DIY Christmas Decoration Ideas for a Festive Touch to Bring the Holidays Home

Getting ready for Christmas? Deck the halls with these affordable and budget-friendly DIY Christmas decorations to make your home shine. Bring that Festive touch into every room to transform your home for the holidays.

Nothing makes the holiday season feel more magical than transforming your home into a cozy, festive retreat. While store-bought decorations are convenient, there’s something special about handmade decorations that fill your space with a personal touch. Whether you’re looking to save money, add a unique flair, or enjoy some creative time with family, DIY Christmas decorations are the perfect way to bring the holidays home.

We’ll share fun and easy DIY decoration ideas that will make your home feel extra festive. Grab your crafting supplies and let’s get started!

Why Choose DIY Christmas Decorations?

DIY Christmas decorations offer plenty of benefits, making them a great option for the holiday season:

• Cost-effective: Handmade decorations can be created using inexpensive materials or items you already have at home, helping you save money.
• Personal Touch: You get to customise your décor to match your home’s style and your personal taste.
• Eco-Friendly: DIY projects allow you to reuse and recycle materials, reducing waste and the environmental impact of your holiday décor.
• Family Bonding Time: Crafting decorations together is a wonderful way to spend quality time with loved ones. From kids to grandparents, everyone can get involved in creating unique holiday pieces, making cherished memories in the process.
• Creative Expression: DIY projects let you explore your creativity, adding personal flair to your decorations. You can experiment with colours, textures, and themes to make your holiday décor truly one-of-a-kind.

Plus, crafting decorations with family or friends is a wonderful way to spend quality time together, adding extra meaning to your holiday celebrations.

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15 Easy and Festive DIY Christmas Decoration Ideas

Creating your own Christmas decorations doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a few materials and a little creativity, you can craft beautiful and festive pieces that add a personal touch to your holiday décor. Whether you prefer rustic charm or modern elegance, these DIY ideas are simple, fun, and perfect for bringing the holiday spirit into your home.

1. DIY Christmas Wreath

A homemade Christmas wreath is a beautiful way to greet guests at your front door. Here’s how to make a rustic, natural wreath using foraged materials:

Materials: Evergreen branches, berries, pinecones, wireframe, floral wire, twine.

Instructions:

1. Gather evergreen branches, and attach them to the wireframe using floral wire.
2. Layer in pinecones, berries, or ribbons for a festive touch.
3. Secure the decorations and finish with a loop of twine for hanging.

Personalise your wreath by adding dried fruit, cinnamon sticks, or even small ornaments for a pop of colour and fragrance!

2. Handmade Ornaments

Creating your own Christmas tree ornaments adds charm and nostalgia to your holiday décor. Here are a few easy ideas:

• Salt Dough Ornaments: Mix 1 cup of flour, ½ cup of salt, and ½ cup of water to create dough. Roll it out and use cookie cutters to make festive shapes. After baking, let them cool and paint or decorate them with glitter! You can find another recipe over at allrecipes.
• Felt Stars: Cut star shapes out of felt and sew or glue two pieces together, stuffing them lightly for a 3D effect. Add a ribbon loop for hanging.
• Dried Citrus Garlands: Slice oranges and lemons, bake them at a low temperature until dry, and string them together with twine to make a beautiful, natural garland.

These handmade ornaments are fun to make and can be cherished year after year!

3. Festive Mason Jar or Jam Jar Lanterns

Mason jars (or jam jars) are a versatile and stylish way to bring warm, festive lighting into your home. You can use tea lights but for safely, go with LED candles or LED wire lights. These are battery operated and do not require wiring or mains supply and are super easy to put together:

Materials: Mason jars, LED candles or LED wire fairy lights, glitter, ribbon, artificial snow.

Instructions:

1. Place an LED candle or fairy lights inside the jar.
2. Coat the outside with glue and sprinkle glitter or artificial snow for a frosted look.
3. Tie a festive ribbon around the top for a decorative touch.

These lanterns also make lovely centerpieces or mantel decorations, adding a soft glow to any room.

4. Pinecone Decorations

Pinecones are abundant in the winter and can easily be transformed into festive decorations:

• Glittered Pinecones: Brush the edges of pinecones with glue and sprinkle glitter on them for a sparkly touch. These look great as table centerpieces or scattered around the house.
• Painted Pinecones: Use acrylic paint to color the pinecones in white, gold, or red for a classic holiday look.
• Pinecone Garland: Attach painted or natural pinecones to a length of twine, creating a rustic garland to hang across your mantel or along a staircase.

