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Decorating for the holidays is more than just silly elves hanging on shelves. It’s all about the type of environment you want to create for your space. The beautiful thing is that this is your space and you get to dictate how that space makes you feel!
All of us may not be HGTV home decor experts (what a dream though, right?), but the good news is you certainly do not have to be an expert to have a lovely, warm, inviting home that gives you all the feels. In my experience, less is more and a little goes a long way. Especially if you don’t have enormous amounts of time for DIY and made-from-scratch type of decor. Luckily, there are many options that are turnkey and will have your home looking amazing in no time.
Without further ado, let’s get into it and check out the 10 simple holiday decor ideas below:
1. Garland
I am obsessed with my garland and I look forward to hanging it up every holiday! I’ve been looking for a way to decorate our banister but still wanted to keep it simple and not over the top. These were perfect since it came with one long piece of about 9 feet (the exact size of my banister) and it was pre-lit! All I had to do was zip-tie them onto the banister and add our stockings! Wa-lah, my house looks so much more festive.
BTW, here’s where I got these adorable custom stockings!
2. Christmas Lights
When I was in high school, I used to decorate my bedroom with multi-colored Christmas lights. They hung perfectly over my sliding glass door (I was a lucky kid that had pool access from my room). It was so simple and basic, but I loved it because it made my room more unique and created a slightly more festive look and feel.
You can do the same. Hang lights, not just on your Christmas tree, but also on places like the banister, the fireplace mantel, the shrubbery outside, the patio, and the trees in your yard. The only rule here is to have fun with it!
3. Wreaths
One of my favorite ways to decorate for the holiday is with a wreath. Wreaths have become super cute over the years and you don’t have to take it down. In fact, I purchased a basic grapevine wreath that was ready to hang, you just add your own flare to it. I ended up adding some pink, white, and red flower stems and a gold ribbon. I hang this beauty year-round. You can choose to have different sets of wreaths for different seasons or you can just pick one and hang it all year. The choice is yours! You can order a custom wreath and have someone do all the decorating for you (I prefer Etsy for custom items) or you can pick out your own elements (I prefer Hobby Lobby for DIY projects).
4. Colors Themes
Just in case you didn’t know, adorning your house in red and green is not a requirement. There are endless color combinations for the holidays other than “red and green”. Here are some popular alternatives to start with:
- Blue and White
- White and Gold
- Red and Gold
- Green and Gold
I’ve seen orange Christmas trees and I’ve seen black Christmas trees. Honestly, anything is a go when it comes to holiday decor. Again, it’s all about your space and how it makes you feel. So pick a color palette that resonates with you!
5. Candles
Did you know that fragrance is a part of the decor? Oh, yes indeed! Consider your fragrance when decorating. Whether it’s something warm and cozy or freshly baked cookies, candles are a great opportunity to pull in all the elements of your theme. My go-to fragrances are clean linen, lavender, or eucalyptus.
What type of fragrance resonates with you? Is it something fruity, is it something romantic, is it something crisp? You get to decide, just be sure to add it to your theme!
6. Wall Art
Wall Art is such a vibe and one of my favorite ways to dress up a home quickly and cost-effectively. My go-to place for affordable and beautiful wall art is Etsy and Hobby Lobby. You can choose your style: vintage, elegant, classy, watercolor, etc. You can either print them yourselves, ship them, or pick up at the store.
7. Candy Jar
I have a bunch of flower vases hanging around under my kitchen sink. I pulled one out, washed it, and now it’s a candy jar. It’s cute and round and perfect for these Grinch-themed Hershey kisses. It’s the little things that enhance your space! And what a way to re-purpose existing items you likely have around your home. Super simple and easy!
8. Letter Boards
Seriously, these letter boards are so darn cute. I literally just pulled mine out the other day as I was cleaning out the kids’ rooms and I immediately said “oh, we are using you for Christmas!” Letter boards are great because they are so versatile. You can write whatever message you want. I used these for my baby shower and my photo shoot. I kept the message simple for this holiday and I am obsessed with how simple yet chic it looks on my kitchen counter.
9. Flowers
I love love love Poinsettias! In my mind, they are the official holiday plants with their bold red petals and forest green leaves. They literally scream Christmas when you see them. I personally like poinsettias because they are abundant and affordable (mine are actually fake so I reuse them every year). Now, you may not want Poinsettias because everyone else has them too. You certainly can opt for other flowers like roses, hydrangeas, poppies, and carnations. Any flower works! Whatever flower you choose, I suggest choosing colors that match your theme.
10. Accent Pillows
One of my favorite decorating hacks is changing out the accent pillow covers. It’s such an effective way to change up the look and feel of a room in just a matter of seconds. Plus, pillow covers are usually easy to clean (just unzip and throw them in the wash!) Nowadays there are loads of beautiful, decorative pillow covers to choose from.
Conclusion:
As you can see, decorating for the holidays does not have to be super complex. Your home can be warm and inviting with just a few of these simple elements. I would love to know what your go-to holiday decor items are. Out of the ten above, my personal favorites are the wreaths and accent pillows. Thanks for stopping by, and happy holidays!
Xoxo,
Courtney G.
