Christmas Decorating Using What You Have
Decorate your home for Christmas using glasses, ornaments, and more that you already own. Check out these inventive Christmas decor ideas that won't deplete your pocketbook.
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What You Have: pillow, ribbon
Wrap a wide ribbon around a pillow to add an instant Christmas touch to your home. Place pillows on chairs, sofas, or beds for cute Christmas charm.
What You Have: old sled
When not in use, your wintertime sled can serve as a simple and picturesque part of your Christmas decor. Embellish with foliage, pinecones, and pomegranates to transform your sled into a fun outdoor display.
What You Have: snowflake cutouts, clips
Snowflake cutouts reminiscent of Christmas celebrations past can be put to good use -- hang them from a wall, a frame, or a window for an indoor touch of winter wonderland.
What You Have: ornaments, clear glass container, serving tray
Any clear glass container can become a gift-wrapped centerpiece. For an eye-catching and cohesive look, use ornaments in a trio of colors. Place the container on a silver tray, wrap it with a bow, add a few more balls to the tray, and fill in with shredded tissue paper for a snowlike effect.
What You Have: tree toppers
Have more toppers than trees? No problem. Just group a few favorites atop a mantel or shelf. If some of the toppers tend to fall, use pea-size balls of clear candleholder wax to hold them upright.
What You Have: pitcher, Christmas cards, clips
A simple white pitcher becomes a base for this Christmas card display. Fill with small branches, and slip clips onto the branches to attach Christmas cards. Drape a strand of zigzag red ribbon around the branches as a festive garland.
What You Have: glass cloche, ornament
A Christmas ornament and small natural accents are transformed into a centerpiece-worthy decoration when put on a plate and covered with a plain glass cloche. Use a florist's water tube to keep the rose fresh, or use an artificial flower.
What You Have: glasses and glass vases, ornaments, footed cake plate
Use unique glasses and colorful ornaments for this appealing centerpiece. Bells, small candles, and a handful of decorative bulbs cover the base of the cake plate, creating a cohesive look for this Christmas eye-catcher.
What You Have: ribbon candy, decorative plate, candleholder, candle
All it takes is a candleholder, a plate, a candle, and ribbon candy to create this simply festive Christmas decoration. Your guests will have a hard time keeping their eyes -- and hands -- off this tasty bit of decor.
What You Have: photographs, clear glass containers
For a decoration that combines photo memories and your favorite ornaments, look no further. Fill a clear glass canister with a variety of ornaments, then tuck in a black-and-white photo. A container of candy canes nearby lends a festive touch of red to this Christmas display.
What You Have: peppermint sticks, vase
A red rose bouquet looks even more gorgeous when wrapped with peppermint sticks. Hot-glue candy sticks around a vase; then encircle with a red-and-white ribbon. A round peppermint ball hot-glued at the center of the bow completes the look.
What You Have: ornaments, candlesticks, footed compote
Silver candlesticks, a footed compote, red ornaments, and sprigs of foliage create a festive centerpiece that brings Christmas to any table. Pick your favorite holiday color, and then rummage through your Christmas decorations for ornaments that match the color scheme.
What You Have: frame, wall hanging, easel
Frame a hand-made wall hanging and place it on an easel to declare your Christmas spirit. Place it alone on a side table or group it with other wall hangings for a more ornate decoration.
What You Have: oranges, candles, mirror
This candle centerpiece looks intricate but takes just minutes to create. To make, gather candles of varying heights and then nestle them among clementines, pinecones, and small evergreen branches for a fun Christmas decoration. Use a beveled edge mirror as a sparkling base.
What You Have: bike, Christmas lights
Add vintage-style outdoor bulbs to a retired bicycle for an unusual outdoor decoration sure to entice a smile. Wrap bulbs from the handlebars to the spokes, propping the bike against a wall or fence for extra support.
What You Have: oven mitts
These mitts look just right hung over the fireplace with care. Decorate bold-color oven mitts with fabric, shiny sequins, bells, and bows for an original take on your typical Christmas stocking. Fill mitts with themed items like cooking utensils for a spin on holiday sparkle.
