Christmas Decorating Supplies to Deck the Halls, Walls, Porch and More | Wirecutter

The article presents 120 Christmas decorating ideas, emphasizing that holiday decor extends beyond the living room and can be incorporated throughout the entire home, both indoors and outdoors. It encourages a maximalist approach to decorations while offering creative and unique ways to achieve a festive atmosphere. The guide covers various aspects of home decoration, including adding greenery to bedrooms, matching ornaments with gift wrap, and creating DIY garlands from dried fruit. It suggests using unconventional wreath shapes, such as square wreaths, and leveraging entryways for immediate festive welcomes with garlands and bows. The article also encourages integrating non-traditional colors like blue into the classic red and green Christmas palette to add visual interest. Several ideas focus on reusing existing decor and natural elements. It proposes maximizing current possessions by re-purposing ribbons, ornaments, and potted plants annually. Suggestions include using pinecones and magnolia leaves in bouquets, as well as creating elegant displays with flowers and greenery in various vessels. The article details how to make a sparkly tree topper using curly silver sticks and advises leaning on durable elements like ribbons for easy, reusable color. It also suggests accentuating existing collections with greenery and berries, and creating a poinsettia tree by carefully cutting and arranging blooms in florist tubes. Plaid is highlighted as a classic holiday theme, with advice on mixing and matching patterns and using gift wrap as part of the decor. Handmade pomanders are presented as a fragrant and visually appealing option, along with instructions for crafting a mini pomander tree. The article emphasizes decorating outdoor spaces, such as porches and backyards, to take advantage of mild winter weather, suggesting elements like lit trees, greenery-adorned mantels, and outdoor bars. It also provides elegant embellishment ideas, such as tying pinecones and berries with velvet bows, and suspending tree toppers from the ceiling for an unexpected visual impact. The article includes practical advice for decorating mailboxes, creating inviting entries, and utilizing unexpected items like paperbacks for holiday displays. It suggests incorporating regional touches, such as pheasant feathers and fruit-adorned topiaries, and offers tips for making personalized gift tags and coordinating wrapping paper with the home's color scheme. The guide further explores unique ways to display ornaments, such as clustering small ones for a bigger impact or arranging extra ornaments in vases. It also promotes decorating with family heirlooms and repurposing Christmas tree clippings for small arrangements. Ideas for outdoor lighting, such as paper luminaries and twinkling lights on fountains, are provided. The article also encourages a consistent color scheme, even non-traditional ones like metallics or icy blues, for a sophisticated look. It suggests decorating with magnolia and eucalyptus, wrapping coffee tables with ribbon, and filling glass cylinders with painted holiday objects. Furthermore, the guide covers creative approaches to Christmas stockings, tree skirts, and even Christmas dinner settings, such as using boot trays as table runners for floating candles or arranging white tulips for a fresh alternative to traditional holiday flowers. Finally, it recommends making DIY snow globes with mason jars and incorporating festive goodie bags and chair decorations for holiday parties. #ChristmasDecorating #HolidayDecor #HomeDecorIdeas #DIYChristmas #SeasonalDecor #OutdoorChristmasDecor #GiftWrapping #FestiveHome #InteriorDesign

As December approaches, Toronto transforms into a festive wonderland, prompting residents to seek out unique Christmas ornaments and decorations to adorn their homes. While public decorations add to the city's charm, the article focuses on a curated selection of retail establishments where individuals can purchase items to create their own holiday displays. This guide highlights ten distinct stores across Toronto, each offering a particular style or niche in holiday decor. Outer Layer, a gift shop located in Queen West, is noted for its extensive and quirky selection. Beyond traditional Christmas items, it features Hanukkah and even Festivus decorations. Shoppers can find an array of unusual ornaments, from power drills and unicorns in snowglobes to Santa depicted as a centaur or a pigeon, and even giant googly eyes for Christmas trees, catering to those seeking unique and whimsical additions to their decor. The Paper Place, situated across from Trinity Bellwoods, offers a more magical and charming experience. This store specializes in holiday-themed garlands, dresden trim, wooden toys, and appealing party favors. Particularly highlighted are their adorable and unique wool animal ornaments, such as a raccoon ornament, which provide a distinct handmade aesthetic. VdeV, a recent import from Montreal with a presence on Ossington and Argyle, presents a diverse range of holiday decorations. Its offerings span from kitschy and traditional to unique and hand-painted items. In addition to visual decor, VdeV also sells various fragrances designed to infuse homes with the evocative scents of the holiday season, enhancing the overall festive atmosphere. Michaels, a large arts and crafts emporium at Richmond and John, is