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DIY decor

DIY, HOLIDAYS

The 3 Best Tips To Help You Create Your Own Christmas Decorations

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Making your own Christmas decorations is a wonderful way to add a personal touch to the holiday season. It’s a fun and creative activity that can bring joy to both the maker and those who see the decorations. Although it is much easier to go out and buy decorations, when you make your own, your house will stand out from the rest. 

When you make your own decorations and Christmas decor, you can customize them to reflect your personality and family values. They can be kept and passed down through the generations with more meaning than mass-produced decorations. In this article, we will give you the information you need to be able to create your own this holiday season. 

1 – Pick the materials

When it comes to making Christmas decorations, the first step is choosing the right materials. Traditional materials like paper, fabric, wood, and metal are popular choices. Paper is versatile and can be used in a variety of ways, from simple cut-outs to complex origami. Fabric offers a range of textures and colors, perfect for creating soft ornaments or festive garlands. 

Wood is always a good choice as it adds a rustic charm and warmth to the decor of the room. It’s natural and also neutral so it fits with just about any decoration style. 

The key is to look for material that will last a long time. Something like polyurethane resin for molds is a good choice since it lasts for decades. This material is a type of plastic that you can mold into different shapes. It’s perfect for creating custom ornaments or detailed decorations. 

2 – Get inspired

When it comes to Christmas-themed ornaments and decorations, there are endless possibilities for design and creativity. The key is to find inspiration so you can create decorations that reflect your personality and style. 

Classic designs are always a good start. You can put your own twist on traditional decorating elements. Think of wreaths, stars, and tree ornaments that can easily be customized. You can get creative with the materials and use things like horseshoes if you are passionate about horses, or quilts if you are into quilting. Use bright, unconventional colors, experiment with geometric shapes, or incorporate themes that are unique to your interests or culture.

3 – Displaying your creations

Once you’ve crafted your Christmas decorations, the next exciting step is displaying them. When it comes to decorating your space, think about balance and theme. For example, if your home has a rustic feel, wooden and fabric decorations can complement this style. In a more modern setting, metallic or brightly colored ornaments might stand out beautifully. 

Combining different types of decorations can also be effective. For instance, placing a homemade centerpiece on a table with store-bought candles can create an inviting atmosphere. Place your handmade ornaments on the Christmas tree alongside commercial ones for variety. Handcrafted wreaths can be hung on doors or walls, adding a personal touch.

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HOME DECOR

3 Rental Decorating Challenges (and How to Fix Them Without Losing Your Deposit)

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Renting your home has some advantages over owning it: your landlord will be responsible for maintenance and upkeep, giving you less to worry about if the water heater breaks or a pipe freezes. However, less responsibility comes with less freedom, and not owning the space can present some limitations in how you personalize your home.

 

But just because your name isn’t on the deed doesn’t mean the space you live in can’t reflect your personality! Here, we take a look at some of the most common problems with decorating rented apartments, and our favorite solutions you can do yourself that won’t make you break your budget or lose your deposit!

*But always ask your landlord or property manager first

 

Neutral color palettes are popular for decorating rental spaces because light colors make the space appear bigger, and neutral tones are easy to touch up between tenants. Unfortunately, this can mean that everything in your apartment is a blah shade of white or beige. Even if painting isn’t an option, there are other ways to make your space more colorful.

 

Simple Fix:

Nothing pops against neutral tones better than brightly colored accessories. Pick a color palette for each room and a
piece that you want to be your focal point. Area rugs will both accentuate your style and keep your carpets cleaner, making less of a dent in your deposit.

Bonus: because you aren’t committing to a paint color, changing your color palette when the mood strikes you will be a cinch.

For the Diehard DIY:

Wall decals have all of the interest of an accent wall with none of the commitment. Simply find one that appeals to you, install, and go! They are less expensive and time consuming than painting an accent wall and will still offer a nice focal point for your room.

If you can’t find one that inspires you, it is simple to make your own design from removable wallpaper.

 
 Photo from Errez Design
 

Unless you are lucky enough to live in a corner unit or the top floor of a building, many apartments can have a short supply of natural light. Add in a shortage of electrical sockets, and you can end up with a dark and dreary space.

 

Luckily, there are a few tricks to maximizing what you have and brightening up your home!

 

Simple Fix:

If your apartment has blinds that block out natural light, replacing them with curtains can maintain your privacy while allowing light in. Ten minutes with a drill and a level and you can hang your own curtain rod, complete with custom curtains.

Placing a large mirror on the wall opposite a window will not only increase the amount of natural light in the room, but will also make the space look bigger.


For the Diehard DIY:

There is no reason for you to be stuck with the lighting in place when you moved in. If there is no overhead lighting in a room and floor lamps aren’t quite cutting it, you can create your own hanging lamp that plugs into a wall socket with parts available from any hardware store. Simply tack or tape the cord up in the corner of the wall and along the ceiling; you can even paint the cord the same shade as your wall to camouflage it better by asking your landlord if they have any samples of the paint.

Your creativity is the limit when you create your own hanging lamp to light up your room!

Photo from Brian Paquette Interiors

Character is all in the details. You won’t be able to change larger features in your apartment to fit your style, but small details are important when building an overall impression. A space with few personal details can end up looking temporary and bland. If it still looks like you moved in yesterday, here are some changes you can make to leave your mark.

 

Simple Fix:

Live plants add color and personalize a space. Even if you aren’t much of a green thumb, there are plants that can survive in just about any climate. While totally transportable, plants can give an impression of permanence and make a space look livable.

Blank walls can look impersonal and thumbtacks on the wall can look like a dorm room. For a more sophisticated look, frame your wall hangings. Frames can be found cheaply at garage sales and thrift stores and will look good as new with a fresh coat of spray paint.


 

For the Diehard DIY:

Any bathroom or kitchen can be given a five-minute makeover with new hardware. Replace boring kitchen and bathroom drawer pulls with updated ones from a hardware store for a classy, pulled together look. These can also be taken with you when you move; keep the originals together in the bottom of a closet or drawer, and you can take your personal additions with you when you leave.

Apartment decoration comes with its own set of challenges, but sometimes limitations can be the spark for creativity.

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