15 of Our Favorite Holiday Craft Ideas

You don’t have to break the bank to create a chic holiday atmosphere. Sometimes all it takes is a couple of clever tricks and a little bit of glue. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or another holiday, here are 15 DIY decor ideas that you can create on a budget to turn your home into a festive, cozy space for your family and guests to enjoy all season long. 

1. Cheery Entry Table Displays

Assembling your entryway table with an assortment of seasonal knickknacks will help set the tone of your home and welcome guests to a jolly good time. Add pops of plaid, some evergreen branches or a DIY ornament tree for festive flair.

2. Budget-Friendly Doorbells

Head to your nearby thrift store or dig up some of your unused mini bundt pans to make DIY bells that you can hang on your front door. Stack three bundt pans, affix them with ribbon and attach an ornament to the bottom to create faux clappers.

3. Styled Bar Carts

Give your bar cart a seasonal makeover with mini tabletops trees, cute holiday mugs and a selection of warm beverages. You can even make your own DIY hot cocoa jars. Guests will love this cheerful spread perfect for sharing a holiday toast.

4. Brown Paper Countdown

Opt for a homemade, rustic feel this season with an easy-to-make brown paper countdown calendar. Simply cut out your desired shapes, number them, hang them and start counting down the days. 

5. Oversized Garland

This year, make a big impression with an oversized garland for your mantel or stairway. You’ll feel like you’re stepping right into a cozy cabin with this natural brush gracing your home. Tip: hang ornaments or entwine the garland with twinkling lights to spruce up the fun. 

6. Cozy Candles

If you want a more sophisticated holiday look, try decorating your tables, mantel, kitchen island, or countertops with a DIY display of candles made from thrifted glassware. Be sure to include candles of various heights and sizes for either a monochromatic or complementary colored display. 

7. Bottlebrush Trees

Create a tiny winter wonderland scene with DIY bottlebrush trees. Simply cut the ends off a few (new) toilet brushes from the dollar store, attach them to a wooden base and spray paint. The best part: you can choose from endless colors to match any seasonal color scheme. Small but mighty, these decorations can make an impact wherever they’re placed — from the fireplace mantel to the dining table centerpiece.

8. Picture Perfect Pillows

Looking to make a big impact with low effort? Grab solid color pillows and tie them with wide ribbons to emulate presents. Place them on chairs, sofas, or beds for instant holiday cheer.

9. Citrus Garlands

If you want to avoid the pine needles that fall from a real garland, string a strand of citrus slices for a charming accent piece that’s less of a mess. Cut an orange into circular slices, dry them out, string them with twine and voilà! Hang this natural garland from your doorways, windows, or mantel place.

10. Balloon Baubles

For a more whimsical atmosphere, transform balloons into oversized baubles by blowing them up and adding faux paper ornament toppers. Use them to form a banner, arch, or hang them for your ceiling.

11. Sleigh Your Stairway 

For a fresh take on your holiday style, add twinkling lights and wide ribbon to your staircase railing, or try a non-traditional eucalyptus garland. If you don’t have a fireplace, this is a great alternative spot to hang your stockings. 

12. Organic Artwork

Switch out the art in your existing frames and create your own festive artwork with evergreen sprigs. With burlap as the background, the greenery will stand out for natural theme decor.

13. Easy Eye Candy

For a sweet treat that embodies the spirit of winter, fill unique dishes or glasses that you thrift or find around the house with peppermint candies for quick centerpieces or side table decor. Tie a ribbon or twine around the glass for a finishing touch.

14. Presents Galore

Have a bunch of empty cardboard boxes? Instead of throwing them away, give them new life by wrapping the boxes with your favorite gift paper and placing them around the house to create your own holiday workshop.

15. Christmas Tree Plate Settings

Up your tablescape game with Christmas tree-inspired napkin folds. Start by folding green 20” napkins into the shape of a tree. Then, top off your creation with mini ornaments or a star cutout on top.


Take the first step to bringing holiday cheer to a brand new home by getting in touch with a Starlight representative. Schedule an appointment with one of our Home Guides to get started on the home buying process today.

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