51 DIY Christmas Decorations With Real Handmade Charm in 2025
With Christmas around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get creative and make DIY Christmas decorations for your home. And this year, there’s an even bigger reason to go handmade. According to the Los Angeles Times, handcrafted décor is having a real moment, with people moving away from glossy, mass-produced pieces and toward things that feel personal, warm and a little more soulful.
DIY decorations fit right into that movement. They’re inexpensive, easy to make and give your home character in a way store-bought décor just can’t match. You can use them inside and out, turn them into gifts or even make a full afternoon of it with kids, friends or your partner. Holiday crafting also has a way of becoming its own tradition — one that people genuinely look forward to each year.
If you're hosting Christmas and have been wondering how to make your own Christmas decorations, or you just need a little inspiration, these ideas will help you create pieces that feel fresh, festive and totally you.
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- Easy DIY Christmas Decorations
- DIY Christmas Decorations for Kids
- Elegant DIY Christmas Decorations
- Best DIY Christmas Ornament Ideas
- Outdoor DIY Christmas Decorations
Easy DIY Christmas Decorations
1. Holiday Craft Workshops
Holiday craft workshops are an easy way to kick off your DIY Christmas decorations. Bring friends or family along to try something creative and make one-of-a-kind pieces you can actually use around the house. You might pick up candle making, jewelry making or collage, and you may even walk away with a few clever Christmas ornament storage ideas.
With art classes in Boston, Atlanta, Dallas and art classes near you, local artists guide you through simple, festive projects so you can create décor you’ll be happy to display. It’s a simple way to make something personal for your home and spend time with people you love.
2. Festive Paint and Sip
You don’t need any art experience to enjoy a holiday paint and sip class. Everyone’s welcome, and the vibe is relaxed enough that you can just settle in, paint and have a good time. Some studios even mix up seasonal drinks — snow globe cocktails if you’re lucky.
An instructor walks you through the painting from start to finish, so you end up with something festive to hang or gift without stressing over technique. It’s an easy DIY Christmas decoration project or even a DIY home project disguised as a fun night out.
Fill your home with holiday artwork when you join paint and sip in Chicago, San Diego, Washington, D.C. and paint and sip near you.
3. Holly Jolly Ceramics
Try your hand at ceramic DIY Christmas decorations with pottery classes near you. You’ll learn basic wheel or handbuilding techniques and glaze your pieces in seasonal colors. Once they’re fired, they become decorations you can bring out every December.
You can create your own festive pieces with pottery classes in Austin, Los Angeles, Boston and pottery classes near you.
4. Giant Popcorn Garland
If you've ever wanted a popcorn garland for your Christmas tree, you’ll adore this inventive Christmas tree decorating idea. Use spray foam to make oversized popcorn pieces. Once they’re dry, spray paint them white so the garland doesn’t discolor. If you want, you can spray a little bit of yellow in some places to make it look buttered.
When everything is dry, use a long needle and fishing wire to string the pieces together. Then you can hang the finished garland around your home or along a banister for décor that feels nostalgic but still playful.
5. Tied to a Bow
Ribbons are one of the easiest DIY Christmas decorations to work with, and you can use them just about anywhere. Pick up a mix of widths and colors — solids, patterns or whatever feels festive — and play around with layering them for extra texture. First, learn how to make a bow to top this decoration, then tie a few simple bows and tuck them around the house, whether that’s part of your fireplace décor, along the stair railings or on doorknobs that need a little holiday lift.
6. Wine Bottle Candle Holders
If you’re looking for Christmas painting ideas, painting old wine bottles to act as candlesticks is a clever DIY Christmas craft. Clean out some empty wine bottles and remove the labels.
Then, with either acrylic or glass paint, decorate them however you want. Think Christmas trees, reindeer, snowflakes or any other holiday motifs for festive DIY Christmas decorations for wine lovers. Once they’ve dried, you can place taper candles in the bottle opening to act as candle holders.