What You Have: ribbon, ornaments, chairs
All it takes is some ribbon and a few flashy ornaments to create eye-pleasing -- and matching -- napkin and chair wraps. Dangle the ball ornaments and add a fun element, such as a snowflake ornament or pretty broach, for a bit more pizzazz.
What You Have: basket, wrapped gifts
An old-fashioned basket serves as the perfect holder for Christmas gifts, adding an extra decorative touch and also making the wrapped gifts easy to transport. Consider setting aside a basket for each recipient.
What You Have: wheelbarrow
Instead of retiring your wheelbarrow this winter, use it as part of an adorable Christmas tree display. Fill it with a potted (or artificial) evergreen and decorate with lights for extra Christmas spirit.
Editor's Tip: Depending upon which zone you live in, you might be able to plant the tree in the spring -- just keep the size of the wheelbarrow in mind.
What You Have: large bowl, ribbon, tiered serving tray
Simply add green ribbon to your table's fruit bowl for a quick decoration with Christmas flair. Fill a tiered serving tray with fruit, foliage, and holiday touches -- such as ornaments or wrapped candies -- to make it part of your Christmas decor.
What You Have: photographs, frames
A simple way to change your home decor from holiday to holiday is to replace current framed photos with memories from holidays past. Once the season passes, simply tuck the photo in the back of the frame so you won't have to hunt for it next Christmas.
What You Have: chair, ribbon
A simple bow tied with patterned ribbon brings a nice Christmas touch to your everyday chair. Tuck in a sprig of greenery to add that classic Christmas tree scent.
Editor's Tip: No evergreens? Use artificial evergreens or mistletoe to decorate your chairs.
What You Have: produce, footed cake plate, decorative plate
Fruits and vegetables from your fridge transform into a festive holiday centerpiece. Pick a Christmas color theme --shades of green or red -- and then arrange same-color produce on a decorative plate set atop a footed cake plate. Candles and green and silver ornaments placed on the table play off the color, while a ring of foliage picks up the theme of nature in this Christmas vignette.
What You Have: glasses
You don't need brand-new dishes to create an exciting Christmas table setting. Mix and match your favorite holiday drinkware for a fresh and lively array of glasses for your Christmas table.
What You Have: wrapping paper, coffee can
All you need is some wrapping paper, ribbon, and an empty coffee can to create a pretty but minimalist floral table display. Bright, glittery yarn and wild stickers adorn a bottle of wine for a fun winter touch.
Editor's Tip: Additional ribbon can be used as a colorful and unique table runner. Match the ribbon with a cluster of ornaments for extra Christmas flair.
What You Have: Scrabble pieces
You'll be the winner with these fun board-game-inspired Christmas decorations. Hot-glue (or just arrange) Scrabble pieces to wish guests "Season's Greetings" or any other holiday message you can conjure up.
Editor's Tip: With the right letters on hand, you can use this Christmas decor idea to create place cards for your next holiday meal.
What You Have: tin can, ribbon, ornaments
Use a simple tin can and a foam cone to transform leaves and a variety of ornaments into a green-and-silver Christmas ornament bouquet. Tie a red ribbon into a bow to complete the decoration. Use as a centerpiece or as a part of your holiday side-table decor.
Editor's Tip: To expand on the display, decorate two smaller cans to place alongside the larger ornament bouquet.
What You Have: cookie cutters
Use letter cookie cutters to spell out "Holidays" or any other merry wishes you have this Christmas. Stand the cookie cutters up on a shelf or counter, using wax or putty to hold in place if necessary.
Editor's Tip: Tie yarn around holiday cookie cutters to create clever and simple Christmas ornaments.
What You Have: dessert dishes, ornaments, serving tray
Go vintage with green dessert dishes (compotes) and retro ornaments. Group the pieces on a serving tray, adding floating candles inside the dishes for a day-or-night Christmas look.
Dress up a food-storage container, tray, and other items you have around the house to create more eye-catching indoor and outdoor Christmas candle displays.
