35 easy DIY Christmas decor ideas for a more creative, affordable and personal festive season

Christmas can be an expensive time of year as we spend on presents for loved ones, food for a lavish Christmas dinner for the whole family and often travel to reach them. So the last thing any of us needs is splashing out on pricey Christmas decor (as tempting as it is). That’s where our DIY Christmas decor ideas come into play.

Not only that going down the DIY route is the perfect budget Christmas decorating idea, it’s also a great excuse to get creative and add a bespoke, personal touch to your festive decorations.

Christmas is a time to spend with family and/or loved ones and there is nothing better than a project that everyone (even the little ones) can get involved in and create memories together. ‘For families with children, DIY decor can be particularly special as it allows you to create precious memories as well as pieces that can be hung on the tree year after year,’ says Dayna Isom Johnson, trend expert at Etsy, as the site’s seen a 17% increase in shoppers searching for ‘DIY bauble kits for kids’. Apparently, it’s in to DIY this Christmas. And we couldn’t be more excited.

35 DIY Christmas decor ideas

There are so many benefits to creating homemade ways how to decorate a Christmas tree, your Christmas dinner table or alternative Christmas wreath ideas to craft from things you already have at home. 

‘Creating DIY Christmas decor gives people the opportunity to learn a new skill, whilst having an enjoyable time being creative,’ says Rachel Fearnley from Rachel Fearnley Designs. ‘Being able to decorate your home and work space with hand crafted DIY decorations enables us to be more conscious of the products we are using and the impact they are having on the environment. I fully recommend creating DIY Christmas decor because it is kinder to the environment, kinder to our finances and is good for our mental wellbeing.’

Who can say no to that? So here are our favourite ideas for making our own Christmas decor this festive season.

1. Tomato paste tube decor

You read that right. This year, Instagram and TikTok have gone crazy over DIY Christmas decorations made from emptied tomato paste tubes as their interior reveals a beautiful metallic gold finish similar to gold leaf or brass. Who knew something meant for the bin could look so luxurious?

‘It’s both a fun and easy material to work with,’ says Frida Sömskar (@fridasomskar), DIY content creator on Instagram who’s tried her hand at crafting Christmas decorations from this unexpected material. ‘I think the most fun crafting material to use is what you have at home. And who would have thought that aluminium tubes had such a beautiful inside?!’

2. Updating plain clear baubles

‘A really simple way to DIY is to use old decorations and give them a bit of a refresh,’ says Rachel Miles, head of home and garden at eBay UK. Our favourite way to do just that? Upgrading some clear Christmas baubles with arts and crafts essentials you probably have at home already.

You can opt for the TikTok-famous Anthropologie bauble DIY dupe using plain iridescent baubles and filling them with acrylic paint. Or, you can create a speckled finish resembling Murano glass by filling the baubles with crayon shavings and heating them up with a hair dryer to melt them just like Natalie Minarich of @the.mini.crew has done on Instagram.

‘I was trying to think of an easy ornament to make with my children, something that wouldn’t be too messy,’ she says. ‘I’m always saving broken crayons and I thought it’d be a fun way to use them. It’s super easy and fun! The kids love picking the crayon colours, they even help get the shavings and their favourite part is watching it spin around as it dries.’

3. Foraged decorations

The ultimate money-saving way to decorate your home for Christmas is by using seasonal foraged materials collected from forests, parks or even your garden. Whatever is available to you.

‘Our gardens and local parks can provide some of the best festive decorations,’ confirms Paula Sutton, interiors influencer of @hillhousevintage. ‘Holly has been used for centuries as organic decorations at Christmas, but you can also use dried branches to hang baubles from as well as pine cones, fir tree branches and draped ivy.’ 

4. Unconventional paper decorations

Paper decorations are having a real moment this year as one of the hottest Christmas tree trends. But one of the most convenient ways to DIY them at home is by using things you might already have in your kitchen such as cupcake cases, paper doilies or coffee filters.

All you need to do is pick your material - make sure you have quite a few of them. Then fold each and glue them together before fanning them out. The paper doilies make the perfect Christmas stars or snowflake shapes like the ones Bethany Joy of @realitydaydream has made in her Instagram reel. 

