These decorations may be simple or small but they pack a punch when it comes to bringing the festive holiday vibes to life.
CANDLES
Whether for the scent or warm lighting (or both), candles really bring light to your holiday time décor. Opt for taper candles in a festive color, or even ones in the shape of pine trees (yes, they exist). Shop around for some vintage brass candleholders and you're ready to dress up any dining table, bar cart or sideboard that needs a little extra warmth. Don't want to mess with fire? No problem. Flickering battery-powered options abound.
Pro tip: Light real candles at least once briefly to give the wick a burned look. So even if you don't plan to burn that particular candle often or at all, it will have the "lived in" look a cozy holiday space demands.
GARLAND
Drape that garland everywhere, we say! Is there anything more holiday-ish than a nice garland? And the good news is that not only are garlands easy to style, they're also customizable based on your own individual preferences. From felt, to faux pine, to popcorn, to tinsel, your choices are practically endless. Throw your own extra adornments in there, too, like hanging sentimental ornaments or small boxes or envelopes for a DIY advent calendar vibe.
Pro tip: Dress up doorways by using the viral online trend of placing a strong tension rod between doorways and entryways and wrapping your garland around the rod as you please. For lighter weight garlands (or those of us with plaster walls who want to avoid nails), Command hooks are also your friend.
NATURAL ELEMENTS
Swing by your local craft or grocery store to grab cinnamon pine cones for a festive bowl or slice up some oranges to bake and turn into wreath adornments. Heck, go outside and see what kind of sticks or branches you can find that might add to a vase you've got ready to style, or string up some acorns to be used as dainty ornaments.
Pro Tip: Those with allergies or other sensitivities will be pleased to know that faux greenery and other natural elements have really come a long way in terms of how realistic they appear and their overall affordability. If you've given up on including some of these natural elements in the past, do some more browsing and give it another go. You never know what deals you may find!
STRING LIGHTS
This is a pretty obvious one but trust us when we say it makes a massive difference. Be mindful when choosing your string lights that the type of light is what you're after; some lights tend to be much brighter and cooler toned, while others lean warmer. Whether indoors or out, timers are also your best friends with these, so you don't have to walk what can feel like miles around the house multiple times a day to turn everything on and off. Short on outlets? Battery- or solar-powered string light sets solve that problem.
Pro tip: You can purchase wireless outlets and corresponding switches (like these) to make hard-to-reach switches a thing of the past.
Of course, those with pets will want to ensure whatever décor you add to your space is pet-friendly and remains out of reach for those pets (and potentially young children) who may get a little too curious.
Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for West Michigan Woman.
