8 DIY Christmas decor ideas to try for some easy festive flourishes

When planning your Christmas decor scheme this year, it’s worth bearing in mind that nothing quite says Christmas like a handmade touch. We know there is a temptation to splurge on decorations, but in reality, it’s the thought that counts. The season should be about slowing down, spending time with friends and family, and showing them your appreciation.

So what better way to dress your space than taking time to create personal festive touches with DIY Christmas decor ideas that are unique and reflect you? What’s more, carving out hours here and there to craft with loved ones is a great way to create lasting memories and build a sense of excitement for the season ahead.

8 ways to get creative with DIY decorations this season

We’ve rounded up 8 of the best ideas worth trying, from reusable advent calendars to old-school paper chains, you're bound to enjoy getting creative with these festive makes. Plus you’ll add a cozy handmade quality to your home while having a more sustainable and budget-friendly holiday.

1. Make a Christmas wreath

A timeless Christmas tradition that many of us use for outdoor Christmas decor, embrace the beauty of seasonal foliage and flowers, and learn how to make a Christmas wreath.

Whether you gather sprigs of holly, fern, bracken and spruce from your yard and garden, or go to your local florist or garden center and buy cuttings of eucalyptus, poinsettia or dried flowers, a homemade Christmas wreath is guaranteed to add an inviting natural accent to your space. All you need is a good pair of pliers and some hardworking wire.

For a more rustic look, Homes & Gardens' Head of Gardens and floral designer, Rachel Bull, shares her step by steps on how to make a bracken wreath. She says of the design, 'These types of wreaths are super versatile, they can not only hang on front doors, they work indoors placed above a mantel, or as a statement wall decoration in an entryway. During my time as a professional floral designer, these kinds of natural, dried wreaths became hugely popular with clients.'

2. Create a Christmas garland

To accompany your homemade wreath, gather extra flowers and foliage at the same time to make your very own Christmas garland, too. For a coordinated look, hang your wreath on the wall above your fireplace and use your garland for Christmas mantel decor.

As well as learning how to make a Christmas garland from gathered foliage, there are many other hand-made garland ideas you can embrace. From paper garlands to hand-made dried orange garlands and tinsel garlands, these hand-made decorations are perfect for decorating fireplaces, window and door frames, staircases and more. A food dehydrator or even the best air fryer will come in handy for this.

3. Make a reusable Christmas cracker

Christmas crackers may be a British tradition, but they would make a fun, and surprising, addition to an American dining table come the holiday season.

Handmade, reusable crackers are not only environmentally friendly, they make for fabulous decorations for Christmas table decor ideas also.

Here, Angela Maynard, author of The Art of Gifting Naturally, has made beautiful reusable crackers from pieces of patterned fabric, elegantly decorated with ribbon and dried orange slices. When making your crackers, one of the most fun parts is that you have control of what goes inside. From hand-written jokes to small Christmas table gifts and chocolates, a handmade cracker can make your Christmas tablescape feel more unique and catered to your guests.

Explore Angela's step-by-step in her dedicated feature, how to make reusable crackers.

4. Craft decorations for your Christmas tree

A Christmas tradition for many is hanging old, handmade decorations on the Christmas tree – even if they are placed out of view towards the back! But why not fully embrace this tradition and make a new hand-made ornament design every year; enriching your tree with a hand-made touch and reminders of Christmases past?

From making Christmas tree ornaments out of air-drying clay, like this clay from Amazon and cookie cutters, like this set from Target, to dried orange decorations and Christmas tree ribbon ideas, embrace a hand-crafted look for your Christmas tree theme this year.

5. Get creative with pine cones

Synonymous with seasonal decor, never underestimate the decorative potential of a pretty pinecone.

From making pine cone wreaths to using pine cones to create hanging ornaments, table decorations and more, there are an array of different pine cone Christmas craft ideas to choose from.

We love this Christmas table centerpiece idea using cozy candles, pinecone decorations and foraged foliage, perfect for a more rustic, natural look.

6. Make paper decorations

Paper decorations are one of the easiest DIY Christmas decor ideas to embrace in the home. From pretty paper snowflakes used for Christmas window decor, explore how to make paper snowflakes in our dedicated guide, to paper chains, and hanging paper ornaments for your tree, it doesn't get more traditional than crafting with paper.

7. Make your own Christmas candles

We think, the more candles you have in your home at Christmas, the better. One of the most versatile interior decorations, candles can infuse a room with beautiful fragrance, helping your home smell good for Christmas, provide warm, cozy lighting, and of course, bring stylish decoration to a space – what's not to love?

As well as adorning your home with the best candles, why not try making beeswax candles, too? We think they make for a lovely Christmas gift.

Stylist and crafting expert, Sara Bird says, 'It's so simple to make your very own beeswax candles – one of the best candles to burn, all you need is a few shop-bought craft basics. For a festive look, simply tie a ribbon around the candles and add a few springs of foliage or flowers, just remove before lighting for safe candle burning.'

8. Create your own advent calendar

What's better than a sustainable advent calendar and a Christmas decoration all rolled into one?

Making a reusable advent calendar is not only good for the environment, many designs can work as versatile decorations too, acting as more unique Christmas garlands.

Whether you create an advent calendar similar to Angela Maynard's above using string and cotton bags or hang small, wrapped gifts from an existing Christmas garland on a mantel or wall, a handmade advent calendar allows you to curate a special collection of gifts for your loved ones; making the advent tradition and countdown to Christmas feel more unique and personal.

DIY Christmas decorations can be super simple yet really effective and can often be created with things you already have in your home. It's a huge Christmas trend this year to decorate with personality and character and DIY decs are the simplest way to get that cozy, Nancy Meyers vibe.