Christmas Decoration Ideas: Easy Shortcuts for Simple Christmas Decor
In this post: If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the abundance of Christmas decoration ideas, you’ll appreciate these super easy shortcuts for simple Christmas decor.⇒
Tell me if this has happened to you.
You go out for brunch during the holiday season. You go to an Old World hotel or restaurant that’s dripping with gorgeous decor. Lush garlands everywhere. Several stately trees encrusted with shimmering ornaments. Fire crackling in the fireplace, the scents of the season surround you. You vow to decorate your home this year with this same luxurious detail.
Then you get home, start rummaging through the boxes and get overwhelmed when you think about decorating even just one tree. “Maybe I’ll just do a tabletop tree this year”, you think.
We all have those times in our lives when we put in all the effort, giving each celebration everything we’ve got. Yet also, most of us have gone through periods where we concede, ‘this year we’re just going for simplicity’. If this is you, read ahead.
Today I’m looking at 10 ways to bring seasonal flavor into your home in the simplest of ways. A vignette here, a small sprig of greens there. If you don’t have the energy to drape your mantels, doorways and banisters in abundant greenery or trim a towering tree, but still want to add holiday festivity to your home, you’ll love these super easy shortcuts for Christmas decor.
And if you have decked the halls to the hilt and still have some energy (and a few spare rooms) left, they might work for you, too.
A sprig of greens, gingham check ribbon, and petite ornaments
I love the cheerful mix of greenery with red and white gingham check ribbon. Tie a pretty bow around a diminutive sprig of greens and add a small cluster of ornaments. Attach it to the cabinet knobs in the kitchen, dining room or library for an instant lift.
Super Simple Mantel with Bottle Brush Trees
Not every mantel needs to be expertly draped in garlands. If you prefer to just pop a few elements onto your mantel shelf, try using bottle brush and glittered cone trees to make an impact with virtually no effort. Toss in a few ornaments and finish it off with candles in lanterns.
Highlight a Desk with Pine Cones and Berries
Any horizontal surface against a wall is fair game for a little holiday vignette. The narrow width of a desk or small table makes it the perfect venue for a contained display. It can be as simple as a bundle of berry branches tucked in a vintage tea tin, a couple of carefully placed pinecones, balanced with a pair of holiday pillar candles. Add a few sprigs of greenery and you’re good to go.
Clusters of Candlelight
If a pair of candles is good, an array is even better. Find a dark corner, shelf or mantel and line up an assemblage of candlesticks, high and low. Add glimmer with your selection of candles, choosing beaded, gold-dusted or glittered. If you prefer not to keep lit candles near the walls, there are many great faux flickering options available.
Tabletop Christmas Tree
A tabletop tree is the ultimate shortcut when it comes to Christmas decorating. You can find a lush but small tree and take your time decorating it, as you would if it was a full tree. Or you can go even simpler and find a tiny variety that you can trim in 5 minutes. A bit of ribbon, a few ornaments and you can call it good.
Even if you have a large tree, you can still use this idea to add seasonal flavor to the smaller corners of your home. The one above is placed in our butler’s pantry or you can try one on a delicate table in the powder room.
Mixed Red and White Vintage China
If you typically use white or solid dishes for your everyday meals, consider mixing similarly-toned vintage china in complementary patterns for a little seasonal boost. Hues of cherry red and darker pinks blend comfortably together and without much else, can communicate a holiday feel. Perhaps a pop of greenery in a white ironstone pitcher is all you need to complete the look.
Raid your closet to decorate a door swag
For a DIY swag, combine 2 small boughs of greenery and tie with a tartan scarf from your closet, then add tiny ornaments and even some jewelry. Vintage pins work great for this idea or larger dangling earrings. Obviously use either faux jewels or reserve your swag for the interior of your house!
Mini-Mantel on a Shelf
Don’t have a fireplace? No problem! Use a mini-shelf to decorate as you would a larger mantel. Candlesticks, a bowl of ornaments, a festive plate leaned against the wall, all add a note of Christmas spirit to your display. Add glittered pine cones and candles – the more glimmer, the better.
Mix Tartan Plaids into your Decor
Sometimes the simple addition of a red tartan plaid can turn an otherwise all-year table into one bedecked for the holidays. You’d be surprised what you can pair tartans with and one of my favorite combinations is plaid with floral. On the table a bold plaid looks pretty softened by floral china and on a sofa you can use the same trick with a playful mix of pillows.
There are some years when we just need the help of simple shortcuts in our decorating, and most of these ideas just take a few minutes to put together.
Then next year, when you’re all rested up, you can decorate that perfect Old World garland-draped holiday home!
Simple Christmas Decor Resource List
To get the look, click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options.
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
Today’s post is part of our 20 Minute Decorating Series. Please enjoy the other posts below!
French Country Cottage | DIY Fresh Holiday Greens & Oranges Wreath
On Sutton Place | Pine Cone & Rag Ball Centerpiece
Shabbyfufu | Christmas Ball Ornaments
StoneGable | Easy Christmas Centerpiece
Thistlewood Farms | Easy and Inexpensive Christmas Decorating Ideas
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- 6 Ways to Create Elegant Christmas Table Settings in the Kitchen
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Such elegant touches, as always!
Thanks, Janet!!
Lory! Everything you decorate is absolutely gorgeous! You have a real gift! Bless you! Enjoy this wonderful time of the year! May you treasure those precious memories of your dear parents.
This is a great boost for me to start gathering and making things to sell in my booth! I’m new at boothing and run around in a frenzy getting items to sell and end up with a bunch of projects unfinished:( SO, Lory, I appreciate your reminder and inspiration to get me going on unfinished projects and have them ready when I set up Christmas in my booth. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea. It really helps me a lot. i would love to try this in christmas keep posting such amazing ideas
Aww thanks! Glad you found it helpful… 🙂