5. Paper Snowflakes & Garland

For a classic and whimsical touch, try making paper snowflakes or a garland:

Materials: White or colored paper, scissors, twine.

Instructions:

1. Fold the paper into a square and cut intricate patterns to create snowflakes.
2. String the snowflakes together using twine for a light and airy garland.

This is a simple, kid-friendly craft that adds a magical touch to your holiday décor.

DIY Decorations for Outdoors

Your home’s exterior deserves some festive love too! Here are a couple of simple ideas to brighten up your outdoor space:

6. Front Door Garland

A garland draped around your front door sets a welcoming, festive tone. Here’s how to create one using natural materials:

Materials: Pine branches, holly, red berries, twine, ribbon.

Instructions:

1. Gather pine branches and holly, and twist them together with twine.
2. Add in red berries or ribbon for decoration.
3. Drape the garland over your front door or around windows for a festive, fresh look.

7. DIY Outdoor Lanterns

Light up your porch or walkway with homemade lanterns. Borrowing the idea of the mason jar above, look for even bigger jars to go outside:

Materials: Large glass jars, LED lights, twine. Alternatively, use old oil lamps in place of glass jars.

Instructions:

1. Place battery-operated fairy lights inside the jars.
2. Tie twine around the mouth of the jar for a rustic finish.
3. Line them along your walkway or place them on your porch for a soft, welcoming glow.

These lanterns are easy to make and add a magical touch to any outdoor setting.

8. Christmas-Themed Signs from Upcycled Wooden Pallets

Turn old wooden pallets into rustic Christmas signs to display in your yard or porch.

Materials: Wooden pallets, Sandpaper, Paint (red, white, green), Stencils (optional), Paintbrushes, Sealer (for outdoor use)

Instructions:

1. Sand the pallets to smooth the surface.
2. Paint a festive design or holiday message using stencils or freehand.
3. Once dry, apply a coat of sealer to protect it from the elements.
4. Display in your outdoor space.

9. Outdoor Garlands

Create natural garlands to drape around doorways, fences, or balconies using eco-friendly materials.

Materials: Pinecones, Dried oranges, Cinnamon sticks, Twine or jute string, Hot glue gun

Instructions:

1. String the twine across your workspace to the desired length.
2. Attach pinecones, dried oranges, and cinnamon sticks to the twine using a hot glue gun.
3. Leave space between elements for a rustic look.
4. Hang the garland outside for a festive touch and a natural scent.

10. Weather-Resistant Bunting from Fabric Scraps

Repurpose fabric scraps into durable, weather-resistant bunting to decorate your garden or porch.

Materials: Fabric scraps (preferably waterproof), Scissors, Jute string or twine, Sewing machine or fabric glue

Instructions:

1. Cut the fabric scraps into triangle or rectangle shapes.
2. Hem the edges using a sewing machine or fabric glue to prevent fraying.
3. Attach the fabric pieces to the string, spacing them evenly.
4. Hang the bunting along fences, railings, or balconies for festive flair.

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11. Christmas Stars for the Window

Not so much outdoor, but perfect for the windows. Fold your own big giant stars to hang by the window. These can be lit too if you fill them with fairy lights. There are many tutorials online that teach you how do make one. Our favourite tutorial video is by “Art Craft & Ideas by SD”. You can make 7-point or 5-point as they are made with repeating simple units.

12. Origami Ornaments for the Christmas Tree

If you are  into paper crafts and origami we have an article on the Best Origami Christmas Ornaments to Make with Your Kids and 1o Environmentally Friendly Christmas Origami Decorations for Every Home over at colourmylearning.com

Tips for Crafting with Kids

Making DIY Christmas decorations can be a fun and memorable experience for kids. Here are some kid-friendly ideas:

13. Painted Pinecones: Let the little ones paint pinecones in bright colors and sprinkle glitter on them.

14. Handprint Christmas Crafts: Create handprint reindeer, Santa, or Christmas trees using washable paint.

15. Paper Chains: Kids can make simple paper chains using festive-colored paper to hang around the tree or doorway.

These projects are safe, easy, and great for encouraging creativity! And after all that hard work with the kids, treat them to a healthy and not so healthy platter of treats, fruits and cookies below.

Final Thoughts

This holiday season, skip the store-bought decorations and opt for DIY crafts that bring warmth, creativity, and a personal touch to your home. Whether it’s a handmade wreath on your front door or a homemade ornament on your tree, these decorations will fill your space with festive cheer and make the holidays feel extra special. So, gather your supplies, get crafting, and bring the holidays home with these simple, beautiful DIY ideas! For even more ideas, check out 8 Easy Ways to Decorate Your House This Christmas on a Budget.