Hi friends! Hope your weekend is off to a great start! Got anything fun going on? Our weekend is packed with good stuff.
I scaled back the holiday decorating significantly this season because, having just moved in, I didn't want to drown the rooms (or myself) in Christmas stuff right away. Funny thing though — a few small touches can totally transform the mood of a space!
My absolute favorite trick is starting with the most basic piece and then layering extras if I feel like it. Those glass holders below have been in my collection forever and they make an appearance every December. (Scroll to the bottom of the post to see all the different ways I've styled them before.) For this look, I decided to keep them plain and arrange them on :
I arranged ten holders total — five across each cabinet — just clustered them haphazardly with the tiniest ones up front.
Next, I pulled out some evergreen picks. Years ago I scored the most incredible faux evergreen stems at Big Lots (sadly they discontinued them ?) and I stocked up. I snipped them down with wire cutters into small sprigs and tucked them into odd little nooks. These stems get reused annually and look shockingly lifelike!:
I nestled the foliage around and through the glass pieces. There were small votives tucked inside originally, but I ended up pulling those out since they cast odd shadows once lit. You can swap in regular votives or use flameless LED candles — ones with a timer or remote are a lifesaver!.
After that, I tucked tiny red ornaments here and there (you'll spot those shortly). I liked the unadorned look at first, but the holders were kind of fading into the background even with a flame. So I reached for some wrapping paper I'd picked up at HomeGoods last season:
The reason I grabbed it was the birch-bark pattern — I knew it would be perfect for a project exactly like this!
Trim pieces to fit and wrap them around the outside. I secured mine along the back with tape. Done!:
Gorgeous, right? Even more striking once it gets dark. And the whole thing was incredibly low-effort — even with the paper wrapping, it took almost no time. I knocked it out during a quick phone call to switch a flight, honestly. 😉 (Real candle tip: don't let the paper droop over the rim, especially on the shorter ones!)
I was after something understated but still cheery — and honestly, can you ever have too much candlelight?:
The beauty of this setup is that anything works! Pile in ornaments in different shades, snowflakes, ribbon, whatever sparks joy. It's going to look amazing, guaranteed:
I strung some fairy lights through the arrangement initially, but they competed with the warm glow of the candles, so I decided they weren't necessary.
Let me be clear — I'm a huge fan of a house dripping in Christmas cheer! I already have big plans to expand next December. This year I'm cutting myself some slack, but the spots I did decorate have made such a statement that the home doesn't feel bare or lacking in holiday warmth:
Next time you're browsing Goodwill or a dollar spot, keep your eyes peeled for these! The styling possibilities are endless!
These were a real hit! They paired perfectly with that mirror!:
And pieces like these work beautifully all year long:
See how versatile they are? Honestly, they're the little black dress of seasonal decorating. 😉
Are you a maximalist or a minimalist when it comes to holiday decor? For me, it really comes down to what kind of year I've had. Sometimes I want to go full-out, other times I'm craving something more peaceful and uncluttered.
I'm hoping to give you a holiday walk-through of at least the family room and kitchen sometime next week! Stay tuned for that. Until then, wishing you a wonderful weekend!!
This content is property of Thrifty Decor Chick LLC. If you are reading this on any other site other than www.thriftydecorchick.com or one of her social media platforms, please contact her immediately (thriftydecorchick at gmail dot com). Any other use of this content is strictly forbidden.