presented as an ideal destination for DIY enthusiasts and last-minute shoppers. Known for its vast selection of holiday goods, craft supplies, and extended operating hours, Michaels provides ample resources for those looking to create their own decorations or purchase a wide variety of ready-made items. Spruce, a home decor shop in Cabbagetown, targets individuals with a preference for quirky, hip, trendy, and colorful items. The store stocks nostalgic and bright decorations, including marshmallow mugs and a variety of colorful Rudolph figurines, appealing to those who enjoy vibrant and playful holiday themes. Scout, a gift shop in Roncesvalles, offers a comprehensive selection of items necessary for creating a festive holiday setting. Their inventory includes stockings, sparkly Santa hats, whimsical "woodland critter" Christmas crackers, and charming gift tags with red and white twine, catering to a desire for cohesive and stylish holiday presentation. Birch & Co., located in Little India, caters to a taste for metallic finishes and chic woodland motifs. This store combines new decorative holiday pieces with vintage glassware, ornaments, and furniture, offering a blend of contemporary and classic styles for a sophisticated holiday look. Brika, a Toronto-born artisan marketplace with multiple locations within the GTA, features a curated collection of high-quality, independently-made goods. Their holiday offerings include stylish Lappland birchwood trays, blue jay ornaments, and mini Toronto city-scape decorations, providing unique, artisan-crafted options. Ma Zone, an interior design and styling boutique near Front and Jarvis owned by Armin Martiros, adheres to the motto of surrounding oneself with uplifting everyday objects. The store offers modern porcelain Christmas figurines from the renowned Italian brand Alessi, appealing to those seeking contemporary and high-design holiday pieces. Kendall & Co., another Cabbagetown establishment, is renowned for its extensive selection of unique holiday ornaments. The store aims to evoke a strong sense of holiday cheer upon entry, with its vast array of distinctive decorations promising something special for every shopper. Together, these stores provide a comprehensive guide for Toronto residents to find diverse and appealing Christmas ornaments and decorations, ranging from the whimsical to the elegant, and catering to various styles and budgets. #ChristmasDecorations #HolidayOrnaments #TorontoShopping #HomeDecor #FestiveRetailers #SeasonalDecor #LocalBusinesses #GiftShops

The mantel serves as a focal point for holiday decoration, offering a prominent space to express Christmas spirit in the living room. This guide provides 53 diverse ideas for decorating a Christmas mantel, catering to various styles and budgets, incorporating elements such as ornaments, garlands, string lights, and stockings. From vibrant and playful to classic and elegant, there are numerous approaches to consider. Several ideas focus on color and theme. One suggestion involves creating a colorful display with bottlebrush trees arranged in a rainbow spectrum, emphasizing quantity for visual impact. For a more understated look, a monochromatic theme with a black-and-white color scheme, featuring white stockings, metallic candlestick holders, and a cedar garland, is presented. Neutral tones can be achieved with a rustic pinecone garland, blonde woods, cream ceramics, pampas grass, and metallic ornaments. Coastal-themed mantels introduce greens, teals, blues, and aqua, incorporating aquatic elements like starfish and anchors. A fresh approach uses pink, gold, black, and white, with plaid stockings, pink ribbons, and coordinating wrapped gifts. Traditional red and green palettes are also highlighted, often combined with flocked pine wreaths and garlands, mini trees, and white ceramic houses. Material and texture play a significant role in many designs. Vintage bells, layered ribbons, and beaded strands can add a nostalgic feel, while bold plaid prints, plush fur accents, and warm wood tones contribute to a cozy cabincore aesthetic. Cottagecore-inspired mantels feature woodland elements like mini mushrooms, pinecones, and faux furry creatures, along with greenery and flowers. DIY projects are encouraged, such as creating a farmhouse Christmas village from paper chipboard and white paint, or gingerbread houses with cookie scrap kickstands. DIY snowflake garlands made from CDs and bead garlands are another creative option. Pinecones, both natural and incorporated into wreaths, are recurring elements, often paired with bottle brush trees for added height and texture. Metallic accents, such as gold flowerpots, lanterns, or candlesticks, provide a touch of glitz and can be integrated into various color schemes, including modern interpretations using pinks, oranges, and blues. The guide also suggests incorporating personal touches and existing items. Family photographs can add a nostalgic element to Scandinavian-inspired displays, while glass bottles filled with family pictures and greenery create sentimental decorations. Repurposed vintage window panes and old frames can serve as unique backdrops. Collectibles like pewter pitchers, vases, Staffordshire dog statues, and vintage beaded ornaments can be showcased to add character and history to the mantel. Simple ideas include draping flocked greenery from a Christmas tree onto the mantel for a cohesive look, using old sweaters in holiday hues for