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It is that time of year again! Time to get your house ready for the upcoming holidays and adorn it with greenery and decorations. There are only two problems with such a task. The first is that it can be very expensive to finance a holiday home decor. If finances are not an issue, then surely time constraints will be. If you are looking for some fun and easy ways to decorate your home, try some of the ideas below to get you started. They are inexpensive and can be made together with even the most curious of toddlers.

Peppermint Stripes

What do red and white make you think of? Peppermint candy canes, of course! Instead of investing in expensive decor, make peppermint stripe paper chains to decorate your banister or tree. Use strips of bright red and crisp white construction paper to create loops. If desired, let your children color or decorate the strips before you attach them together. Once the chain is completed, hang it on your stair railing using bright lengths of ribbon.

Pretty Pine Cones

This craft is best done outdoors and away from small children. However, they can help you forage through the woods for pine cones for the project. Once you have a significant number of pine cones gathered, place them in the center of a large piece of cardboard. Using either gold or silver spray paint, give them a coating of paint. Let them dry outside before turning them over and painting the other side. You can coat them as solidly or as lightly as you would like with paint. Once both sides are dry and they are coated to your liking, use them in glass vases with blue or red ornaments. You can also use them in table centerpieces, along the fireplace mantel or even tied to the tree with festive ribbon.

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Super Stars

If you have ever been to a party goods store during the holiday season you have seen the festive stars that they hang from the ceiling in an attempt to get you to buy them. Instead of spending a lot of money on store bought stars, make your own. You will need thick poster board, scissors, a hole punch, tin foil and a length of ribbon. Trace and cut out stars of all sizes from the poster board. Give children lengths of tin foil and have them cover the front and back of the stars with is. When the tin foil is on, punch a hole at the end of one of the star’s points and hang it from the ceiling with a length of ribbon. If the thought of putting tacks in your ceiling is not appealing, use the removable clips that can be found in abundance at stores during the holiday season.

Simple Table Runners & Curtains

Table runners and curtains can be expensive! Instead of buying pre-made ones, buy lengths of festive fabric from the craft store. It can be festive holiday fabric, or for a more elegant look, you can use lengths of velvet. For a table runner, measure the length of the table and divide by two to get the amount of fabric you should purchase. Once home, unfold the fabric to its full length, cut it to the desired width and serge or stitch under the edges. You will have an instant and elegant table runner for a fraction of the cost of a store bought one. For a fun, holiday curtain, purchase whimsical holiday fabric in the window length plus six- to 12-inches. Fold down the top of the fabric and sew to create a pocket for a curtain rod. The project is inexpensive, but will delight family member and friends when they come to call.

It is easy to get lost in the holiday hustle and bustle, but remember that home should be a place where you can celebrate the joy of the season. Try not to overwork yourself to create the “perfect” holiday home. You may find that with some simple holiday decorations, your home has a look that you much prefer over commercial decorations.