It’s Beginning To Look A lot Like Christmas! Thrifty Decor Tips
December 8, 2010 by alysha
Christmas is just around the corner. And I L.O.V.E. it.
I love singing Christmas carols, watching all the classic Christmas cartoons, drinking hot cocoa, the smell of cinnamon and pine, and even the crazy holiday shopping.
The decorating part however, has always been a bit intimidating for me.
This year I had my husband bring out all of our Christmas containers early. I’m talking way before Thanksgiving. I excitedly unpacked everything and then instantly got overwhelmed. Where do I even start?
So my decor just sat in my living room for days. Lifeless. Scattered everywhere. A disaster!
Finally, my husband had had enough, (after tripping once or twice and sitting on an sharp ornament for the bjillionth time) and threatened to take all the decor back to storage. What?! He might have well have canceled Christmas! Well, thanks to Mr. Scrooge, that was the push I needed. My kick in the pants. So, I tried to channel my inner “Martha” (yeah, right) and got to work.
I thought I’d share a few tips with you incase anyone else ever finds themselves in the decororating slump. Ok, so they’re not really tips. More like show and tell.
The Mantle
If you read my Halloween post, you’ll probably notice some (ok, a lot) of similarities. My goal was not to spend too much money, and that meant using the things I already had. I knew I wanted an elegant pottery barnish feel, yet a touch of whimsy mixed in as well.
I spent 2 hours {literally} wandering around different craft stores looking at garland, and ended up just snipping some greenery off a bush in our yard. I liked the fresh, (romantic?) look of it.
I bought this gorgeous reindeer at Michaels. They were having an awesome Thanksgiving Day sale, and I snagged this darling little guy for close to 75% off!
Ornaments
This wreath was THE easiest craft ever! (It would have to be for me to make it.) 
I bought a styrofoam wreath and garland at the dollar store. Then I just wrapped the garland around the wreath, gluing it here and there. So simple. For the finishing touch, I just glued some ornaments (also bought at the dollar store) on to complete the look. All in all it took me maybe 10 minutes.
I bought a styrofoam wreath and garland at the dollar store. Then I just wrapped the garland around the wreath, gluing it here and there. So simple. For the finishing touch, I just glued some ornaments (also bought at the dollar store) on to complete the look. All in all it took me maybe 10 minutes.
To add a little glam to the greenery on my mantle, I just threw in a couple ornaments here and there.
Ornaments look fabulous as fillers in any type of glass or jar. My jar and ornaments were from (guess?) the Dollar Store.
Berries and Pinecones
I love berries and pinecones because you can buy them in a large package and they work great for fillers. I used them…everywhere really. They just add that little finishing touch to your decor. They’re the accent, if you will. 
Throw them in a jar, in a lantern or votive with candles, or in a vase. Did I mention how fabulous pinecones smell?
Throw them in a jar, in a lantern or votive with candles, or in a vase. Did I mention how fabulous pinecones smell?Mistletoe
Duh!
My hubby loves mistletoe, (for obvious reasons) so it’s basically hanging everywhere in our house.
These are actually called Kissing Balls. Honest, Michael’s said so. So, we just count them as mistletoe as well. Any excuse to pucker up!
I wanted to add something to the Kissing Balls, so I just cut some white berries off of their stem and glued them on…and that’s it.
Martha would be so proud.
Adding a Little Homemade Touch
Homemade crafts add a bit of warmth and charm to your decor. This subway art just takes the cake!
The Stockings
…Were hung by the chimney windows with care.
I know, I know! Stockings are supposed to be on the mantle, but I thought that they distracted from the simple elegance I was going for. SO, here they are. Hanging from the windows instead. And you know what? I actually really like them there! Don’t be afraid to step outside the box when you’re decorating. It’s kinda fun. (Who knows, I may have just broken several decor no, no’s. In which case you should never do this.)
Aren’t the details of these stockings super cute?! Very Dr. Suess.
Lastly, we cannot forget the most important part of Christmas, the presents! Presents make beautiful “decor”. Adding something as simple as ribbon is a great way to dress up a gift.
Thank you for letting me share my living room with all of you. I wasn’t sure how elegant and whimsical would mesh, so I’m a little nervous sharing.
Well I’m off to clean the rest of my house that got severely neglected while posting this. Funny how you can clear a space in a picture and give everyone the impression that your house is clean. Truth is, I could barely find a place to stand to take a picture of my tree. (Shhh…don’t tell!)
Hope this season is Merry and Bright for all of you gals.
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It’s lovely! Nice job Alysha ;O)
That is by FAR the cutest mistletoe I have EVER seen. Mine is the nasty flat stuff you get at the grocery store check out line. I’m headed to find me some cute mistletoe like yours! Gorgeous post!
“It’s a good thing.”
You’re decor looks lovely! Great ideas!! I kinda want some of those kissing balls. So adorable.
All very cute. Thanks for sharing. But I’m guessing you don’t have any little kids around….there is no way we can leave any wrapped presents out or they would be opened immediately by my 2-year-old! But your wrapped presents are very beautiful!
Lol so true Jenny. Luckily my 15 month old isn’t in to unwrapping presents yet, but she loves taking the ornaments off the tree and bowling with them.
love the mantle! so pottery barn-esque!
Nothin’ better than cuddling up on the couch and looking at the Christmas decorations in our living room!
I love the mantle. I would never guess that you struggle with decorating! The whole thing is beautiful!
So cute Alysha! I love them…the stockings are so unique! That is what I love the most about them!!!