Meanwhile, the cupcake cases and coffee filters are ideal for round-shaped pompoms to turn into either singular baubles or a garland. 

5. Chain garlands

Paper chain garlands are a nostalgic classic that everyone will probably remember making from their childhood. So why not create the same fond memories for your little ones? And even better, you can further elevate the timeless design. 

‘A favourite seasonal decor of mine and something that is easy to make is garlands – paper or fabric there are a lot of options to choose from,’ says Rachel of Rachel Fearnley Designs. ‘The garlands can be printed, stitched or even painted and given an extra festive nod with embellishments. Alternatively, try making a garland out of old books, it’s quick and eye-catching. What’s more they are both likely to become a talking point when family and friends visit too!’

6. Air dry clay decorations

Pottery can be an intimidating craft to get into. But working with air dry clay is surprisingly easy. And so is making pretty DIY air dry clay Christmas decorations. Whether it’s ornaments to hang on your tree or elevating your gifts with handmade gift tags stamped with the receiver’s name, this is one versatile material. Just cut out or mold you desired shape and then let air dry. It's in the name.

And if you fancy, you can then paint it with some acrylic paint.

7. Milk carton light-up houses

Ceramic light-up houses are a big trend this Christmas season, which we’ve been seeing in Christmas collections of all the major retailers. But what if we told you that you could DIY your own Christmas village using empty milk cartons? 

‘I remember really wanting a Christmas village but my kids were so small and I knew they would want to play with the houses,’ says Sibia Torres, DIY and crafts content creator of @sibster on Instagram, who inspired this DIY hack in our eyes. ‘They would probably get broken so I decided to save up juice and milk cartons instead. They already kind of look like little houses to me. We painted them white and added roofs and we had a diy toddler proof Christmas village. Now they’re a bit older but it’s still one of our favourite traditions!’ 

8. Make berry-filled lanterns

Brighten up your Christmas mantel decor or hallway console table with this Scandi-style lantern in festive red and white. Super-simple to put together, You could swap the berries for greenery and mini pine cones if you prefer a more muted, natural look.

Start by popping a small tumbler inside a large glass vase. Place a pillar candle inside the tumbler and then surround the base of the vase with red Christmas cranberries. Finish off with a length of stripey ribbon wrapped around the outside and tied in a bow.

9. Try a fun pompom wreath

Jolly up doors, windows or mirrors with a colourful pompom christmas wreath idea made using up leftover yarn from knitting projects. Choose three complementary coloured wools and start by making your pom-poms - you’ll need around 12 in each of the different colours (36 in total).

Take a wire ring wreath base and wrap with hessian ribbon to cover it. Tie a length of yarn around it to form loop for hanging. Then start attaching your pompoms - there should be a tail of wool hanging from each, use this to stitch them onto the hessian, alternating the colours as you go. Once covered, make a bow from the hessian ribbon and glue gun into place before hanging.

10. Personalise place settings

Wrap mini boxes filled with a festive gift to use for dinner table place settings and as a takeaway treat for guests. 

Use co-ordinating giftwrap and ribbon that complements your table theme or give the packages a personal touch by making your own printed wrap on a computer using your guest’s name or a fun festive greeting. Finish off each gift with a sprig of foliage or berries.

11. Make festive gift toppers

A roll of plain brown or white paper stashed in the cupboard is a good standby Christmas giftwrap idea that can be used if you run out of Christmas giftwrap (and for birthday’s too). Plain paper is cheap to buy and super-easy to jazz up with home-made decorating ideas.

Make plain paper parcels look festive by tying with colourful striped and spotted ribbons, with sprigs of eucalyptus and berries as a topper. Luggage labels are another stationery standby that can be prettied up with rubber stamps or hand-drawn design. Or bring out the trusty DYMO label maker and make name tags or festive slogans to decorate your parcels.

12. Craft easy paper crackers

Make pretty paper crackers to brighten up the festive dinner table. Use remnants from your craft stash or opt for hand-picked papers in colours that complement your Christmas decorating scheme.

Cut a piece of crepe paper three times the length and two times the width of a cardboard tube. Roll the paper around the tube and secure with tape. Push a mini gift inside the tube and pinch the paper together at each end. Carefully tie with twine, then decorate with a band of gift wrap, more twine and pop a button on each.

