"Decorating for the
holidays doesn't have to be stressful or difficult to be beautiful." So
says Martha Stewart. The missing word there is "expensive." Granted,
many of Martha's ideas can be affordable if you are a master sourer or a master
crafter. The rest of us need a little help.
With a
little bit of time and effort and just a couple of bucks, you can turn your
home into a designer holiday showcase, without breaking the bank.
Fireplace
mantel
The
mantel is one of the easiest places to make an impact because it is typically
already a focal point of a family room or living space.
Take a page out of Houzz's book with their Budget Decorator: Easy Holiday Decorations and make this crafty holiday mantel project
that makes use of inexpensive materials, with upscale-looking results.
"Scoop up small letter forms and gold craft paint, find that packet of
skewers left over from your last summer barbecue and get to work. A dab of hot
glue is all you'll need to attach the letters to skewers; place the skewers in
votive holders or small mason jars filled with salt."
Anything that gives us the opportunity to
create cheap and chic holiday décor AND create an easy craft (it's a
TWOFER!) is good in our book.
HGTV's 20 Glowing Holiday Mantels has a multitude of ideas, including this look
with pine swags and glittery ornaments that will give you festive, elegant
holiday decor in a snap, and on the cheap.
Decorating the Tree
Don't have glittery ornaments? No problem!
You can create your own ornaments in nearly
any color or color combination (even galaxy, one of the hottest
patterns in clothing design this season). Or, if you're feeling an '80s vibe
with your decor this year, use fluorescent fabric paint with your glass
ornaments and turn your tree into a day-glo extravaganza. You can get a set of eight glass ornaments on Amazon for under $10.
If glass isn't your thing, get some plastic
ornaments and chalkboard paint to create fun, personal messages you can
change out each year. Thirty-two plastic ornaments are $19.99 and a can of
chalkboard paint for under $4, both at Walmart.
Speaking of crafts... for a modern look, try
these DIY paper ornaments that are an easier, more DIY-friendly (meaning
for the novice crafter) version of a Martha Stewart paper ornament. The best part? They're quick, easy, and can be created in any
color scheme you want.
For a really festive touch, use metallic
paper, around $5 a package at Walmart. If you need to fill out the balance of
your tree, Target has
packages of 50 round plastic ornaments in a rainbow of colors for $15.
Dining Room Chairs
For those who sew, these Santa hat chair covers are fun, spirited, and inexpensive.
And for those who don't…try this easy ribbon,
pinecone, twig solution for giving your dining room a holiday lift.
Go Yard
Get your yard in on the holiday action with by
hitting an online discount resource like Terry's Village for this set of three yard stakes that look like oversized ornaments for $30.
Or, jazz up your yard with these easy, elegant
DIY luminarias from Good Housekeeping. All you need are paper
bags, decorative scissors, a whole punch, sand, and LED candles.
Here and There
Creating a warm holiday feel is about creating
vignettes throughout your home. Beyond your mantel, your tree, your table, and
your yard, you can create hot spots that bring the spirit of the holidays into
every room easily and affordably.
Houzz's Sweet treats + glass containers is a winner for a
few key reasons. "Plunk a big handful of candy canes into a glass,
fill an apothecary jar with kisses and top cake stands with cookies and other
goodies for an irresistible display."
Candy available during the holidays is either
festively colored on its own (hello, candy cane), or packaged in festive
wrapping, making for an easy way to create a great centerpiece or a vignette
for a table or countertop. Plus, it's yummy, which would be enough on its own.
Important tip: make sure you have extra candy on hand to refill bowls and jars
when busy hands start making your décor disappear.
To hang in your living room window and
throughout your home, what could be easier than coffee filters easily become snowflakes?
These $8.97 snow covered lighted branches would bring a little
sparkle to an entry table, a guest bath, a nightstand, or anywhere you want to
bring in some holiday cheer.
For a sideboard, a kitchen counter, or a
perfect centerpiece, nest tea lights on a platter and surround by cranberries.
Cranberries can also be used to fill large jars or inside hurricanes
surrounding pillars to take a regular old candle up a holiday notch.
Or, use nuts and berries, acorns, twigs, live
greenery, or pinecones. They're affordable (or free, depending on where you
live), and can turn a nice home into a holiday showcase in a matter of minutes
and for a measly few dollars.
Tabletop
If you're throwing a party or just want the
table to be pretty for your holiday dinner, you COULD invest in some good
quality, use-once-a-year dinnerware. Or, even better, use what you have and
integrate in some holiday pieces, like these fun holiday appetizer plates for under $10 or metallic
chargers starting at 99 cents apiece.
Finally, add in these easy tree-shaped napkin rings you make out of paper from a
downloadable template. They're sure to that would make Martha proud... because
they are her invention! Sometimes, Martha really knows best.
BY Realty Times
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