The mistletoe is lovely, but be careful. I went to a great Christmas decorating workshop given by a local florist, and they said that if a child swallows one mistletoe berry it can kill them. Dangerous for pets also.
That’s good to know Lora. Thanks for the heads up!
I love those red trees next to the tree! Did you make those or buy them? Tell me all!
Chelsea, I wish I could tell you where I got them! My aunt was throwing them out and I saved them.
I can tell you that there are beads strung on wire, and then they were strung around the Christmas trees. Hope this helps!
I think it’s lovely. All of the red and white looks so crisp, and so many whimsical touches make it fun to look at. Great job!
Very nice! Love those red trees by the tree.
It’s all beautiful, esp. the mantel. Great job!
Oh my GOSH! GORGEOUS! I’ve just been gushing at this all day. Thanks for the inspiration and cheap tips!
You needn’t have worried…..it looks smashing!
Your House looks so cute! I LOVE the mistletoe idea. I think I may have to steal that idea for our little home! Love it all though, great job!
WOW!! Beautiful & inspiring! LOVE what you’ve done!! I am your newest follower! I’m excited to what else you have to inspire me!!
Nice job! Will you come do my house, I don’t even have a tree yet! I want some of that mistletoe around, but I wonder what my 9 and 7 year old boys will say about it – they already complain that we kiss too much!:)
Gorgeous! Very creative. I love the mantle (that wedding pic is beautiful by the way!) and those stockings are so cute! I really like that you hung them in the windows. I’m looking forward to your next post!
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This is just awesome! Seriously, there is no way you could possibly be nervous posting this. It looks wonderful, so unbelievably Christmassy. My place is not fully decorated yet (well, it is decorated but it still is not the way I want it to look), so I am a little jealous. But I think you inspired me with the balls that look like mistletoe. I will make some!
Absolutely adorable!!! I love the ornaments in the glass containers, simple yet elegant!!!
Ohhh my!! Everything is soo beautiful! I love it all! Merry Christmas!
love love your decor! was wondering where you got those red trees by your xmas tree? or maybe you made them?
thanks so much for the inspiration.
Ann, I actually got them from my aunt. They are wired trees with strings of beads wrapped around them. I’d bet they’d be pretty simple to make. And they’re so much fun!
i LOVE all of it! thanks for sharing.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the decor! Its beautiful simple and I think I could actually do it!
Was wondering where you got your stockings? I love them!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the decor! Its simple, beautiful and I think I could actually do it!
I was wondering where you got your stockings? I love them too!
Hi Kayla! I just love my stockings too! I got them a few years ago from Sam’s Club after Christmas. Because Christmas was over I got them at a steal! I bought 7! (We didn’t even have any kids yet!) Lol.
WOW! never hurts to be prepared! And I would have never guessed sams! thanks for sharing! and I agree you should do a tutorial on the Red Trees!
would you be willing to sell me one of your stockings since you have 7 unless you are using them all…i have been searching EVERYWHERE for them…and i cannot find them anymore. i bought 4 when there was only 4 of us…now there is 5 and i haven’t found anymore
wouldn’t matter if it was green or red…i have two of each…lol
This is so beautiful! I think you did a great job! Why can’t I spend Christmas at your house?:-)))
I myself tried my best, but will improve my decoration with your ideas!
Sadly, i don’t have a mantle….:-(
Merry Christmas!!!
Love, Lena
I think it’s so pretty and fun! Great job!
xoxo,
Andrea
Where did you find the red pinecone set that you have in the jar?
Thanks for asking Denise! I forgot to mention that on the post. I got them from Michaels. They came in a little plastic square box, and they have all of their Christmas stuff on sale, which is a bonus!
I am your newest follower! I love your decor! Where did you get those little red trees?
Emily I stole them from my aunt! (Well, she was getting rid of them, so I guess that’s not stealing.)
They are wire trees with strings of beads wrapped around them. We may have to do a tutorial on these! 
Thanks for asking!
Beautiful decor!
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I love being creative at christmas, such a happy time.
Thanks for the post.
Meryy christmas
Great decorations! I found you via Blue Cricket & love your decor!
Love your holiday decor!!!
Omg that looks great, almost too professional! I love that mantel piece, so sober and stylish!
I was just wondering what the thing that is holding up your wreath called?
Thanks!
Hi Amanda! I’m actually not sure what it’s called…it just had a hook on it, so I thought it would work well for a wreath holder. Sorry I’m not more help!
We’ve always hung our stockings on the windows because we don’t have a mantel.
I love your mantle! I was wondering… You tree is sitting on top of something which gives room for the presents. I think it’s a fabulous idea. My presents are always splayed across the living room because there is no space under the tree. What is the tree on?
Thanks Alycia! Actually, don’t tell, but my tree is sitting on our Christmas storage tub. Ha! You could pretty much use anything that has a flat surface, and just cover it with some sort of cloth.
Hope this helps!
Everything looks great!! I love that you hung your stockings “unconventionally” and those kissing balls are ADOREable!! No mistletoe for us this year, my husband just deployed. But, I so love your ideas! Nicely done!
oh my, i LOVE that TREE & the gift area! it looks amazing! i have a tiny 3 ft tree because i’m in my first apartment, and i have it elevated too just to give it a little more height, and space for the presents!
I am soooo wanting to know where to get those christmas stockings? i have 4 of them (2 red and 2 green) and i cannot find them anywhere anymore
there are now 5 in our family…any help would be appreciated 