13. Alternative wreaths

Deck chair backs or doors inside the house with alternative DIY wreath ideas made with naturally fragrant food items that will smell delicious when you’ve got a houseful of family and friends. 

Whether it’s rosemary sprigs, dried orange slices or star anise, all you really need is florist wire like this one from Amazon to form a small circle. Then either use a hot glue gun for the star anise and orange slices or string for the rosemary to attach the goodies to your base. Finally, simply add a piece of wire or narrow cord to hang.

14. Decorate a festive larder

Makeover some kitchen shelves or a glazed cabinet so that it looks suitably festive for the holidays. Stock up with jam jars filled with biscuits, sweets and savoury nibbles to line shelves and stack festive crockery, kitchenware and table linens inside.

Trim the edges of shelves with wide decorative braid to add a splash of colour. Look for an embroidered design for a pattern hit or try a scalloped design in cheery coloured felt. Secure with double-sided tape to hold it in place. Hang a Christmas decoration on the handle for a pretty finishing touch.

15. Jolly-up place settings

For a super-easy Christmas table setting idea that you can put together in a hurry, try folding fabric napkins into a simple pocket shape and place one at each setting. The pockets can be filled with whatever festive goodies you have to hand - a striped candy cane, sprig of foliage and berries, Christmas decoration or simply a set of cutlery tied with coloured ribbon. Add a card tag, handwritten with your guest’s name.

16. Bake cookies for a Christmas garland

Spend an afternoon baking with little ones and make gingerbread shapes that can be strung with ribbon and hung up as a festive garland.

Use cookie cutters to cut your dough into Christmassy shapes - such as stars, fir trees or gingerbread men - remembering to add a hole at the top for hanging. Once your cookies have cooled, pipe with white icing to decorate. Then once the icing has set hard, string with coloured ribbon and hang.

17. Put together an easy centrepiece

All the best festive dining tables need a festive centrepiece idea. Using something with extra height will make it stand above the festive fare and create a focal point, but putting one together with items you already own is easy and inexpensive too.

A simple cake stand is a great starting point. Fill it with gift-wrapped boxes (either empty or filled with treats for your guests). First wrap boxes in coordinating papers, choosing a variety of different-sized boxes. Tie two larger ones together with ribbon, pop on your cake stand, then arrange smaller boxes around them. You could even add a few mini baubles or paper decorations here and there.

18. Decorate festive shoppers

Instead of stashing all the Christmas pressies under the tree, decorate a few plain canvas bags to hang in the hallway, ready to be filled.

Print your own digital design or monogram in colour onto digital transfer paper, using a computer. Then iron the design onto your bag, following the instructions provided with the transfer paper.

19. Make easy apple candle holders

Line a mantel or window sill with these fun candle holders that will add a splash of colour to a dreary spot. Start by half-coring four reddish-green apples, choosing ones that sit fairly flat without wobbling around. Force a metal candle holder into each apple, before adding a tall candle, ensuring that it is secure. 

Pop the apples into place in your chosen spot, then wind lengths of fresh ivy around the apples. If positioning on a window sill, for safety’s sake make sure there are no curtains or blinds in close proximity that could catch alight. And never leave burning candles unattended.

20. Craft DIY stamped tags

Have fun with little ones spending an afternoon crafting. Standard brown card parcel tags are inexpensive to buy in bulk and can be decorated with stamped pictures or hand-drawn designs. 

These dotty designs have been created using the rubber end of a pencil as a mini stamp with red and white ink pads. Whether it’s a cute candy cane design, using alternate red and white dots, or holly and mistletoe designs in red or white with leaves drawn on in silver pen. Finish off your tags with a piece of sparkly ribbon to tie onto gifts.

21. Try a washi tape card tree

Use the back of a door or a vacant area of wall space for a Christmas card display idea of your favourite greetings cards. Start by sticking a length of masking tape to your wall or door. Then fix a piece of double-sided tape to the centre of this and peel off the backing. Place a piece of wide ribbon onto this and press in place.

