Decorating
10 Deceptively Easy Christmas Decoration Ideas
Christmas décor needn’t just be about the tree – there are lots of cute and clever ways to make your home feel festive
Want to raise your decorative game this Christmas? With a few simple tricks and really easy repurposing of traditional decorations, you can give your home a fabulously festive feel – without blowing your gift budget. Try out just a few of our favourites.
Stick to one main colour
A Christmas decorating scheme that’s determinedly single-minded is always going to work better than one that’s a hotch-potch.
This Christmas table is a favourite because it’s just a question of choosing a simple runner (you can buy paper ones), bowls and candles in one colour, all overlaying white, to create an effective, cohesive festive setting.
Hosting Christmas this year? Follow these tips for staying sane
A Christmas decorating scheme that’s determinedly single-minded is always going to work better than one that’s a hotch-potch.
This Christmas table is a favourite because it’s just a question of choosing a simple runner (you can buy paper ones), bowls and candles in one colour, all overlaying white, to create an effective, cohesive festive setting.
Hosting Christmas this year? Follow these tips for staying sane
Make a decorative advent calendar
What could be simpler (and more of a money-saver) than a grid of 24 numbered envelopes, glued face-down on a piece of stiff card, with mini gifts, chocolates or festive messages inside?
Go for minimalist white for a really contemporary feel or choose brightly coloured or decorated envelopes for children. (Get onto it now and there’ll still be time to do it for the 12 days of Christmas!)
See 10 inspiring ideas for a Scandi-style Christmas
What could be simpler (and more of a money-saver) than a grid of 24 numbered envelopes, glued face-down on a piece of stiff card, with mini gifts, chocolates or festive messages inside?
Go for minimalist white for a really contemporary feel or choose brightly coloured or decorated envelopes for children. (Get onto it now and there’ll still be time to do it for the 12 days of Christmas!)
See 10 inspiring ideas for a Scandi-style Christmas
Hang a welcoming wreath
Make a good first impression with a wreath. There are masses of fake, shop-bought ones you can dress up differently each year – or try this: wind a length or two of foliage around a circle of thick wire, then attach cones, berries and decorations with thinner wire. As a finishing touch, weave in some battery-run fairy lights.
Make a good first impression with a wreath. There are masses of fake, shop-bought ones you can dress up differently each year – or try this: wind a length or two of foliage around a circle of thick wire, then attach cones, berries and decorations with thinner wire. As a finishing touch, weave in some battery-run fairy lights.
Decorate the banister
Apply nearly every step you’ve just taken for the wreath, but this time for a garland. The long length of wire needn’t be as thick as the one for the wreath, and you can run the garland straight down the banister or create pretty swags. Complete the picture with a length of ribbon beneath to which you can peg Christmas cards.
Apply nearly every step you’ve just taken for the wreath, but this time for a garland. The long length of wire needn’t be as thick as the one for the wreath, and you can run the garland straight down the banister or create pretty swags. Complete the picture with a length of ribbon beneath to which you can peg Christmas cards.
Layer your Christmas table
A festively set Christmas dinner table is just as important as a well-dressed tree – and it won’t take much effort to make a big deal of yours.
Here, lengths of fabric criss-cross the table beneath a long garland dotted with candles. It’s seriously fast to put together, but will look as if you’ve made a proper effort-and-a-half.
A festively set Christmas dinner table is just as important as a well-dressed tree – and it won’t take much effort to make a big deal of yours.
Here, lengths of fabric criss-cross the table beneath a long garland dotted with candles. It’s seriously fast to put together, but will look as if you’ve made a proper effort-and-a-half.
Go for Christmas country style
You can’t beat homespun Christmas decorations: they’re inviting, they look as if you’ve made a big effort, and (sshhh!) they’re really easy to make.
This one has the main ingredients: a checked serviette (yours could be paper), a short length of ribbon or twine (left over from wrapping) and a sprig of greenery (snip it off the back of the tree where no one will see). Done.
You can’t beat homespun Christmas decorations: they’re inviting, they look as if you’ve made a big effort, and (sshhh!) they’re really easy to make.
This one has the main ingredients: a checked serviette (yours could be paper), a short length of ribbon or twine (left over from wrapping) and a sprig of greenery (snip it off the back of the tree where no one will see). Done.
Rethink your baubles
Whether you’ve pared down the tree a little or are making do without one altogether, take those unused baubles and hang them from a decorative branch – you’ll usually find a few on the ground at the end of a windy day, but florists sell them, too. Or pile the baubles into a glass vase and pop them on the hall table for a pretty (and quick) centrepiece.
Whether you’ve pared down the tree a little or are making do without one altogether, take those unused baubles and hang them from a decorative branch – you’ll usually find a few on the ground at the end of a windy day, but florists sell them, too. Or pile the baubles into a glass vase and pop them on the hall table for a pretty (and quick) centrepiece.
Supersize paper snowflakes
Cutting out paper snowflakes to stick on windows or hang from door frames is a quick, easy and super-cheap way to decorate, but super-size them like these and you create real impact.
These concertina designs are shop-bought, but you can make something similar (there are heaps of tutorials online). They’re perfect for hanging over the Christmas dinner table.
Cutting out paper snowflakes to stick on windows or hang from door frames is a quick, easy and super-cheap way to decorate, but super-size them like these and you create real impact.
These concertina designs are shop-bought, but you can make something similar (there are heaps of tutorials online). They’re perfect for hanging over the Christmas dinner table.
Undress the tree
Tree overloaded? If you steal just a few baubles, then add some white-sprayed pine cones to the mix, you have the ingredients for a simple place-setting decoration.
Stick to a single colour theme for a sophisticated look, or have fun with brightly coloured baubles that will appeal to children.
What’s your go-to Christmas decoration idea? Share it in the Comments section.
Tree overloaded? If you steal just a few baubles, then add some white-sprayed pine cones to the mix, you have the ingredients for a simple place-setting decoration.
Stick to a single colour theme for a sophisticated look, or have fun with brightly coloured baubles that will appeal to children.
What’s your go-to Christmas decoration idea? Share it in the Comments section.
Who says wreaths have to hang on doors? They can look amazing as a crown over a dining table. Hang yours as you would a pendant light – low enough so you can see it, but not so low that you have to peer round it to see the person opposite.
Be careful with any candles lit beneath it – and make sure it’s well secured, so the turkey doesn’t end up wearing it.