DIY Ornaments That Shine

Let’s start with the Christmas tree. Sure, you can hang up the same old ornaments year after year, but where’s the fun in that? This season, try making your own ornaments that add personality to your tree. One super easy idea is to fill clear plastic or glass ornaments with mini pinecones, faux snow, or even colorful confetti. It’s simple, customizable, and guaranteed to get compliments.

For a touch of nature, try making dried citrus ornaments. Slice up some oranges, lemons, or even grapefruits, and bake them at a low temperature until they’re dry. Thread a bit of twine through each slice, and hang them on the tree. Not only do they look beautiful, but they also add a subtle, citrusy scent to your home. Or, for something a little more glittery, use Mod Podge to cover pinecones with silver and gold glitter. They’ll sparkle under the tree lights and add a glamorous touch to your decor.

Festive Garlands for Any Room

Garlands aren’t just for wrapping around the Christmas tree. They’re the ultimate holiday multitasker. String them along the fireplace mantle, drape them over a staircase, or even use them to frame a doorway. For a modern twist, make a garland out of felt balls in classic red, white, and green or a pastel palette for a more playful look. Just thread the felt balls onto some sturdy string, and voila—you’ve got yourself a trendy holiday garland.

If you’re feeling nostalgic, try a good old-fashioned popcorn and cranberry garland. It’s a fun activity to do with the family, and it adds a touch of old-school holiday charm to your space. For something more chic, make a paper star garland. Cut out stars from metallic or patterned paper, punch holes in them, and string them up. The result? A festive and elegant decoration that you can use year after year.

Cozy Candle Displays

Nothing says holiday warmth like the glow of candles. And the best part is, you don’t need fancy candleholders to make a beautiful display. Grab some mason jars, wrap them with twine or ribbon, and add a sprig of evergreen for a rustic vibe. Fill the jars with Epsom salt to mimic snow, and place tea lights or battery-operated candles inside. Line them up on your windowsill, and you’ve got an instant holiday glow.

For a more elegant look, take tall pillar candles and wrap cinnamon sticks around them, securing them with a bit of twine. As the candles burn, they’ll release a subtle, warm cinnamon aroma. You can also place candles on a decorative tray with pinecones, fresh greenery, and a few ornaments for an effortless centerpiece. Just remember to be careful with open flames and keep your candles away from anything flammable.

Wreaths with a Twist

A wreath on the front door is a holiday must, but why not think outside the traditional circle? Try making a square wreath for a modern touch. Use a simple wooden frame, wrap it with fresh or faux greenery, and add a big, bold bow. It’s unexpected but still festive.

For a playful option, make a wreath out of Christmas ornaments. Get a foam wreath form and use hot glue to attach ornaments in various sizes and colors. You can go classic with red and gold or mix it up with fun, unconventional colors like turquoise and pink. Hang it on your door or use it as a statement piece inside.

If you’re all about the cozy vibes, create a wreath using chunky knit yarn. Wrap the yarn around a foam wreath form and tuck in some pinecones and faux berries. It looks like a fluffy winter wonderland and makes your home feel extra warm and inviting.

Personalized Stockings

Stockings are a big part of holiday decor, and there’s nothing more special than having personalized ones for each family member. Instead of buying new ones, consider making your own. You can sew simple stockings out of felt or upcycle an old sweater for a cozy, rustic look. Use iron-on letters to add names or initials, or decorate them with pompoms, sequins, or buttons.

For a fun and interactive touch, create a stocking decorating station for your kids or holiday guests. Set out plain stockings with fabric markers, felt cutouts, and glue, and let everyone customize their own. It’s a great way to get everyone in the holiday spirit, and you’ll end up with one-of-a-kind decorations that bring a smile to your face every year.

Make Your Table Sparkle

If you’re hosting a holiday meal, the table is a key part of your decor. Instead of buying expensive centerpieces, try making your own. Fill a wooden tray or a long, shallow bowl with pine branches, mini ornaments, and LED string lights. Add a few pinecones and some fresh rosemary sprigs for a natural, festive look.

Another simple yet elegant idea is to create place cards using holiday-themed cookie cutters. Use them to cut out shapes from heavy cardstock, write each guest’s name, and attach them to napkins with a bit of ribbon. It’s a thoughtful touch that makes everyone feel special. Finish the table with some glittery placemats or a simple runner made from burlap or linen for a rustic, yet chic, look.