7. Pom Pom Reindeer
For a simple DIY Christmas decoration at home, try making a pom pom reindeer. It’s a cute project you can do with kids or happily on your own. All you really need is brown yarn, scissors, felt and a bit of glue.
A pom pom maker helps, but you can improvise with things you already have around the house. Once you’ve made a few fluffy pom poms, give them a quick trim, then cut out little felt eyes, noses and antlers to glue on. They come together surprisingly fast and look great scattered around the house or added to gifts.
8. Snowy Jars
This is an easy holiday DIY home décor idea if you’ve got a few spare jars lying around. All you need is Mod Podge (or glue) and some white iridescent glitter.
Brush a light coat of glue around the outside of the jar and sprinkle on the glitter as you go — working in small sections helps so nothing dries before you get to it. After the first layer sets, add a quick top coat of Mod Podge to keep the glitter from shedding everywhere.
The finished jars work nicely as candle holders or simple decorative pieces for the holiday season.
9. Homemade Snow Globe
Need unique Christmas gifts to give to friends or family? A homemade snow globe makes a cute DIY Christmas decoration and looks great on a mantle. All you’ll need is a jar, distilled water, glycerine, glitter and epoxy, plus a few small plastic figures to place inside.
Fill the jar with distilled water, a sprinkle of glitter and a little glycerine to help the “snow” fall slowly. Use epoxy to secure the figurines to the inside of the lid, let it dry, then twist the lid back on. Flip it over and you’ve got your own little snowfall scene.
10. Pool Noodle Wreaths
Wondering how to make a Christmas wreath out of pool noodles? They’re surprisingly useful as a lightweight base. Bend a noodle into a circle and secure the ends, and you’ve got a form that’s sturdy, flexible and easy to decorate.
Add ornaments, greenery and ribbons to build the look you want. Hot glue works well for attaching ornaments, while the foam makes it simple to tuck in faux greenery for a more dimensional wreath.
11. Dried Citrus Garland
Dried citrus garlands always make for a pretty, unique option for DIY Christmas decorations. Slice oranges, grapefruits or lemons into thin rounds and dehydrate them in the oven at 170 degrees for four to six hours, turning the slices every couple of hours so they dry evenly.
Once they’ve cooled, thread them onto fishing line with a needle and space them out how you like. Hang the garland on a tree, mantle or doorway, and enjoy the subtle citrus scent that comes with it.
12. Twinkle Light Canvas
Create a mixed-media piece of holiday art with a twinkle-light canvas. Start by painting a standard canvas with a festive motif or simple seasonal message. Once the paint dries, carefully puncture small holes along your design.
Then, push the bulbs of a string-light set through the holes from the back so they sit on the surface of the canvas. Use lights that have different twinkle settings to create an even more festive DIY Christmas decoration.
13. Ribbon Christmas Trees
Mini Christmas trees made from ribbon make great DIY Christmas decorations, whether you use them as Christmas day table setting ideas or place them around the house. Start by rolling construction paper into a cone to use as the base.
Then cut ribbon into three- to five-inch strips, fold each strip in half and glue the ends together. Glue the longer loops around the bottom of the cone, then work upward with shorter pieces so the “branches” taper naturally. Top it off with a simple bow if you want a finishing touch.
14. Tassel Garland
Using macrame rope, you can make tassels and string them together to create a simple tassel garland. Dye the tassels in colors that match your Christmas aesthetic, then tie ribbons around the tops to give them a more festive feel. It’s an easy decoration to hang across a mantel, doorway or shelving for a soft, handmade touch.
DIY Christmas Decorations for Kids
15. Pinecone Christmas Trees
This is one of the coolest DIY Christmas decorations this year to do with kids. Take them on a short nature walk to collect things to paint, like pinecones or something similar, then paint them green to turn them into little evergreen trees.
Add beads, felt or tiny charms to decorate the trees, or sprinkle on faux snow for a wintery look. You can even branch out into painting Christmas ornaments if everyone’s still in the creative zone.
If you want to make a whole afternoon of it, turn this family Christmas idea into a bigger family craft session. Invite cousins, grandparents or a few of your kids’ friends and let everyone create their own mini forest.
