When it comes to almost anything, simple is best, and Christmas decor is no exception. Here are my favorite simple Christmas decorations using things you probably already have around the house.
Some years, I kind of go all-out with our living room Christmas tree and other decorations around the house, and I definitely love it. The layered effect of all of the different elements comes together to create something that feels really special and magical to me. The truth is, though, that my favorite little decor moments are the simplest ones. They’re the ones in my own home that make me the happiest, and they’re the ones that most immediately catch my eye as I’m scrolling through other ideas around the internet or in a magazine. I thought it would be fun to dedicate today’s blog post to simple Christmas decorations like that. I hope you find one or two that you want to copy immediately in your own home, and if I did this right, you should be able to because these are all items that a lot of us have in our homes already.
A Charming Bow Tied Around a Plant or Pot
One year, I tied a cute bow onto my faux olive plant as well as to adorn the pot of my preserved boxwood topiary on my bookshelf. These are things I keep out year-round, but with a bow they become festive little Christmas trees. That beautiful deep navy ribbon actually came from the dollar store a couple of years ago, so although ribbon can sometimes be an investment, this can be an incredibly affordable idea when you’re considering how to decorate for Christmas.
See more of this space: Blue and White Christmas Living Room
A Basic Glass Vase Filled With Pinecones Brings Holiday Season Cheer
Collect pinecones from your yard or from the local park, then display them in any clear glass vase for a merry addition to your holiday decorations and trimmings. Include greenery, florals, or berry picks in your arrangement, or simply tie the vase with a bow for a quick and easy way to deck the halls.
See more natural pinecone decoration ideas: Pinecone Christmas Decor Ideas
Wrapping Boxes With Ribbon Creates Instant Holiday Home Vibes
Empty boxes leftover from breakfast cereal and granola bars become playful decorative elements when you wrap them in brown kraft paper and tie them with ribbons to match your Christmas decor. Display them on a mantel, tabletop, consoles, and shelves for instant seasonal fun.
Blue and white ideas for Christmas: Blue and White Christmas Porch
Torn Fabric Ribbon
But what if you don’t have any ribbon that will work with your decor? A few strips of torn fabric from your fabric stash make a great impromptu ribbon to tie up your faux gifts with rustic flair. Use this concept to beribbon wreaths, garland installations, and stockings as well.
More beautiful rustic Holiday decorating inspiration: Woodland Christmas Porch Decor
Pitcher with Greenery
To me, there’s nothing that says “classic farmhouse Christmas” more than a simple white ceramic pitcher used as a vase for some fresh greenery. It’s even better if that greenery was harvested for free from a nearby wooded area. Affordable and traditional! A simple little bow tied on the handle helps to make it feel extra special.
More natural greenery for Christmas: Christmas House Plants that Aren’t Poinsettias
Christmas Ornaments in an Apothecary Jar
A simple, classic Christmas decor idea that never goes out of style. Simply find a favorite clear glass apothecary jar, mason jar, vase, or cloche and fill it with an assortment of shiny and sparkly Christmas balls and baubles. If you have a very small jar, even a single ornament tucked inside will add some sparkling cheer.
More inexpensive decoration ideas: Top Ten Dollar Store Christmas Decor Finds
Ribbon Napkin Ring
This is an easy and stylish was to bring a bit of Christmas color to your table setting. There’s no need to commit to buying a whole set of new napkin rings. Just use ribbon to tie up a rolled fabric napkin with a sprig of greenery like pine, cedar, or boxwood for an elegant place setting that will delight any guest. Tie on a jingle bell for a little extra sparkle.
More Holiday hosting ideas: Crock Pot Mulled Cider
Rustic and Simple Christmas Decorations: Greenery in a Galvanized Pail
Such a simple but effective rustic porch decoration. Clip some fresh evergreen boughs from your garden or place a mini Christmas tree into galvanized buckets for old-fashioned farmhouse Christmas nostalgia.
See also: DIY Rustic Tree Collar
Simple Christmas Decorations for the Entryway: Bow and Bell Doorknob
Aged brass bells or a collection of jingle bells hanging from a doorknob with some ribbon are a beautiful sight to welcome you home.
More Christmas ribbon ideas: How to Add Vertical Ribbon to a Christmas Tree
A Nature-Inspired Front Porch Tree
Pinecones and dried hydrangeas from the yard were the main focal points of this porch tree we put together for our Christmas porch one year. We added a few faux berries for color, as well as some different types of fresh greenery such as cedar and white pine. A porch tree is a great way to set the scene in your front yard when there still isn’t enough snow on the ground to build a snowman.
More Outdoor Christmas Decorating Ideas: Natural Foraged Christmas Front Porch
Homemade Cedar Garlands are the Best Simple Christmas Decorations
Homemade cedar garlands are remarkably easy to make and you don’t need to clip a lot from the trees growing on your property to make them. All you’ll need is some floral wire and some pruning shears.
Get the tutorial: DIY Cedar Garlands
Greenery Clippings in a Bowl are Easy and Enchanting
If you have a favorite large bowl, you can turn it into a stunning centerpiece by simply laying fresh branches of cedar, pine, seeded eucalyptus from the flower shop and a few faux berry sprigs.
More ideas like this: Decorating for Christmas With Foraged Greenery
Christmas Tree Decorations: Tricks for an Immediate Boost to Your Decor
I’m definitely no expert when it comes to Christmas tree decorations, but I’ve learned a few tips over the last few years that have really helped me to make my tree look a little more like those over-the-top, professionally decorated trees. The funny thing is that getting your tree to look really polished and thoughtfully decorated doesn’t need to be expensive at all. In fact, you can probably upgrade your Christmas tree game by reusing things that you already have but just using them in a different way.
Learn the tricks: Christmas Tree Decoration Tricks for an Immediate Boost to Your Decor
Our Most Popular Christmas Decorating Ideas of All Time
I love so many different styles of Christmas decor, but you just can’t do everything every year! I don’t like to completely reinvent the wheel every year, but I do love to draw inspiration from what I’ve done before and then try a few new things here and there, wherever it feels right. I thought it would be fun to look back on a few of my favorite ideas from past years and share them with you here
Get the ideas: Most Popular Christmas Decorating Ideas
12-Month Christmas Plan to Prepare for Christmas Next Year
I will start by saying this: This 12 month Christmas plan really works, and it works even if you do it completely imperfectly. By the end of the season last year, I was feeling fed-up and tired of always being unprepared when Christmas season arrived. I felt like I was getting a little better at the whole thing every year, but I was still feeling really behind, rushed, and overwhelmed by the whole Christmas season and every little detail that needed to be taken care of to make sure that everyone in the family has a magical season and creates happy memories. You too?
Get the plan: 12 Month Christmas Plan to Prepare for Next Year
Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.