by Phyllis Collar
When I was assigned an article on holiday décor, I’ll admit I was a bit intimidated. I have friends who can make an item picked up off the curb look expensive, and another who puts up a tree for every holiday. I’ve always appreciated this sort of thing, but it has never been my strong suit. So, as we head into decorating for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I might like to try, for once, without fear. How about you? Searching for ideas, I noted a plethora of expensive items one can purchase, and time-consuming DIY projects that are more than I am willing to complete. Instead, I have gathered some understated, yet elegant decorating ideas for this holiday season that even the most unseasoned DIYer can accomplish without breaking the bank.
Real pine branches can make the house smell lovely and double as decorative trees when placed in heavy vases or mason jars. Consider arranging them on bookshelves and window ledges, and decorating them with your favorite tiny ornaments. Sprigs of berries in some water are another refined holiday display that will last for weeks.
When you hear the word “garland,” what comes to mind? For me, it has always been a shaggy string of sparkling color, slightly easier to clean than tinsel. Garland made of greenery looks more rustic and can be strung through the openings of your staircase or wrapped around your framed artwork and photographs. Add some white lights for a cozy and warm feel, then hang ornaments from the garland as Christmas approaches.
Some of the things we normally purchase for the home, such as scented candles, throw pillows, or blankets, can include a few that you bring out only for the holiday season. It’s a one-time investment that will pay off for holidays to come. Instead of scented candles, tie real cinnamon sticks with twine or ribbons and hang them around the house.
There were also a lot of ideas on how to adorn your holiday table. One prominent theme is laying natural items such as pumpkins, leaves, and evergreen clippings across the center of the table. Pumpkins can be painted with festive words using stencils, and wine glasses can be turned upside down to double as candle holders. I liked the idea of filling the wine glasses with ornaments or pinecones as a simple way to add a festive aroma and decorative charm. Filling wide-mouthed vases with ornaments and pinecones was another variation of this idea. Add string lights and hide the battery packs behind other items and frames. A large wooden bowl of fresh fruit, like pomegranates and oranges, mimics a classic cornucopia.
I really appreciated the variety of ideas for creating your own gratitude corner, a decorative display that your guests can contribute to. Create a gratitude tree from branches and allow guests to add notes expressing what they are grateful for. Family and friends can use markers to write on leaves or even unfinished wood slices hung from twine or festive ribbons.
Decorating for the holidays may not come naturally to some of you, but I hope these ideas will encourage you to break out of your comfort zone this season. I am ready to tackle a few ideas myself.
This article was originally published in the November 2025 issue of Appleton Monthly Magazine.
