Christmas Decorating Ideas To Brighten Up The House

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No matter how busy you are attending holiday concerts, baking wintry desserts, shopping for everyone on your nice list, and—let's be honest—streaming classic Christmas movies, trust us when we say: You can find the time to make your home shine (indoors and out!) as bright as the star on the top of your tree.

Decking your halls, windows, and outdoor spaces for the holiday with festive Christmas decorations—even the DIY variety—to complement the tree doesn't have to be complicated. There are plenty of 10- to 20-minute projects, from homemade ornaments and stamped tea towels to frosted mason jars and an artful array of nostalgic family photos.

Of course, if you're the "go big, or go home" type, there are plenty of more involved Christmas crafts to suit you. Think giant holiday lights for your mantle, expertly-styled porch vignettes, and complete bedroom overhauls. After all, more is just, well, more when it comes to decorating for the merriest season of all.

Either way, you don't have to go with traditional reds and greens. There are plenty of popular twists on the traditional Christmas look, like monochromatic silver or even bold neons, that are trendy in 2021. To help inspire you, we've scoured Pinterest for the prettiest, easiest, and cheapest Christmas decoration ideas to adorn everything from your tables to your bathroom (yes, really).

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Make Trees Out of Scrap Wood

Who would ever think you could make such chic Scandinavian-inspired Christmas decor out of something as simple (and eco-friendly) as scrap wood?

Get the tutorial at Love Grows Wild.

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Drape Evergreen From Your Chandelier

For floor-to-ceiling festivity, don't forget to look up. A strand of evergreen garland looks super sophisticated draped over the right chandelier.

Get the tutorial at Home Made Lovely.

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Whip Up Some DIY "Snow"

It takes just five minutes to put together a batch of DIY "snow" you can use to flock tabletop trees, berry centerpieces, wreaths, garland, and more.

Get the tutorial at A Piece of Rainbow.

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Swap Prints for More Seasonal Options

One of the easiest—and most affordable—ways to infuse your home with some holiday spirit? Print out free or low-cost printables and swap them into pre-existing frames around your house for the season.

Get printables at The Turquoise Home.

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Don't Forget Your Bedroom

When you're focused on getting your tree up and the mantle decorated, it's easy to overlook other rooms, like the bedroom. But a few simple touches—like a garland on the headboard, a pom-pom wreath, and a big, chunky knit blanket—go a long way to make the space feel extra cozy for the Christmas season.

Get the tutorial at Rooms for Rent.

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Fashion Your Own "Christmas Lights"

Dip into your stash of yarn to create a whimsical strand that looks great on the mantle, the entryway table, the banister, or even open shelving in the kitchen. You can also make shorter strands to decorate gift wrap.

Get the tutorial at Persia Lou.

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Add Twinkle Lights to Everything

Make your home feel like a holiday haven, especially after dark, by adding a set of twinkle lights to more than just the tree. Think: the garland on your stairs, the mantle, or even surrounding a big mirror on the wall.

Get the tutorial at Keys to Inspiration.

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Use Fruit in Surprising Ways

Dried orange slices are easy to make and add a cool, vintage-vibe to your Christmas decor. To really lean into the fruit theme, you can also use cranberries for wreaths and garland.

Get the tutorial at Tidbits.

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Deck the Kids' Playhouse

If your kids have some sort of playhouse in the backyard, deck it inside and out. It adds a festive touch to your yard, plus gives the little ones another avenue to feel the magic of the season.

Get the tutorial at Lemon Thistle.

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Make an Ornament Garland

Skip the traditional green garland this year in favor of a playful ornament-studded option. For a more modern spin, use a rainbow of colors, as shown here. Or, for a more classic look, opt for shades of white and silver.

Get the tutorial at Love the Day.

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Go Big Outdoors

For a truly show-stopping display, swap traditional string lights for jumbo wooden versions strung on a lush holiday garland.

Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth.

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Add a Quirky Vignette to Your Bookshelf

The silly cousin of your favorite succulent-filled vessels make for a fun afternoon project and a bold, unexpected filler piece on a mantle or bookshelf.

Get the tutorial at Design Improvised.