16. Popsicle Stick Sleds
Popsicle sticks can become the cutest little sled ornaments with just a bit of glue and paint. Make a flat panel first, then add two sticks underneath as runners so it actually looks like a sled.
Once it’s dry, kids can paint theirs any way they want and add a ribbon loop for hanging. They come together quickly, which makes them a good one to keep in your back pocket if the afternoon starts getting restless.
17. Painted Wood Slices
Wood slices from the craft store make easy, rustic ornaments. Paint or draw simple winter motifs — snowflakes, little presents, tiny snowmen — and let the grain show through for texture.
After everything dries, add a ribbon loop to the back and they’re ready for the tree. These arts and crafts for adults work just as well for adults as they do for kids, especially if you want a quick project that still feels handmade.
18. Pipe Cleaner Wreath
Pipe cleaners make surprisingly cute mini wreaths, and kids usually love how fast they come together. Twist a few green ones into a circle, then add tiny red felt “berries” and a little bow. Finish with a ribbon loop and they’re ready to hang on the tree.
19. Craft Stick Snowflakes
It's surprisingly easy to transform craft sticks into pretty snowflakes, even for kids. All you have to do is glue craft sticks into snowflake shapes, using smaller pieces to be the decorative accents.
Once the glue has dried, you can paint them white and add a ribbon to hang them on the tree. They're even easy enough to make to display in the office for a holiday work party.
20. Candy Cane Reindeer
Candy cane reindeer always find their way back into the mix because they’re simple, cute and are an easy Christmas craft for kids. Grab a few candy canes, googly eyes, felt, pom poms and some glue. Keep the wrappers on, stick the eyes and noses in place, cut little felt antlers and tuck everything together. The candy cane hook becomes the hanger, so they’re ready for the tree as soon as they dry.
21. Family Picture Ornaments
Family DIY photo ornaments are a great DIY Christmas decoration that celebrates your family during the holiday season. They also make great DIY gift ideas for friends and family.
Use a photo ball ornament and place your favorite family picture inside. Once the ornament is back together, you can decorate the ornament with paint and glitter, being cautious not to cover the view of the picture.
22. Felt Ornaments
Felt ornaments give you plenty of room to play with color and shape. Cut out simple designs like snowflakes, stars or little gift boxes, then stitch the edges with thick thread. Leave a small opening so you can add a bit of stuffing before closing it up. A quick loop of ribbon turns each one into a soft, handmade ornament ready for the tree.
23. Painted Blocks
Wooden blocks work particularly well as little ornaments. Paint them with letters to spell out a holiday word, add a name or keep it simple with small Christmas symbols. Once they’re dry, drill a tiny hole for an eye bolt, twist it in and thread a ribbon through the top. They end up looking charming on the tree and take hardly any time to make.
24. Twig Ornaments
Find twigs outside to be the base of this creative DIY Christmas decoration. You can use a thin cord and glue to fasten the sticks together. Make snowflakes, stars and other geometric shapes to display around the house.
If you want to make these ornaments a little more glamorous, you can paint a part of them with metallic paint.
25. Sweater Shapes
If you have old sweaters lying around, you can use them for DIY Christmas decorations. Use wire to make shapes, then stretch the old sweater material around the wire and secure it with glue. You can also sew around the edges if you want them to be extra secure.
Then, cut the excess fabric for a unique ornament. This works best with colorful and patterned sweaters.
26. Bottlebrush Forest
Wondering how to decorate your room for Christmas for cheap? Bottlebrush trees are the way to go. These are inexpensive items you can buy at most major retailers and online during the holiday season.
Customize them by dying the trees, adding glitter or spray painting them. Once everything is dry, you can create a forest of colorful trees. These are great DIY Christmas decorations to display on a mantel or table, but you can also mix them into the Christmas village.
Elegant DIY Christmas Decorations
27. Paper Christmas Village
Christmas villages are a popular decoration during the holiday season and you can make your very own village using just thick paper and scissors or a craft knife.
