As a huge Christmas fan, I don’t like buying new things every year (kids love the nostalgia of things they already have), but every few years I get excited about doing something a little fresh through styling. But for most people, the very thought of trying something new can feel like hard work and a completely unenjoyable hobby (and there’s no pressure to do anything new, folks). So today I’m going to share with you some styling hacks that I’m really into. This costs very little and is refreshing (and opens up a toolkit for those who want to do these).
Layer the ribbon on the wreath
This year we encountered a happy coincidence – huge garland Above Kali’s fireplace, a bright white outlet box in the center of the hole was highlighted. This was quite a surprise (yes, AI can pull it out for photos, but not so much for videos and social). So we decided to use all the bows we had (mostly purchased from Amazon) and layer upon layer. I have to say this ended up being much better than before. one big bow (In retrospect, it was too small). I like this look.
A few years ago I layered two ribbons on a wreath. One is a large red burlap (with wire) and the other is a thin ticking stripe (grosgrain). And now I like to keep using the same wreath every year, but when I feel like refreshing it, I just swap out the ribbons (so easy, fun, and inexpensive).
Tear the fabric to use as a bow/ribbon
My best hack is to take yards of fabric and rip or cut it into strips like wide beautiful ribbons. Choose from over 1 million fabrics at incredibly affordable prices. If you want it to be long like the one you have on your windowsill, you will need to buy 2 yards. It may cost $30, but you should get enough ribbon for 5-7 wreaths (wide ribbons in pretty colors are very expensive).
Torn fabric (and furoshiki) as a bow on a tree
I also like tying thin cotton (think seersucker, like the green on the tree above) to the branches. That was three years ago, and of course now bows have taken over the world in the last year or two, but this was before you could buy bows for your tree.
Also…wrapping cloth
I also love buying yards of fabric to turn into furoshiki because I’m on a one-man mission to get rid of the “big wrapping paper” (lol – it’s no big deal, I just hate the high price and the Christmas morning cleanup). The wrapping cloth is reusable and super cute, so just fold it up on Christmas morning and use it again next year. I bought a lot on Etsy..
Your best friend: command strips
of command strip We were hanging this garland. These blend into the white trim | These are good too
Guys, if I had a flux capacitor, I would go back to the day 3m went public and buy up all the shares. Oh my God! these things They are highly effective and expensive, but many are for one-time use (this is the triple threat of a billion-dollar product). If you’re not familiar with it, know that there is a side that needs to be stuck to the wall (labeled “wall side”) and you have to pull it down to remove it without stripping the paint. I use them for all the wreaths, all the wreaths on all the windows and mirrors, and all the cords to keep them in place. And a great lazy hack is to keep it up all year round (if you have something transparent or white on a white wall). This makes hanging your annual garland super easy. Oh, and yes, some can hold up to 5 pounds (or you can mix and match).
clear variety pack (Perfect for hanging on the window)
We store a large number of files for different scenarios. large and transparent In the wreath by the window 🙂
Easy on/off switch for lights
It sounds silly, but it is useful to buy an extension cord that will get lost even if it hits a wall (i.e. white for light walls, black for dark walls). almost invisible code It’s hanging in the fireplace on the right 🙂
Fishing line – what stylists call “monofilament”
oh my god. Kali’s wreath was very difficult to hang because unlike my house, I didn’t want to make a bunch of random holes. Most people don’t want to drill extra holes in their walls. So we used fishing line Lift the wreath and form a triangle over the beam to hold it in place. Now, this was Harvard-level research here. It took me, Marley, and Gretchen a few hours to figure it out.
Tips: No nail holes will be visible above the window molding. So what we often do is drive a nail vertically there and tie a fishing line from that nail. Driving nails into molding should be avoided at all costs (drywall is easier to repair, trim work is not). But this is a hack we always do when something is too heavy for a command strip.
Folding paper decorations (trees, ornaments) – very easy to assemble and store
origami tree set | Decorative paper table tree | printed paper accordion christmas tree (Set of 3)
Well, let’s take a look at our holiday inventory that might make your life easier. Origami tree is hero #1. They are impactful and allow for impromptu decoration in a variety of shapes. It then folds up and fits into a small box.
I think modern paper trees were inspired by the party favors Elliot plays with (the high-end ones aren’t made of crepe paper and last year after year). I still have a lot of stuff I made years ago and it’s still in great condition.
Mix real greens with fake greens
One of the hacks I used before going completely “artificial” indoors was to mix real greenery with artificial greenery. Somehow, the presence of real green makes the fake look real. It’s all about the styling background. I used to put real pieces in fake garlands and faux wreaths, and the different types of greenery looked very realistic. The fakes are so good that you don’t need to mix them with the real thing too much.
My Favorite Color LED String Lights for Exterior
I exhibited it last year too. colored lights First time and loved them. The only thing I might have done differently is purchased strands with lights spaced 24 inches apart instead of 12 inches. It was a very upbeat atmosphere (but it was a lot of fun???!!!). Be sure to get shatterproof and LED. Personally, I love the classic “glass” look (as opposed to faceted).
Don’t sleep under curtain lights
I discovered curtain lights I left it on all winter during lockdown. This is a string of lights across the top with a curtain of sparkling rose gold lights that gives the appearance of rain falling.
It glows even during the day. It’s very cozy and warm. Bought expensive things Anthropology/Topography, but from Amazon have these To fill it.
Quick and dirty holiday tips if you really want to know how my brain works
Well, since I’m running late from going to the movies with my family, I’m going to bust out some quick and dirty holiday philosophies.
- Do not purchase an artificial tree unless it is lit. Chant “Only before lighting.” Literally 50% of the reason you buy a fake is so you don’t have to deal with the frustration of turning on the lights.
- Be sure to buy a “warm” light tree (or string lights in general), not cool. Still, it may be too cool, but it may be called warm, or it may look like a 7-Eleven.
- I like making fake greenery indoors and outdoors (Most of the time, to be honest, I sometimes imitate them outside too). This is to avoid the garland’s shedding needles from being cluttered indoors all day long. It’s sunny and beautiful outside, so all you have to do is throw it into the woods.
- But…like “normal people”, I have to wait until after Thanksgiving to start decorating. (You should really think of a name for people who aren’t psychopathic holiday buffs like me), The real inside is amazing. But the other 50% of the time I use fakes is to get started early and not worry about messing up. As Oregonians, we feel so guilty that we don’t go out and chop down trees, but it’s too early to realize that.
- Choose plug-in garlands when possible. It’s a pain to replace the battery (I replace it every year so it’s okay) but I really like it These pluginsSo once you figure out the extension cord situation, you’re good to go for a solid 6 weeks.
- buy a collapsible tree collar – Some still don’t fit my tree, but if you buy a tree collar this year, you don’t have to get a big one to store it. Now it can be folded (both anthro and target Also available in rattan version).
- Fake candles are great, but the more wax the better. i love Anthro’s, pottery barn There are some great ones, target taper I’m obsessed with continuing to sell out, they’re so good.
See you then! xx
Opening image credit: Photo by caitlin green |Source: Fresh and Easy 2025 Holiday Decoration Ideas to Get Your Wheels Spin
Source: Emily Henderson – stylebyemilyhenderson.com