Working from the ribbon out and around 5cm from the bottom, start to arrange your cards into a tree shape, using washi tape to hold each of them in place. Start and finish the next row shorter than the previous one as you work your way up the ribbon. Finally, add a felt snowflake to the top of your tree.

22. Make decoupage baubles

Decoupage is making a comeback! Try this idea to give old, unloved baubles a new look, or alternatively use inexpensive polystyrene baubles to decorate. You’ll just need a selection of coordinating fabric remnants or you could also try this idea with patterned tissue paper or paper napkins.

‘Try your hand at crafting and decoupage yourself. All you need is some glue and pictures cut out from newspapers, magazines or even damaged book pages,’ Paula says.

Cut your patterned material into small pieces, around 5cm in size (they don’t have to be exactly the same size) using a sharp pair of scissors. Then cover your bauble with a layer of PVA glue and stick on your fabric pieces, overlapping them to cover the whole bauble.

Once your bauble is completely dry, tie on a piece of narrow red ribbon for hanging.

23. Ribbon tree ornaments

Perhaps the easiest yet prettiest way to decorate your home for Christmas is using ribbons. And there are many Christmas tree ribbon ideas going around to take inspiration from as people embrace this effortless trend.

‘Use ribbons as a tree ornament,’ Paula suggests. ‘Either buy in rolls, or collect pieces of ribbon from shopping bags and presents and tie them in pretty bows on your tree branches.’

Velvet ribbons look especially elevated. But satin, lace or glittered will each bring their own unique charm to the table (or the tree).  

24. Create mini snow scenes

Repurpose a few old glass jam jars or mason jars to create your own miniature winter wonderland. Line a selection up on a mantlepiece, backlit by candlelight to create a magical effect after dark.

You’ll need a selection of mini brush trees and festive figures (such as Santas and snowmen) Christmas cake decorating sets are perfect for this. Then, simply glue a few into place at the bottom of your jars, using a hot glue gun. Once you’re happy with the positioning, add a layer of salt or white glitter to create a snowy effect.

25. Craft festive paper baubles

Use brightly-patterned scrapbook sheets to make paper baubles for decorating the tree or hanging up on a wall.

To start, you’ll need to cut two strips of patterned paper 30cm by 2.5cm and two strips 29cm by 2.5cm. Punch a hole at both ends of each strip.

Take one of the shorter strips and loop it to form a circle, holding at the punched ends. Loop the second shorter strip around the first. Repeat with the two longer strips. Secure together through the punched holes with a split pin.

Cut a piece of ribbon double the finished hanging length and snip a hole halfway. Slip over the split pin and tie the ends together. Finish by gluing on a ribbon bow.

26. Swag chairs with greenery

Make your festive dining room scheme look extra special by decorating the chairs as well as the dinner table. These chair swags are a cinch to make and by using fabric and odds and ends that you already have at home, they won’t cost a thing.

Use spare remnants of fabric cut into lengths long enough to loop over a chair back. Natural hessian or linen will add a rustic touch, or opt for more colourful fabric if your Christmas decor is on the brighter side.

Secure your fabric with a length of string or coloured ribbon and tie in a swag of greenery, such as eucalyptus, ivy or spruce. Finish off with a hanging star or coloured bauble

27. Set the table with candy cane place holders

Here’s one that younger members of the family will love. Use inexpensive coloured candy canes to create place card holders to brighten up the Christmas dinner table.

You’ll need three candy canes for each holder. Take the first two and use a hot glue gun to add a line of glue down the back straight edges of each one. Stick the two together, with the bases at around an angle of 60 degrees to each other.

When the first two canes are set, add a strip of glue to the third candy cane and stick it behind the other two, making sure they are level so the place holder stands up. Finish off by popping a small place card on the bends of the front two canes, with your guest’s name written in a fancy script.

28. Make an advent candle countdown

Create an easy Christmas countdown using simple white candles to burn each day to signify the days of advent. To make this DIY alternative advent calendar idea you’ll need 24 plain white dinner candles like these ones from Amazon and a black permanent marker. Draw the numbers directly onto the wax, positioning them at staggered heights to add visual interest.

Stand the candles in a collection of assorted candle holders to create a quirky display. Mini bucket planters like these from Amazon are an inexpensive buy. Fill with sand so they won’t topple over, add some florists’ foam to keep candles in place and then top with foliage.

