The holidays are a time for traditions. Whether it’s cooking your Mom’s legendary ham recipe, hanging up your homemade stockings from Grandma, or gathering with the cousins for some much-needed family time—there’s comfort in the cozy familiarity.
But if looking around the living is like looking at a living time capsule, don’t be afraid to mix it up. Adding some new decor can freshen things up this year. Take a few of these holiday decorating ideas to bring together the old and the new this year.
#1 Team Up as a Family
As they say, the more, the merrier! Gather your loved ones (safely, of course) for a crafting party to kindle the holiday spirit and break up the day-to-day monotony of time spent at home.
Children will jump for joy at quick and easy crafts:
- Styrofoam snowmen using Styrofoam balls, googly eyes, sticks from the garden, and a trusty hot glue gun
- A family of reindeer made out of old toilet paper rolls, popsicle sticks, and paint—plus a little red pom pom for Rudolph
- A winter landscape using paint or markers, with cotton balls as three-dimensional snow
- Paper snowflakes, the perfect kid-friendly creation for even the youngest child in your family—as long as they use kid-safe scissors! Hang them in your windows for a fun decoration!
Decorating your home with crafts is friendly to both your budget and the environment, plus it’ll delight the entire family. Grab some blank paper from the printer, toilet paper tubes, and colored markers, and you’ve got yourself a party!
#2 Bring the Outside In
Winter may have you stuck indoors, but that doesn’t mean nature is off-limits. Incorporate some foliage and greenery into your holiday decor, and you’ll have yourself a winter wonderland straight out of the movies.
Here are some of our favorite evergreen ways to spruce up the home:
- Flowers – You can never go wrong with a full bloom. Instead of the usual red poinsettias, try a white flower bouquet to compliment your winter color scheme. Flowers are a great way to add beautiful, natural accents around your home. Plus, they add a festive, fun touch!
- Homemade wreaths – Sick of the standard department store designs? Channel your creativity and make your own wreath. Collect some fir branches, pinecones, and a wire frame, and you’re all set. You can paint or even add glitter to your natural materials for extra fun!
- Garlands – Deck the halls with boughs of… whatever you fancy! Try garland with multicolored lights to really spice things up.
#3 Light It Up
Every holiday season needs a little light show—and we mean “little” quite literally. You don’t need to whip out a ten-foot tree, a fully strung-up porch, and twelve light-up animatronic reindeer to feel the holiday spirit (though you could if it made you happy).
Instead, check out these simple ideas for some holiday lighting inspiration that will put a twinkle in your eye in no time.
- Multicolored tree lights – For a funky retro feel, rainbow lights are the way to go.
- Window candles – Elegant and warm, these no-flame window candles will make your house look like a safe haven in the cold. Plus, they’re safe and both kid and pet-friendly.
- Icicle – Do you have a wraparound porch just begging for a little festivity? String up some cool white icicle lights to match the snowy outdoors.
#4 Incorporate the Other Senses
The smell of cooking spices and pine needles, the sounds of sleigh bells and carolers, the soft velvet fabric of your best Christmas Eve dress—some of the best holiday memories aren’t visual. Bring your favorite holiday smells, sounds, and feels to your home this holiday season to bring your decoration game to the next level.
Conclusion
The holiday season is steeped in tradition, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for new ones, too. Don’t be afraid to step out of the box with these holiday decorating ideas, whether that includes DIY decorations, a brand-new set of fun, modern lights, or something else altogether.
As long as you’re surrounded by loved ones, the decorations are just another added bonus!