Easy Last Minute DIY Christmas Decor

This year I decided to lighten up my Christmas decor.

Since the kids weren't around to tell me we had to put out every last piece of holiday fare that had been tucked away in the basement bins for the better part of the year, I didn't.

Instead I chose to decorate with only my most treasured items and a few new inexpensive items.


But that's not really the whole story.

You see, Christmas crafting is my favorite kind of DIY.

And home decor is my craft specialty.

So naturally, by default, the decorating doesn't actually end around here, until the last Christmas craft is complete.

And I'm not there yet.

Of course, not all of my crafty holiday projects warrant a detailed tutorial. Some of my DIYs are super quick and very self explanatory and involve small tweaks to things I already have on hand.

Or old decor that needs an upgrade.

However, I rarely share these projects, because I figure they're so silly, everyone already knows about them...but then I do, and lo and behold, those posts turn out to be some of my popular DIYs.

5 Quick And Easy DIYs To Decorate For Christmas 

So without further ado...here are a few quick and easy, last minute, crafty Christmas DIY ideas you can whip up in no time to decorate your home.

1. Framed Gift Bag

I have a thing for Christmas gift bags. Over the years, I've used them to make a lot of wooden signs. However, there's an even quicker way to decorate your walls with that pretty paper.

Frame it. Yup, just put it under glass.


Whether you pick up a thrifted frame, swap out the artwork from an existing frame in your home or grab one at the dollar store, you just need one that fits the majority of the pattern on the bag.

If the frame is too big, I use the inside of the bag as a background to take up the extra space.


The result is custom holiday artwork to fit your theme or decorating style, in any room, including the bathroom, for just a few bucks.

2. Quick Wreath Makeover

Evergreen wreaths are a Christmas classic. Real or faux, adorned with a red bow, they're a traditional way to dress your front door in December.


However, if you want to take it up a notch, just add a wooden sign.

I grabbed this adorable Santa at the Dollar Tree for $1.25. (That quarter irks me, but it's still a bargain!)


All I did was remove the string hanger, so the hole in the wood was free for me to thread a zip tie through it and anchor it to the wreath's wire frame.


Then I added the aforementioned red bow and my plain old evergreen wreath was a colorful and festive knockout.

3. Painted Christmas Trees

Thrift stores are filled with all sorts of Christmas trees. Year round.

Big, small, unique shapes and styles, there's always something for everyone...and like those wreaths, trees are a Christmas classic and never go out of style.


Unfortunately, while a tree's shape and design might be a winner, sometimes the color is not.

Or perhaps you have an old tree at home that just doesn't fit any your decor any longer.

No problem. It's paint to the rescue.


Chalk paint, mineral paint or spray paint, like I used to change these very cool silver trees to gold, all work wonders.


Pink trees, white trees, green trees, metallic trees, mercury glass trees...whatever your desire, you can create it with paint.

4. Plate Display

I'm a big fan of decorating with what I have on hand, and what I have is a lot of plates.

I admit it, I'm a dish-aholic.

Totally addicted, I can't turn down a cute pattern, despite the fact that I'm not really into tablescaping, I don't have a china closet to display them and I rarely throw fancy dinner parties.

So, I put those plates on the wall and at Christmastime, I break out the Spode my sweet mother gave me.

To protect my plates on shelves that aren't made to display plates, you know, no groove, I grab these little rubber cabinet bumpers so the dishes don't roll or slide forward.


They're self stick, they don't budge and I get a lovely seasonal wall display.


And a way to use my collections that doesn't require me to cook. 

Fabulous!

5. Ornaments In A Container 

Ok, so this is the most basic idea on the list. We've all seen ornaments in a bowl a million times and maybe you already do it.

But. I say use unexpected containers or unexpected ornaments.

This year, I added some Dollar Tree ornaments to a thrifted olive bowl. Basic balls, but I could've added any collection of similar ornaments for the same effect.

Last year, I added a three pearl ornaments to a milk glass pedestal candy dish. Elegant and understated.


And the year before that, I had Santa bathing in a tub full of bright, red shiny balls.

I mean come on. So fun.


A little out of the box thinking makes a big difference here.

Like I said, nothing new.

But maybe, just maybe, one of these ideas will inspire you to try a DIY or spark an idea of your own.

To spread a little bit of Christmas magic around your own home.

😊

Ho Ho Ho!

What are your quick and easy decorating tips?

Do tell!

Happy Decorating, Friends!