No Time to Decorate Your Home For Christmas? Try These Doable Ideas

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But for many of us, the pressure of making our homes look festive and decorated in time for Christmas can be overwhelming. Don’t stress – decorating your home for the holidays can be easier than you think.

I am sharing some simple, but effective ways to get your home ready for the holidays in just minutes. From using seasonal items like gift wrap, candles and greenery or items from your yard, you’ll be able to create a festive and inviting holiday-ready home in no time.

Wrap Wall Art, Cabinets or Doors in Gift Wrap

Wrapping wall art and photo frames on a mantel with holiday gift wrap is one very easy way to add festive Christmas color and pattern to any room.

All I did was wrap framed art that was on my mantel with Christmas gift wrap. Volia – the mantel and room are decorated for Christmas!!!

For added interest, try assembling Christmas ornaments into candle holders to place on either side of the wrapped frames.

Add a Santa Hat to Existing Decor

If you have a topiary ball in your home, place a Santa hat on top of it. You can purchase the hats inexpensively at the dollar store. For an extra festive touch, add red ribbon around the planter that holds the topiary.

Don’t have a topiary ball? Look around your home for other places a Santa hat may add a holiday touch.

Stack Pedestals & Plates

On a counter or table top, place a pedestal plate in a wreath. Add a pretty plate and candle on top. If it is a large table, wrap a few empty boxes with gift wrap to add more holiday color.

Pinecone Vase Filler

If you don’t have faux snow or a vase filler, try using pinecones as a holiday vase filler. Simply cut off the tips of pinecones with a pair of scissors.

Fill a vase, glass, cup or bowl halfway and nest a candle on top.

Use Cookie Cutters & Candles

My favorite fast and easy way to create Christmas decor out of everyday items is to make a votive or pillar style candle look holiday festive. It is 1… 2… 3…. easy to do…

…by pairing it with a star or snowflake cookie cutter.

Simply place a votive candle inside a small cookie cutter and lay it on some greenery. DONE!

Another way to use the candles and cookie cutters as holiday decor is to place some coarse salt on a plate and add the cookie cutter and candle on top of it to create… a candle in the snow.

If you have a larger pillar style candle, even if it is already in a candle holder. If it has straight sides, you can place it in a large cookie cutter to create instant holiday decor.

Leave the cookie cutter and candle on a single plate or place on a tray with greenery and coarse salt.

Place a Ball Ornament on a Table or Shelf

This is my go-to Christmas decor for my kitchen counter. I don’t have a lot of counter space, but I do like to add a bit of Christmas in the way of a candle and a few ornaments on a tray.

A few years ago I used cedar in the white pitcher and left it naked. Another year I used pine and hung small silver ball ornaments on it.

If you don’t have greenery in your yard, ask a neighbor if they have any and if it would be OK for you to take a few clippings.

If not you can buy clipped greens at Home Depot or Lowes. It is sold outside in the garden area for about $7 a bunch.

Hang Jingle Bells on Door Knobs

Use a garland tie to tie a few jingle bells bought at the dollar or craft store to a door so when anyone walks into the room, they hear the classic sound of Christmas.

For door knobs you can also punch a hole in the top two corners of a Christmas greeting card you like and hang it with ribbon. If you don’t have a card, consider this free-printable Christmas door hanger.

Add a Sprig of Greenery

Gather a sprig of pine or cedar from your yard and place near a candle or ornaments. Tie on a few jingle bells with a twist tie will make the greenery look very festive.

Or simply place some snips of boxwood or rosemary from your garden in a decorative glass filled with water.

Pile Oranges on a Pedestal

Place a small wreath on a plate or pedestal. Pile oranges or nuts on top to do double-duty. Easy to grab food when your hungry as well as a decoration for your kitchen counter.

Place Gift Wrap on a Table Top

Cut a piece of holiday gift wrap to cover a table top or a sideboard.

Fill a Large Bowl

If you have a large bowl or basket, place it on a table…

… and fill with a few ornaments, wrapped gifts, a strand of beaded garland and greenery.

I like decorating for Christmas using simple ideas like these where you can use items you already own and not have to buy a “stand-alone” piece of Christmas decor that can only be used a Christmas time.

Do you have any simple Christmas decorating ideas to share?

If you like these ideas, you will find more like them here: Christmas Decorating Ideas & Inspiration.