minimal fuss, or making a statement with unadorned wreaths scaled to the fireplace. Lighting is an essential component, with suggestions ranging from soft white twinkle lights intertwined in garlands and wreaths to white taper candles, mercury glass votives, and salvaged candle holders. The arrangement of items is also key, with advice on creating symmetrical displays for wide assortments or using a common denominator, such as a variety of ornaments, for a cohesive look. For homes without a mantel, alternatives like deep floating shelves, console tables, wide bookshelves, sideboards, credenzas, or even a vintage fireplace surround against a wall are proposed, ensuring that festive decoration is accessible to all. #ChristmasDecor #MantelDecorating #HolidayDecor #DIYChristmas #ChristmasThemes #HomeDecoration #FestiveFlairs #SeasonalDecorating #InteriorDesign

This article offers a comprehensive guide to creating festive and elegant Christmas decorations using DIY methods, catering to individuals who may not be experienced in crafts or have a limited budget. The focus is on utilizing existing household items and simple techniques to transform a home into a welcoming holiday space. The article emphasizes that many of these decorating ideas require minimal time and effort, often taking just minutes to assemble. The content begins by illustrating how to enhance a stairway with lighted garlands and luminaria, suggesting battery-operated lights and candles for ease and safety. For those with limited space, a faux fire basket is presented as an alternative to a traditional large Christmas tree, using a smaller fir tree in a decorative metal planter and illuminated birch logs in a wire basket to create a cozy ambiance. The article also suggests beautifying a bar cart with gilded accessories and elegant bottles to prepare for impromptu holiday entertaining. Expanding beyond main living areas, the article encourages adding festive touches to every room, such as swapping bedding for Christmas-themed sets and incorporating small trees as nightlights for guests. A sophisticated mantel display is highlighted, featuring a grapevine wreath with evergreens, pomegranates, and amaryllis blooms, complemented by candlesticks. The inclusion of cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, or rosemary sprigs in wreaths and garlands is recommended to introduce natural holiday scents without artificial fragrances. Practical ideas for displaying holiday cards are provided, suggesting using clips or clothespins to string them along a staircase. Creative wreath accents are detailed, combining traditional spruce and olive branches with unexpected elements like echeveria succulents and seeded eucalyptus. The concept of illuminated birch logs wrapped in fairy lights and paired with mercury-glass candlesticks and votives is offered to create a delightful fireside scene. For a hassle-free holiday display, grouping contemporary candlesticks, mercury-glass votive candles, and colorful glass ornaments on an end table or windowsill is suggested. A DIY Advent calendar made from a bulletin board with lined envelopes and stick-on numbers, filled with small treats or gift certificates, is presented as an engaging countdown activity for all ages. An alternative color palette is also explored, moving beyond traditional red and green to silver, gold, and bronze paper medallions on a mantel, accented with evergreen garland, berries, and ornaments. Other ideas include creating a sweet indoor winter wonderland entry display with rock candy-decorated foam cones and simulating falling snow with cascading strands of silver and white gift bows hung from a window. A show-stopping centerpiece involving sparkly, color-dipped vintage bulbs in a decorative glass bowl is detailed for holiday tables. Wrapped presents are shown to serve as double-duty decorations when adorned with clever tie-ons, fancy bows, and metallic ornaments. The article suggests grouping pillar candles wrapped with festive ribbon for ambiance and creating a unique table runner using gilded poster board and colorful string. Further suggestions include layering tree-shaped objects on a mantel to create a fireside forest, making a wreath from citrus fruits, and decorating a doorway or window frame with an asymmetrical arrangement of stars and lanterns. Hanging stockings from a banister trimmed with garland or attaching them to a decorative ladder are also covered. The article proposes choosing stockings that match a rustic aesthetic and replacing a leaning mirror with a charming countdown Advent calendar using numbered bags filled with treats. A simple yet sophisticated frosted tablescape featuring pinecones and evergreen sprigs on a white-and-black setting is discussed. A monochromatic white Christmas tree adorned with clear glass, shimmery silver, and brilliant white ornaments is offered as a soft and captivating option. Playful accessories like board game pieces used as holiday props and enchanting wintry wildlife figures for entryways or windowsills are suggested. A simple and elegant pinecone table topper and straightforward centerpiece ideas using fruit, nuts, or holiday candies in glass jars or bowls are also described. Outdoor decor ideas include arranging pinecones in window boxes or pots for a weatherproof display. Crafting aluminum-foil ring chains is presented as a kid-friendly activity, and creating festive paper cut-outs like doves for windows or garlands is also