If you want to make Martha Stewart jealous this holiday season, you need to bring your A-game when it comes to decorating. It isn’t sufficient for you to plug in the artificial tree and hang a single wreath. How can you transform your castle into an unmatchable and unique holiday showplace? Draw inspiration from these eight best Christmas decor ideas. 

1. Bring the Outdoors In

Why stop with the tree? If you seek inexpensive (read: free!) decorating supplies, look no further than Mother Nature. From making a wreath out of pinecones to adorning your centerpiece with fir branches, there’s no limit to what you can do. 

Keep in mind that living things do get messy. Protect your hardwood floors by investing in a tree mat and watering your tree once a day to prevent excess sap and needle loss. Always shake out any craft materials you select from the outdoors. You’ll get rid of excess needles, dirt, insects — and maybe a wayward squirrel, ala “Christmas Vacation.”  Turning away from purely indoor holiday decorations and creating ornamentation from outdoor materials is a creative approach, but we should ponder over decorating outdoors as well. It doesn't take much to create a view that will bring the spirit of the holidays to any outdoor area. It can be realized through simple additions such as string lights and large inflatables; these modest changes can be fundamental in creating your perfect winter wonderland. For example, a large inflatable Santa, an inflatable snow globe, a large inflatable snowman, or any other character or scene placed in strategic locations around the yard, create a “feel” that cannot be replicated. Thanks to their customization they can be designed to your specifications and will not only draw attention to themselves and make an immediate impact on visitors but also add a large amount of joy to the atmosphere. In addition, string lights can effortlessly wrap trees or large structures while remaining visually pleasing and attractively lighting up the area.

2. Make a Book Tree 

People in Iceland know how to celebrate the cold season in cozy style. Their publishing schedule intentionally releases new reading around the holidays so that natives can celebrate “Jolabokaflod.” Nearly everyone gets new books for Christmas eve, and they spend the night digging into juicy novels — no doubt while warming themselves by the fire with a cup of cocoa. 

Celebrate in your own way with a creative book tree that showcases your favorite tomes — or a stack of new ones. You could throw a twist on the “white elephant” party full of trinkets no one will use. Instead, have guests each bring a book to swap. 

3. Reuse and Repurpose

It’s 2020 — meaning you might be a bit more mindful about spending money. Why not make the most of the materials you already have on hand? 

You can run streamers of wrapping ribbon in traditional fashion down your tree, or fold multiple layers to make miniature red and green spruces to bookend your mantle. Tie some to pinecones to make chair hangers and attach photos of Christmas past to wide swatches to decorate your pantry door. 

4. Set a Festive Table 

Why not let your holiday table serve as your decor? You have a world of options from which to choose. Choose a flannel tablecloth and wrap pine branches with jute for a centerpiece to create a rustic farmhouse look. 

Are you planning a more formal dinner party? You can’t go wrong with classic winter whites, highlighted with accents of blue, red or green. 

5. Select a Unified Color Theme

Are you a multicolor bulb person or more in favor of all white? One of the best Christmas decor ideas is to create a unified color theme. If you’re more subdued, soft neutral tones can create a cabin-like feel. 

However, don’t be afraid to go bold — especially if your pad features a more modern decor. Bright teal tones make an interesting bold hybrid twist between traditional green or blue. If you like it glitzy, think silver and gold with splashes of purple or fuschia for an intriguing accent. 

6. Use Pillows and Throws to Create Hygge

If you look for decorative throws and pillows at the store, you might cringe at prices. $30 for a single place to rest your head? However, don’t despair if your budget is tight this year — you can make new festive covers for your current models out of old T-shirts. 

Do you have a knitting “knut” in your family? Pull out those homemade afghans you got as gifts during Christmases past and drape them over your furniture to invite folks to curl up with some cocoa. Try to cultivate the spirit of hygge, a Danish word that represents an atmosphere of cozy comfort. 

7. Trip the Lights Fantastic

Do you fall into the more lights, the better category? Save yourself a small fortune by switching to LEDs. While a string of 100 incandescent minis will cost you approximately $3.53 to run for the season, a similar string of LEDs only sets you back $.41. 

Look beyond illuminating your exterior. A single strand can highlight a mantle garland. If you have a canopy bed, strings of clear icicles dangling from the top create a magical retreat. 

8. Leave No Halls Undecked

Why stop decorating with your living room? Folks will spend plenty of time in the kitchen baking cookies and gobbling snacks. Go beyond the holiday-themed dish towels and potholders. Make mini-wreaths to decorate your cabinet hardware and drape some garland around your overhead pot rack. 

Headboards all look more festive with a touch of greenery. You can crochet festive covers for your toilet seat. And while you don’t want to kiss any strangers this year due to COVID, you can still hang sprigs of mistletoe in your hallway. 

Get Holiday Ready With These Best Christmas Decor Ideas

If the holidays make you feel like Clark W. Griswold, go ahead and indulge your passion with the tips above. Your home will be the most festive on the block with these best Christmas decor ideas.

Guest Contributor: Rose Morrison