s a nice reminder to me that it really is about the little things.
Even the dollhouse was decked out with a Christmas tree this year – Emerson got creative with her sources {aka stealing from the ‘big’ tree}
Make little corners and nooks look and feel special (only if you want to) with cheap and easy solutions that don’t turn into a time suck. We love to add special crafts over time to combine with store bought additions for a one of a kind feel, just for us and our family.
easy christmas decor: tip #5
5. Use the every day.
Low on supplies and inspiration? You’ll be amazed at how christmassy a slew of feathers suddenly feel when paired with a brass deer from your shelf and giant red M that was sitting in another room, just from simply searching your home.
I mean, Uh, that wasn’t me… I don’t know why I got so specific.
Think beyond the candy cane box, and when in doubt? Go with your instincts. And JK I didn’t mean to diss candy canes, they’re also our favorite.
I hope that helps, Angie! Our home is far from perfect, and we’re missing a little furry member of the family this year so it’s a little different, but it definitely helped us this year once the halls were decked.
We hope you found a few ideas here that are inspirational, or at the very least… real.
We would love to hear some more of your very favorite tips for easy holiday decorating!
{We have a tutorial coming up for that It’s a Wonderful Life sign, so let us know if you have any questions on anything else you’d like us to cover!}
See the rest of our home here with links to specific spaces – And be sure to check out our holidaisical section for a few more fun tutorials.
Have an inspired day!
Erin Nelson says
We seriously simplified holiday decor this year. Instead of packing up the normal decor and completely redecorating spaces for the holidays, I put up our tree, hung stockings and added some simple white berry garland to the mantle, and put our elf on the shelf, well, on a shelf. It was so much simpler than what I’ve done I’ve done in the past, but it feels just as Christmas-y! One thing we always do is rearrange the living room furniture. Our normal setup doesn’t accommodate the tree well, and having a special set up just for the holidays make it feel a little extra special.
ashley @ the handmade home says
I love this! In our old house, we did the same thing… we would rearrange it every year, and then when January came along, it was fun and fresh because we would place it back again. ;}
Amber says
Love.love.love.this! So perfectly put! I finally stopped trying to do what my mom did (which I love but wasn’t me!) and did what I love…breaking the rules by using, gasp!, blue! And I couldn’t be happier!
ashley @ the handmade home says
YES! I always thought I wasn’t allowed to venture beyond deep and dark, per our relatives. And then I let go and it finally started to match our home, as well. ;} I am with you!
Erin says
Can I say, I cannot wait until you give the tutorial for the “Wonderful Life” sign. OMGosh, I am so in love with that.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thanks, Erin! It will be up on Thursday! ;}
Kerry says
Great tips (for everyday as well)!! Thanks, Ashley — have a relaxing Christmas!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thank you, Kerry – you too! ;}
Michael @ Crafty Dad.com says
Love all the beautiful photos of your house.
And yes, this Holiday season I have to say that “simple” and “easy” are two of my favorite words.
There are some crazy life-events going on in my world right now — so yeah, let’s keep things very low-key. And always remember the TRUE meaning of the season.
Isaiah 9:6 tells it all.
Peace,
Michael
ashley @ the handmade home says
So true, Michael! Thanks! ;}