Use a template to draw windows and doors and cut them out with a craft knife. Then cut the roofs out of the paper to place on top. You can decorate the houses or leave them the same color as the paper.
Set this DIY Christmas village decoration on the mantel or a table and decorate it with faux snow, string lights and little figurines.
28. Ornament Mobile
Red and green always set an easy starting point for Christmas décor, and they work well for a floating ornament mobile. Hang ornaments from the ceiling with clear fishing line so they look like they’re suspended in mid-air, then weave in a few ribbons for color and movement. The whole thing feels festive without taking over the room.
29. Ornament Wreath
Use a foam wreath base and ornaments to create an elegant DIY Christmas decoration. You can make it even more chic by choosing a simple color palette. Whites, tans and silvers always look elegant or bold shades of blue. Be sure there are a variety of sizes and finishes, like glitter and ribbed, so the wreath has an interesting texture.
30. Ornament Trees
Ornaments can stand in for a tree if you build a simple cone from chicken wire. Shape the wire into whatever size you want — a floor-standing piece or a smaller tabletop version — and start filling it with ornaments. The more you layer, the more polished it looks, and the finished tree adds a really striking DIY touch to the room.
31. Bow Cabinets
Make your kitchen cabinets look like wrapped presents by using a thick ribbon tied length and widthwise around the cabinet doors. Secure the ribbons on the inside with tape and then tie a bow on the front of the cabinets where the ribbons intersect.
32. Star Luminaries
Make every night leading up to Christmas a starry one. Make star luminaries out of paper to display around your home and add twinkling lights inside the luminaries to create a warm glow. Hang them from the ceiling to create a luminous accent throughout the home.
33. Faux Floral Garland
If you lean toward florals, a garland made from faux blooms adds a softer touch to your Christmas décor. Pick up a few stems at the craft store and stick to a simple color palette for a cleaner look, or mix in brighter tones if you want something more playful.
Snip off the stems with wire cutters and thread the flower heads onto fishing line with a needle. Drape the finished strand over a mantel, along the stair rail or weave it through the tree for a fresh, festive detail.
34. Wreath Candle Holder
A wreath makes a great base for a candle centerpiece, whether you grab one premade or put one together yourself. Nest a few taper candle holders into the greenery and add slim taper candles to finish the look. It works as a simple, elegant focal point for the table without much crafting time at all.
35. Wood Candle Holders
Include rustic wood tealight holders as part of your DIY Christmas decorations. You can make them feel more festive by adding a ribbon around the outside of the holders or by painting them in Christmas colors. They make an elegant piece of decor for a Christmas dinner table.
Best DIY Christmas Ornament Ideas
36. Marble Painted Ornaments
This easy DIY Christmas decoration will be a favorite during the holiday season. Start with clear ornaments as the base of this project, paint, a pouring medium to help thin it out, and a funnel.
Mix the paint and pouring medium until it reaches the desired thickness. Then, using the funnel, add the paint inside the ornaments. Layer different colors, then move the ornament around to spread the paint. Pour out any excess and allow the ornament to dry.
32. Wood Bead Ornaments
Wood beads have the potential to be almost anything you want. String them onto a wire or string and shape them into snowflakes, snowmen, stars and more for a variety of cute DIY Christmas decorations.
You can also paint them to add a pop of color to your Christmas tree or leave them bare for a more natural look.
38. Cross Stitch Ornament
39. Pinecone Wreath
A pinecone wreath is an easy way to include something natural in your DIY Christmas decorations. Collect a handful of pinecones, grab a hot glue gun and use a small circular base to anchor the design.
Glue the scales around the frame until it’s full, then dust the edges with a bit of glitter to give it that snow-kissed look. Tie on a ribbon and hang it wherever you want a simple, handmade touch.
Outdoor DIY Christmas Decorations
40. Felt Poinsettia Wreath
Poinsettias always feel like Christmas, and a felt version gives you a wreath that lasts well beyond December. Cut simple petal shapes from red felt and glue them together until they form full flowers. Mix in a few green leaves, then attach everything to a wreath base. It’s bright, lightweight and easy to hang by the front door.