Picture Credit: Unsplash

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How to renew kitchen furniture – painting cabinets
If the cabinets are in good technical condition and we accept their appearance, it is worth considering only tuning them. In many cases, a small lifting and retrofitting of cabinets will satisfy our needs for change. This may be a better solution than buying the cheapest pledge, which will certainly not be of the highest quality.

1. Before we decide to renovate kitchen cabinets, let’s do a general review of the walls of the corps, shelves, drawers, fronts and plinths. All elements should be cleaned, checked for damage, look at the hinges in the door and the drawer slides.

2. We repair minor defects and replace damaged elements, such as shelves or hinges, with new ones. New shelves can be bought at the DIY store and ordered to cut the element from the board to size.

3. If the kitchen cabinets are based on screwed legs, which are covered with a masking strip from the front, the disassembly works refreshingly. The furniture on the feet look lighter and more modern, and the floor under the cabinets is easier to keep clean. If the legs visible after removing the pedestal are not aesthetic, replace them with new ones. This solution can bring us additional benefits if we buy legs with adjustable height, which will allow to adjust the height of the kitchen table exactly to our needs.

4. Another idea for a simple version of cabinets is to replace old handles with new ones. If steel handles with modern design appear in place of old knobs, the kitchen will take on a new expression.

5. We renew the fronts. Wooden can be painted with water-based acrylic enamel for wood or – if we want a more resistant coating – with alkyd solvent enamel. Before painting, they should be degreased and cleaned, removing the old paint with, for example, abrasive paper (granulation 120), and the remains of it should be washed with solvent. The advantage of this solution is that you can easily change the color of cabinets. If we want to achieve the effect of aging, we can use chalk paint for painting furniture. Depending on the number of layers, wood grains will shine through or not. Kitchen cabinets will be finished with a mate effect, after additional use of protective wax the fronts will be semi-gloss.

6. All defects in wood are filled with a wood putty. If the old fronts were covered with veneer, we can remove it and put a new one. PRE painted wooden cabinets will be refreshed, varnishing them again or covering them with wax. Regardless of the new finishing method, the old varnish must be removed first. Damaged MDF fronts can be painted with water-borne acrylic paint, preferably semi mate. Older laminate cabinets are more difficult to renew. However, if the veneer becomes detached or has cavities, it is worth removing. The easiest way to do this is by pressing the foil with a hot iron and then rubbing the surface with fine-grained sandpaper (granulation 180-220). You can also paint such a disc with water-based acrylic paint and then varnish it. Depending on the chosen painting technique, we can obtain a smooth surface or a wiping effect.

7. Cabinets can also be covered, but only if their fronts have a smooth surface without cutters or frames. Old corps – new fronts.

8. If the bodies are in good condition or have small, easy to repair defects, only the fronts can be replaced. It is also worth considering the investment in a more modern system of opening cabinets. Instead of a traditional door with handles, you can mount such open able by a light press (tip-on system), louvre or sliding.

9. New interiors of old cabinets. Old cabinets generally do not have too functional interiors. Standard is standing and hanging cabinets with shelves, lockable doors and one or two with drawers. Today, the equipment is much richer, it is the result of applying the principles of ergonomics and new technological possibilities. If we have a high and deep cupboard type cabinet, we can install a cargo system in it, i.e. baskets or shelves on a rack, which protrudes when the cabinet is opened. Sorted things are clearly visible – you do not have to reach for them. A merry-go-round, rotating shelves fixed to the axis, can be mounted to the corner cabinet. It is also worth fitting the drawers, placing trusses in them, wooden, metal or plastic partitions, allowing to organize the items stored in them. A locker under the sink is usually a critical place, where a trash can is usually placed. The easiest way to manage it is to buy a basket-binder. Its equipment is selected for the size of the cabinet and … ecological ambitions. We have a choice: from the simplest with two containers to the expanded with six and additional shelves and storage, for example, used batteries and fluorescent lamps. The ring binder makes it easier to maintain cleanliness and order in the kitchen, and thanks to new habits we can reduce the amount of rubbish even by half.

Picture Credit: Skitterphoto, ErikaWittlieb

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