My 5 Essential Tips for Decorating for Christmas!
Countdown to Christmas – can you believe it’s only 8 short weeks away! Christmas is definitely the most wonderful time of the year! Today, I wanted to share Christmas decorating questions and answers. These are some of my most frequently asked questions from you … my amazing readers. It may seem super early to start thinking about Christmas but because I’m a blogger, I like to share my ideas early to give you time to shop and plan your own winter wonderland. I also read that putting Christmas decorations up early makes us happier and I’m all for more happiness in the world! If you have any other burning Christmas decorating, entertaining, wrapping, or recipe questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
This chalkboard art is a reader favorite and it, along with the rest of my Christmas home, made it into a 10 page spread in Better Homes & Gardens magazine in 2019, 2020 and 2021!
Click Here to Buy This Christmas Chalk Art
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Christmas Decorating Tips
Q: How do you decide on your theme each year?
A: First of all I want to say that you should not feel pressured to change out your Christmas decorations every year!
I LOVE to change things up but I reuse most of my decorations and add in a few fun pieces each year. I also move things around each year so even the old decorations take on a new life.
With that being said, I think the best way to create a new theme is to start with a focal point. Mine is always my mantel and once I have that figured out, the rest of the house flows from there.
Try using the same color scheme throughout your house to create a unified look.
Tour Last Years Christmas Home Here
When I found this vintage elf blow mold and old metal numbers over the summer, I knew they had to be the star of my mantel a couple of years ago so I waited patiently! I love shopping for Christmas decorations all year long and encourage you to do the same (hit up those thrift stores).
Q: What are your tips for using vintage items in my Christmas decor?
A: I love mixing old and new … especially at Christmas.
I’ve used antique hand mirrors as Christmas ornaments, filled my collection of loving cups with fresh greens and my husband’s childhood fire engine pedal car has held a mini Christmas tree and a pile of gifts.
In the posts below, I show how to put a Christmas spin on old soda crates, mason jars, rusty toys, antique windows and more!
Home Sweet Home Christmas Tour HERE
Please Come Home for Christmas Tour HERE
No Place Like Home Christmas Tour HERE
Q: I don’t have a lot of money to spend on decorations. Do you have any money saving tips?
A: You don’t have to spend a ton of money to have a festive Christmas! Twinkling Christmas lights that you can reuse every year (these are my favorite fairy lights), candles and a tree are really all you need.
Use everyday items like plain white plates with an ornament or sprig of holly on top to dress things up.
Fresh or faux greens scattered throughout the house is a simple way to add a little Christmas cheer.
I also like using food like marshmallows, fruit and nuts throughout the house. And don’t forget to hit the thrift stores!
Below are some of my favorite, inexpensive Christmas ideas.
DIY Wood Gingerbread Houses
DIY Doodle Houses
DIY Plate Wreath
Personalized Song Lyric Plate – this makes the best gift!
Christmas (Cheap!) Art – tons of you bought this!
How to Dry Citrus Slices – turn these into ornaments, garlands, gift toppers …
How cute is my wood gingerbread house village!
Q: I feel like I have so much to do but not enough hours in the day. How do stop yourself from stressing out during the holidays?
Planning is the key to a stress free holiday season! One of my favorite tips in the post below is to pick a few main focal points and forget about the rest.
Read the post below for more of my tips to a stress free holiday season …
12 Tips to Simplify Christmas Decorating
Q: I love decorating but I HATE packing up everything when Christmas is over! Do you have any tips to make it less of a chore?
I hate undecorating too so I wrote this post …
Christmas Undecorating Tips Here
The countdown to Christmas is on and if you have any Christmas questions, please share in the comments. If you have any helpful tips, please share too!
With over 11 years of Christmas content stored on the pages of this blog, there is plenty of inspiration for every holiday and Christmas is my favorite.
See More Christmas Ideas Here
i love these tips. i just can’t understand why people would want to stress out during this most special time of the year.
They don’t want to stress – there is just way to much to get done in too little time!!
When my children were in the 2nd and 5th grades, I created a scavenger hunt for them to find their Christmas stockings on Christmas Day. I composed rhyming clues. This went on until they graduated from high school. When my son got his driver’s license, I asked friends if I could hide clues at their houses(outside). I have now done the scavenger hunt with my 4 grandchildren a few times.
What a fun idea and great family tradition Jennifer! I’m sure your grandkids love it just as much as your kids did (and you)!
Thanks Kelly these are some wonderful ways to enjoy the season, your decorations are always fun and lovely. I agree these holidays are all about being with the people we love and enjoy.
I can’t wait to have my girls home Marlene!
I do pretty well inside, and my focal points are the same as yours – mantel, dining table, kitchen & stairs – but my outside is not what I’d like. With 10 evergreen trees lining the front walk to our door, it became too hard to string lights on them once they grew past 8 ft. in height – and I’m just 1 short person! When I recruited the hubby, he did it one season & gave up – got one of those projectors that shine colored lights on the house. It’s not the same. I tried sparkly ribbons or snowflake ornaments, but the harsh winter winds blew the ribbons away and froze the snowflakes in place til spring. I’ve learned to let it go – getting too old for this. Still, we host the family Christmas, so I wish it looked prettier.
I don’t do much outside either but I find making the front door pretty with fresh garland and wreath, maybe an old sled is all it needs to be welcoming!
Thank you for the ideas. This year I am going to try my hand at making a wreath with dried oranges and limes. Will also get creative with making flowerettes out of pinecone to add to it. Bringing in natural finds from the woods can be cool, there is always something.
I’ve always wanted to do dried orange slices Kelly! Your house is going to smell amazing!
Thank you for sharing all of this! I love how you decorate and I appreciate how you have such great ideas. Love how you said to start with a focal point and go from there. I can’t wait to see what you do this year. 😉
I can’t wait to show you Lisa!
Thanks Kelly, it is true your whole house is always an inspiration. You always have changes from year to year and I always look forward to seeing them.
I can’t wait to show you what I’m doing this year Marlene!
Thank you for this great post! Christmas should never be stressful and your ideas are so helpful! ❤🌲
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas Lisa!
This was all very helpful, thank you! Great ideas! I like walking around my property to find nature inspired items to use.
Free stuff from nature make the best Christmas decorations!
I don’t know about anybody else but, after I think I have put it all away, I always find more. It might just be my age, lol!! Decorating for Christmas is so fun, and you always give me ideas.
That happens to me every single year Marlene!
Love your decor and ideas. Were did you get the picture you have on the mantle in the backdrop that is wood and has stenciled houses on it?
Thanks Darlene! I featured that beautiful painted house wood piece in this post. You can click the link above the pic to go to her page and ask her but I believe her husband hand painted it. Here’s the post: https://www.kellyelko.com/little-christmas-houses-decorating-ideas/