You may still be putting away your jack-o-lanterns and other spooky Halloween decorations, but the winter holidays are just around the corner. Whatever you’re celebrating, you can create holiday magic for your friends and family through your decor. This holiday season, consider opting for handmade decorations. They can add charm and personality to your holiday display, while giving you the opportunity to create new memories and traditions with loved ones.
holiday baskets
Even if you’re not that crafty, you can create polished DIY Christmas decorations, and baskets are a great way to do it. Start with a basket—it can be any empty one you have on hand. Tying a ribbon around it will help transition it into holiday decor—think plaid and red for Christmas or blue and silver for Hanukkah. Next, fill it with greenery like evergreen boughs, birch branches, berries and pine cones. You can leave it there or up the holiday cheer with accents like ornaments, bells, ribbons or fairy lights. If you have a fireplace, this can also be a functional and festive way to store kindling for those cold winter nights.
gnomes
Also known as gonks, these little guys have been a staple of holiday displays for the last few years. With their trademark bushy beards and knitted hats, these quirky figurines can add some charm to your tree or mantle—and you can easily make one yourself or with the kiddos. There are several approaches you can take. One of the simplest is to use a pine cone. This will become your gnome’s beard. Create a conical hat out of felt or construction paper, and top it with a pompom. You can use craft or hot glue to hold the hat together and to attach it to the pinecone. From your gnome’s nose just glue a wooden bead to the point where the hat and pinecone meet. For an extra wintery touch use white paint to make your pinecone look like it’s dusted with snow.
yarn ornaments
Yarn ornaments are super cute and cozy—plus, they’re super easy to make. All you need is cardboard and yarn. Simply cut the cardboard into the desired shape. Stars are popular, but you can make trees, candy canes, hearts, letters and more. Glue one end of your yarn to the cardboard cutout and then start wrapping. Once you’ve completely covered the shape, use a dot of glue to attach the other end of the yarn.You can stop there or add additional embellishments like beads, pompoms or sequins with glue. This is another great DIY to do as a family. Have the kids create their own stars or initials to add a personal touch to your decor.
tree alternatives
Evergreens and artificial trees are staples of Christmas decor, but they’re not without their downsides. Both take up a lot of space, and real trees can pose a problem for four-legged family members. Creating a non-traditional centerpiece to pile the presents around is a great DIY. If space is an issue, consider a wall mounted display such as holiday cards in the shape of a tree or use a triangular chalkboard so the family can switch up the “decorations” whenever they wish. If you’re just looking for a treeless option, consider hanging ornaments from an open ladder, or stack items like books in the shape of a tree and drape them with lights. The only limit is your imagination.
Photos from pinterest.com