mentioned. Illuminated starlight balls made from fairy lights wound around Styrofoam balls and edible snowman decorations crafted from fruit are additional creative suggestions. A streamlined mantelpiece tableau for Thanksgiving to New Year's, featuring evergreen branches, walnuts, votive candles, and golden accents, is outlined. The article also covers wrapped art canvases with cheerful ribbons, window decorations made from tin cookie cutters on ribbons, and a holiday card display using greenery and ribbons hung from a branch. A monochromatic artificial white tree decorated with candy canes, front door flair with golden bells and festive ribbon, and seasonal vignettes with cranberries and evergreens in apothecary jars are presented. A modern mobile chandelier made from quilting hoops and silver bells arranged in a snifter are unique decorative elements. A modern Christmas color scheme with chartreuse, lavender, and pink balls accented with feathers is offered as an alternative to traditional colors. Glowing tealights with holly sprigs for small spaces, a family photo display of past holiday cards, and holiday lights coiled in glass vases for a cohesive glow are practical tips. A stellar swag of greenery, ribbons, and adornments for doorways as a tree alternative, Christmas throw pillows for a cozy touch, and a detailed Christmas mantel with garland, bells, and snowflakes are further discussed. Sparkling ornament displays on cake stands, fabulous window dressings with hot pink and lime green feathers, and mix-and-match centerpieces with clementines and peppermints are creative ideas. A cookie forest buffet table with snowy cookie trees, extra ornament displays in glass jars, sweet centerpieces with peppermint balls and marshmallows, and subtle arrangements of ornaments and greenery in hurricane vases complete the indoor ideas. Finally, wintry window ledge arrangements with pine boughs and starfish, overhead opulence with shimmery decorations on chandeliers, twinkling topiaries for fireplaces, flanked entryway decorations with greenery and Christmas balls in urns, ornamental potted coniferous plants, 2-D Christmas trees made from branches, and woven wonderland cones are presented as diverse and elegant DIY Christmas decor options. #ChristmasDecor #DIYHolidayDecor #FestiveHome #BudgetDecorating #HolidayCrafts #SeasonalDecor #HomeDecorating #ChristmasTreeIdeas #MantelDecor

Decorating a holiday mantel can transform it into a festive focal point for Christmas celebrations, Hanukkah gatherings, or simply to enhance the holiday mood. Achieving an enchanting scene involves the creative placement of lights, candles, ribbons, and garlands. Experts Lindsey Gregg, Michelle Gage, and Missy Steffens offer their preferred mantel styling techniques, covering everything from natural elements and color palettes to lighting and structural support. One effective technique involves incorporating natural elements. Before purchasing new decorations, consider utilizing items from your yard, such as pine cones, pine needles, and colorful leaves. Lindsey Gregg suggests draping a live magnolia or cedar garland as a base, then threading felt ribbon through the greenery and tying bows at the corners. This approach is both easy and affordable, and using the same ribbon for garlands and the Christmas tree can create a cohesive look throughout the space. For those who find traditional reds and greens overwhelming, a neutral aesthetic can be appealing. Michelle Gage prefers winter-themed decor over holiday-specific items, opting for glass or bottlebrush trees in icy blue, silver, or winter white. To add subtle pops of color, she incorporates candles in shades like plum, berry, and blush. Neutral bases provide flexibility, allowing for the easy addition of bolder colors, such as green, without clashing. Integrating lights into garlands significantly enhances their visual appeal. Missy Steffens recommends wrapping battery-powered string lights around fresh or faux garlands to create a cozy, twinkling effect. She advises a loose wrap, adjusting the lights once they are illuminated to achieve the desired ambiance. This warm lighting can make evenings spent by the fireplace feel more special and inviting. To secure decorations, stick-on wall hooks are invaluable. Steffens uses them to keep greenery in place, but they are also useful for hanging stockings and wreaths. Their easy removability makes them an excellent solution for renters or those who prefer temporary decorations. Extending holiday cheer to the area above the mantel is also recommended. Wreaths are not limited to outdoor use and can provide a festive touch indoors. Steffens suggests hanging a wreath over a mirror or a piece of art that is already above the mantel, using a ribbon for attachment. Beyond traditional evergreen, boxwood, magnolia, and olive branch wreaths offer elegant alternatives. Finally, adding height with candles creates visual interest and balances the mantel's arrangement. Candles provide a classic touch and can illuminate the space. Mixing and matching heights and diameters of traditional or flameless candles helps fill empty spots. Placing a chunky, tall candle at each end can anchor the display, or grouping three similar candles of different heights in the center can create a pleasing focal point. #HolidayDecor #MantelDecorating #ChristmasDecorations #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #FestiveDecor #DIYDecor #SeasonalDecor #DesignTips