41. Brass and Greenery Wreath
A brass hoop makes a great starting point for a modern wreath. Wrap a bit of faux greenery around one section of the hoop and layer in a few textured elements until it feels full. The clean lines of the metal keep it looking polished, and it hangs beautifully on a front door without much fuss.
42. Wood Gingerbread House
If you need theme party ideas for the holidays, consider a sweets wonderland theme. Then, you can make a large, wooden gingerbread house to display in the front yard.
Use plywood to create the gingerbread structure, securing it with screws. Paint the wood a gingerbread brown before using spray foam to act as the icing. Carve candy out of foam and paint it to be the decorative accents.
43. Oversized Outdoor Lights
Lights are one of the highlights of the holiday season, so it makes sense that you include them in your DIY Christmas decorations. Trace the shape of Christmas lights onto plywood, then cut them out using a saw. Sand them down and paint them a variety of colors. You can hang them around your door and your front porch for an instant festive decoration.
44. Bells and Greenery
Pair a few jingle bells with textured greenery for an easy outdoor DIY Christmas decoration. Secure the two together with ribbon and display them on the railings on your porch, on light posts and on columns outside the house.
45. Ornament-Filled Lanterns
Glass lanterns make a really effective Christmas decoration. Fill them with ornaments in different colors and textures, then set them by the front door, along the staircase or outside on the patio.
They look festive day or night, and you can change the palette to match whatever theme you’re going for. They also work well for work Christmas party ideas. This is a great idea because of how easy it is to make.
46. Burlap Wreath
Make rustic DIY Christmas decorations for the outdoors using burlap. Get a roll of burlap and a wreath base. Make loops out of the burlap and glue them to the base. Make the wreath more festive by adding in some Christmas ribbon. You can also use burlap to make ribbons for around the house for a bit of rustic charm.
47. Birdhouse Christmas Village
Wooden birdhouses from the craft store make sweet, little DIY Christmas decorations, and they double as a winter shelter for local birds. Paint each one in festive colors or simple holiday patterns, then group them outside to create a little Christmas village. It gives your yard some festive charm and you get the bonus of watching birds come and go all season.
48. Giant Gingerbread Man
Use foam boards to create giant gingerbread people for DIY Christmas decorations outside your home. Paint them with brown paint and use a white rope to create the icing decorations.
Painted foam balls work well to create the buttons and eyes. Glue a PVC pipe to the back and use a stake to prop them up in your yard. You can also bake and decorate real gingerbread people and even throw in a little gingerbread house competition.
49. String Light Lanterns
String light lanterns are easy DIY Christmas decorations for the outdoors. Get glass lanterns and a few rolls of string lights. Fill the empty lanterns with the lights and display them on your porch where they can be plugged in.
You can even decorate them with greenery and garlands to make them look luminous and festive.
50. Bird Seed Ornaments
Decorate for the holidays and give the winter birds a little treat with this DIY Christmas decoration. Make birdseed ornaments to decorate the trees in your front yard.
You can make birdseed cakes easily at home and use cookie cutters to cut them into fun holiday shapes. Then, attach a ribbon and hang them from the trees. The birds will certainly love this decoration.
51. Planter Ornaments
Transform some planters into holiday ornaments for easy outdoor DIY Christmas decorations. You can use a planter of any size for this DIY project. Paint the bottom round part of the planter a bright color and the top lip silver to look like a Christmas tree light.
Group a bunch of them together on your porch or front lawn to make it look like a string of lights. You can even put some winter plants inside the planters, like small pines and holly bushes.
DIY Christmas decorations don’t have to be complicated to feel special. A few handmade pieces, some natural textures and a couple of projects you actually enjoy are usually enough to make your home feel ready for the season. However you use these DIY Christmas decorations, the point is the same: give your space a little personality and make the holidays feel more like you.
For even more fun holiday ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