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Opt for a Pegboard Tree in Your Office

Have a cat that wreaks havoc on your fir? Or toddlers determined to pull at all the sparkly baubles? Skip the live variety this year. A geometric pegboard covered in a washi tape garland makes a perfectly suitable stand-in. Or, keep the traditional tree and put one of these in your office.

Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth.

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Or, Festoon a Big Ballon Tree

If you're hosting a party, this whimsical version of the classic Christmas tree makes a particularly fun statement. And if you want it to blend in just a little bit more, use silver and white balloons.

Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth.

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Upcycle Old Mason Jars

Turn any stray Mason jars into cheap decorations worthy of your holiday table with a little something you can find in your medicine cabinet: epsom salt. The unsuspecting item turns the glass vessels into what looks like sparkling, snow-covered vases.

Get the tutorial at A Pumpkin and a Princess.

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Revisit Old Family Photos

Add a sentimental touch to your mantle this year: Scour old family photo albums for some of the best snapshots of all your loved ones on Christmases past, then arrange them into a heartfelt display.

See more at A Beautiful Mess.

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Make Your Own Mistletoe

This bundle of greenery, also known as a kissing ball, is a classic Christmas decoration fashioned with faux greenery, red berries, and a red velvet bow.

Get the tutorial at A Pumpkin and a Princess.

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Sew Your Own Tree Skirt

If you have the sewing chops, fashion your own tree skirt. You'll not only get exactly what you want, but you'll be creating what's sure to become a family heirloom.

Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.

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Or, Create a DIY Tree Collar Instead

Don't know how to sew? Prefer something a little more sculptural? Either way, a tree collar may be a good option for you. This one comes together with just some thick rope, glue, and a little bit of paint.

Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.

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Trade a Traditional Runner for Garland

This year, skip that fabric table runner in favor of something that adds a bit more color and texture to your table—a white garland adorned with string lights and colorful ornaments.

See more at Squirrelly Minds.

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Make a Personalized Welcome Sign

Create a unique piece of art by decoupaging this printable onto a piece of stained wood and hanging it in your entryway. For something even easier, simply slip the sign into an existing frame for the season.

Get the printable at Happy Go Lucky Blog.

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Use Paper in Unexpected Ways

A few simple folds can transform scrapbook paper into mantle decor that lends a pop of color to the more traditional decor elements you likely already have.

Get the tutorial at Alice and Lois.

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Lean on Buffalo Check

A little buffalo check ribbon can go a long way in lending a rustic chic vibe to your holiday decor. Use it as a garland around your tree, as wreath embellishments, or to fasten presents.

See more at A Pumpkin and a Princess.

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Have Fun With Bells

For a little holiday cheer every time your front door opens, craft a wreath out of jingle bells. They come in a variety of colors, from more muted silver and gold to vibrant reds and blues, to suit any style.

Get the tutorial at Girl Inspired.

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Experiment With Gold Leaf

The gilded craft supply is easier to work with than you might think, and quickly transforms a wide range of everyday objects—DIY ornaments, chargers, or vases—into extraordinary decor pieces.

See more at Delineate Your Dwelling.

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Decorate the Fridge

There are some spots that are a given—your mantle or your entryway, for example—but you can add festive flair to lesser-tackled spots, like the fridge, too. Kids will get a kick out of this magnetic tree. And—bonus—it may just be the thing you need to keep them busy long enough to cook your holiday meal.

Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.

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Make Your Own Stockings

Looking for a fun holiday craft to involve the whole family? Pick out a bunch of supplies—pom-pom, trim, ribbon, and bells—in a cohesive color palette, then let each member of your crew create their very own stocking.

Get the tutorial at Alice and Lois.

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Hang Vintage Holiday Signs

Turn old pallets into Christmas treasures with a coat of paint and some stencils of cut vinyl.

Get the tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger.

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Use Berries for Pretty Pops of Red

To achieve that deep red hue so closely associated with the Christmas season, fashion a wreath out of cranberries or fill apothecary jars with the fruit and place them on a shelf or mantle.

See more at Girl Inspired.

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Display Something Sweet

If you're looking for a project, you could take on a from-scratch gingerbread house, but a couple of 3D gingerbread trees makes an equally sweet centerpiece for your kitchen island.

Get the tutorial at Lovely Indeed.