I love the holidays and winter months! It’s the time when everything sparkles, people are more humble, and good deeds seem to multiply… But it’s also the time when we spend more precious moments with our families!
I associate December with cinnamon, Christmas cookies, the warmth of home, and time shared with the people closest to me. I absolutely adore winter decorations—they bring the magic of this season to life, especially when they’re handmade and even more so when they’re made by my mom!
My mom is the most creative person I know. We always joke that she can make something out of nothing. She breathes “life” into even the most unexpected things—garbage bags, magazine clippings, corks, and anything else that I (as the least creative and least crafty person in the world) would simply throw away.
Today, I’m excited to share with you 11 ideas for winter home decorations that my mom has crafted over the past few days using only readily available materials.
1. Christmas Chandelier
In my childhood home, chandeliers are not just a source of light—they’re a canvas for creativity. Every holiday, they take on a new look. This winter, my mom once again honored this “tradition,” unleashed her imagination, and transformed them into something magical.
The materials she used include cardboard, white paint, parchment paper, twine, fairy lights, red beads, and a sprig of bay leaves.
It’s incredible how intertwining delicate fairy lights with twine can create such an elegant and impactful decoration. The perfect finishing touch is the addition of the small red beads.
3D stars made from cardboard, lightly sprayed with white paint (in this case, my mom used spray paint).
In my mind, parchment paper is only used for its intended purpose. But not according to my mom…
The bay leaf can be replaced with any green branch (for example, a pine branch). The advantage of bay leaves is that they don’t crumble when dried, while still maintaining a natural appearance.
2. Homemade Christmas Tree
When I was little, we used to buy a real cut Christmas tree every year. Twelve years ago, just before heading out to purchase yet another tree, we paused to think about the environmental impact of this tradition. How many thousands of trees are cut down every year to bring people joy for less than a month? It takes years for a tree to grow and only seconds to be chopped down, only to decorate our home briefly before being discarded as something no longer needed.
Unanimously, we decided to buy an artificial tree, which served us well for many years. However, storing it became increasingly challenging due to its large size, and over time, its branches started breaking. That’s when my mom decided to take matters into her own hands and created a small yet beautiful and simple Christmas tree.
Everything she used to make it boils down to branches, cardboard, twine, paper, red beads, the fairy lights also used for the chandelier, a cut water bottle (as a base), a hot glue gun, and, of course, a Christmas star.
These details are crafted from the cardboard roll left after using up foil or parchment paper (for the trunk), a cut plastic water bottle (for the base), and twine.
3. Orange Peels Are Always a Good Idea
As I’ve hinted in a previous article, my mom taught me that orange peels are not just waste to be thrown away after enjoying the fruit. They can be transformed into beautiful decorations that not only enhance your décor but also fill your home with a unique and refreshing aroma.
All you need are orange peels and wire.
This is the result after the peels have dried.
- Tip: Pierce the orange peels in the middle before letting them dry to make it easier to work with them later.
4. Twine Christmas Tree
All you need to create this simple yet striking little tree is twine, a hot glue gun, and cardboard.
- Tip: You can cut out a star from an orange peel using a Christmas cookie cutter and place it at the top of the tree.
5. Mini Christmas Tree
The perfect winter decoration for your work desk. The materials used include artificial branches, a wooden star, styrofoam, and burlap (for the base).
6. Winter Pots
Here’s another idea for creating a striking winter decoration using only readily available materials.
All you need is a tin can, pine branches, a few thin sticks, air-dry clay, pinecones, and paints.
7. Christmas Jar
This is the most charming yet easiest Christmas gift to make. All you need is a small jar, a candy, parchment paper, twine, a hot glue gun, a red bead, and googly eyes (or you can replace them with small beads).
8. Cardboard Houses
A winter wonderland created with cardboard, cotton, paint, and hot glue.
9. Burlap Christmas Trees
For these beautiful and delicate trees, you’ll need burlap, thin twigs, styrofoam (for the balls), and stars made from cardboard (or other materials, such as orange peels).
10. Christmas Angels
Christmas angels can be crafted from various materials such as wood or fabric. You can use kitchen wire for hair, wire for wings… Let your imagination soar!
11. Cardboard Reindeer
To create this adorable reindeer, my mom used the cardboard roll left over from a roll of toilet paper. Add two twigs for antlers and a little paint, and voilà—the reindeer is ready!
Handmade winter decorations bring more than just beauty to your home—they carry warmth, creativity, and cherished memories. Each piece, from a twine-wrapped tree to a charming cardboard reindeer, tells a story and reflects the love and effort poured into its creation. Inspired by my mom’s imaginative touch, these simple yet stunning decorations prove that you don’t need expensive materials to transform your space into a winter wonderland.
Whether you’re repurposing orange peels, adding sparkle to everyday objects, or crafting unique gifts for loved ones, these projects invite you to embrace the joy of creation and make your home truly yours this season. So, gather your supplies, unleash your imagination, and start crafting your own magical winter décor today!
