What Makes My Christmas Decor Simple and Super Special?

Dried bare branches in a sunroom displaying paper accordion snowflake ornaments, made with brown and gold polka dot designs, with giant white and brown snowflakes in the background.

Christmas is such a JOYFUL and lovely time of year! And the best part is spending it with friends and family! So, this week’s post will be quick and easy, so we all can continue enjoying the holiday festivities. I thought I would recap my top 5 list of staples- what makes my Christmas decor simple and super special?

A little warm glow

I discovered faux flameless candles last year, just before my daughter’s wedding. The venue did not allow open flames in certain areas. So I started to do research, and I discovered battery-operated LED candles. I was skeptical at first. I was very worried that they would not provide the same ambiance as a real candle. To my happy surprise, I was SO wrong! These things are amazing and I can put them virtually everywhere. They are super fun because they can be turned on and off by remote control… GENIUS! I have pillars, candlesticks, and votives, and they all have extremely realistic flickering flames and they even have wax bodies. How amazing is that! Here are the ones I use: paid link, paid link.

A vintage ceramic white pitcher holding a white blossom bouquet, displayed with white faux pillar candles, gold votives, and plastic pine sprigs on a wooden tray. Faux candles make my Christmas decor special.

A few sprigs of green

Speaking of faux, I mentioned in one of my first Christmas posts, that we have allergies in our family, so we cannot have real pine trees or branches. But never fear, greenery is still on top of my “must-have list”… I simply buy artificial instead. I have found that a few sprigs of green here and there really do soften and enhance my living spaces. Amazon has these plastic pine branches (paid link). I use them outdoors in my window boxes, as well as in my dining room table centerpiece. They look beautiful!!

A close-up of faux pine sprigs and gold faux berries, held together with a cream-colored satin ribbon, hanging on a china cabinet door.

A pinch of nature

Natural elements always make my decor feel more alive. Bringing the outdoors in is one of my favorite decorating themes. To give a more natural feel to my Christmas decor I like to incorporate dried branches, pinecones, wood bowls, and trays. This year I tried something new…dried orange and lemon slices. I tell you what, I was on the fence with those. I found that if I dried them in the oven first, within a few weeks, they began to turn brown. Since I was trying to add color to my tree and my pinecone garland, I wasn’t too happy with the look. I wondered… why dry them completely if they were going to brown so quickly? So, I sliced up some fresh oranges and lemons and left them out for only a couple of days, and then I displayed them. They look amazing, and I will be able to keep them for weeks.

A dried orange slice hanging from a faux pine Christmas tree. Using natural elements makes my Christmas decor simple and special.

A bit of homemade

It’s always fun to experiment with homemade elements. Each year I try and come up with at least one new crafty homemade item that I want to add to my merry mix of decor. This year I made cardboard glitter houses, giant paper bag snowflakes, and pretty paper accordion snowflakes. Once I started making the snowflakes, I could not stop. I used them as ornaments, I put them on my presents, and I also hung them on some dried tree branches. They are a really great decor item for New Year’s as well. I am always on the lookout for something new to try!!

A close-up of a handmade cardboard Christmas house. A mini white home with green shutters and covered in glitter. It is displayed with green and cream-colored bottle brush trees and faux snow.

A close-up view of giant handmade snowflakes hanging in a window. They are made out of white and brown paper bags.

a touch of vintage

Of course VINTAGE!! I guess you know I was going to say that. I said it before, and I will say it again… to me, Christmas and vintage go hand in hand! Retro items bring me back to my childhood… Christmas at my Grandma’s house, parties with my extended family, trees with Shiny Brite glass ornaments, colorful nativity scenes, and all of the extra special touches throughout the house. These all make me think of very happy holiday times. So Christmas is the perfect time to display those endearing items in my own home, like glass ornaments and nostalgic nativities.

A close-up view of vintage glass ornaments from the 1940s and 1950s in silver, gold, and pastel tones. Vintage ornaments make my Christmas decor special.

Having these five “go-to” decorating staples is what makes my Christmas decor simple and super special. You don’t have to over do it, a little goes a long way. And, these items give me a solid decorating base to start with as well as free up time for me to add a few new creative items every year. Consider giving these elements a try… you’ll love it!! Enjoy your DECOR, enjoy your HOLIDAYS and most of all let’s get HOMEY!