29. Upgrade a tabletop tree

Buy an inexpensive potted tree from the supermarket and jazz it up using a mix of mini baubles, bells and homemade decorations. Disguise a plastic tub by wrapping it in paper or a swag of fabric, or pot up the tree in a pretty ceramic planter.

Make your own decorations from air-dried clay shapes. Use holly leaf biscuit cutters, marking the leaf veins with a knife and using a skewer to make holes for string hangers. Once dry and your tree is decorated, add a paper tree topper for a finishing flourish.

30. Give tealights a cheery upgrade

Try this super-easy make to decorate basic tealight candles, with no special skills required! You can buy a bumper pack of tealights for just a couple of pounds and a few rolls of coloured washi tape is all that’s needed for the decoration.

Simply cut short lengths of washi tape and wrap them around the metal edge of your tealights. If the tape is slightly wider, make small snips along the bottom edge of the tape and tuck the edges under the base of the tealight.

Stand your decorated tealights on mini saucers and dot along a mantlepiece or the centre of a table to create a pretty festive glow.

31. Deck the ceiling with a starry display

Make your dining table the focal point of your festive scheme by creating a hanging display suspended above the centre of the table. Having a hanging centrepiece will free up valuable table space that can be used for drinks and serving platters.

Choose lightweight paper and wire stars so they won’t be too heavy, in an assortment of shapes and sizes. Use a hoop to hang them from - a plastic hula hoop is ideal sprayed silver or black. You’ll need a couple of hooks secured to the ceiling to hang the hoop from.

Use lengths of coloured ribbon to suspend your stars, hanging them at staggered heights to fill the space. Add sprigs of fir and foliage here and there as a finishing touch.

32. Pile up a stack of decorated gifts

Paper-wrapped packages are an easy way of brightening up an empty mantlepiece if you add a mini stack of boxes at each end. Or if your Christmas tree is looking a little bare underneath (before Santa has been) try wrapping up a few boxes to bulk out the gifts you have.

Make your own unique gift wrap using brown paper and festive rubber stamps. Simply cut the paper to the size you need and use a stamp and ink pad in cheery red, white and green to create your design. It doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect, the home-made effect is all part of the charm.

33. Craft star-shaped table favours

Pretty paper stars filled with sweets make perfect place setting markers. Add a personal touch by decorating with paper tags stamped with your guests’ initials or names written on in a fancy font.

To make the stars, fold a piece of kraft paper in half and draw on a star shape in pencil. Use a chalk pen or white marker to draw spots or stripes within the star shape. Cut out stars with sharp scissors and then sew around the two shapes 5mm inside the edge, leaving a 4cm-wide gap.

Finish off by pushing tiny treats or sweets inside the star and then sewing the gap closed.

34. Stamp paper bags with Christmas snowflakes

Decorate paper bags with hand-stamped decorations. Bags filled with mini gifts make lovely place settings that guests can take away with them afterwards.

Use inexpensive brown kraft paper bags. Give them a more decorative edge by trimming the tops into a scalloped design and punching a row of small holes. Then get to work with some festive stamping. Simple snowflakes or stars look cheery in red ink, stamp one large design on each bag or go for smaller stamps in an allover design.

Finish by folding over the top edge and threading with baker’s twine to secure. Add a handmade tag, held in place with colourful a piece of coloured washi tape.

35. Make personalised gift bags for the table

Try another easy idea for Christmas place settings that will bring some sparkle to your dining room.

Use inexpensive white paper bags like these ones from Amazon, or alternatively use white sandwich bags. Then fill with mini gifts hand picked for your guests, things like soaps, candles, hand-baked biscuits or children’s crafty bits are ideal.

Cut sparkly stars from glittery paper, punch with a hole and then thread through a short length of black ribbon. Finish off by pegging a star to each bag, you could also add a label with the recipient’s name or simply write it on the bag. And then stand a bag at each place setting...voila!

FAQs

Now that you’re filled with inspiration (at least we hope you are), go grab your tomato paste tube, orange peel, cupcake cases or whatever you decide to choose and get creative. Happy homemade Christmas decorating!