With Christmas less than 40 days away (yes, really), it's time to start thinking about decking the halls, especially since decorating for the holidays may actually make you happier. This year, instead of buying expensive decorations, why not make your own?
Jasmine Roth, host of HGTV's "Hidden Potential," joined TODAY Thursday to show us five DIY holiday decoration ideas that are fun and easy to make.
Wooden Christmas trees
Use these wooden trees as a creative display for holiday cards or extra ornaments.
What you'll need:
- Wooden boards
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Nails
- Hammer
- Holiday cards or ornaments
Instructions:
- Get wooden boards from your local hardware store. Many stores will also cut them to desired lengths for free.
- Using screws and a screwdriver, attach the 10 horizontal boards to the one vertical board in a Christmas tree shape.
- Attach ornaments or holiday cards to the "tree" as a creative display using nails and a hammer.
Pajama wreaths
This is a great way to recycle pajamas that your kids have grown out of and to include them in the decorating process.
What you'll need:
- Old pajamas, napkins, dog blankets or any other type of fabric
- Christmas string lights
- Wire wreath form
Instructions:
- Cut your fabric into strips.
- Tie the fabric strips around the string lights.
- Wrap the string lights (with fabric surrounding it) around the wire wreath form until you get all the way around.
- Hang your wreath and plug it in.
DIY snow globes
Who needs to buy generic snow globes when you can make custom ones instead?
What you'll need:
- A jar with a lid (mason jar, spaghetti sauce jar, etc.)
- Glue
- Small toy
- Water
- Glycerin
- Glitter
Instructions:
- Glue the small toy onto the inside lid of the jar.
- Fill the jar with water.
- Add glycerin to the jar. (The glycerin helps the glitter move slowly.)
- Add glitter to the water/glycerin mixture.
- Screw the lid on tightly so that the toy is inside the jar.
- Turn it upside-down, shake it up and watch the glitter "snow."
Entryway jars
These festive jars will instantly brighten up any entryway.
What you'll need:
- Jar or glass container
- Candy or decorations
- Electric tea light
- Ribbon
Instructions:
- Put the tea light in the container.
- Pour the candy around it.
- Tie a piece of ribbon around the mouth of the jar as a finishing touch.
Snowman Centerpieces
Add a personal touch to your holiday table this year with these floral snowmen.
What you'll need:
- Carnations (either real or fake)
- 3 foam balls (in three different sizes)
- Glue
- Buttons
- Orange felt (for the nose)
Instructions:
- Glue the three foam balls on top of each other with the largest one on the bottom and the smallest one on the top.
- Stick the stems of the carnations into the foam balls
- Glue the buttons on on as the eyes, mouth and jacket buttons.
- Add an orange nose and, voila, your snowman is ready!
Note: If you choose to use real flowers, make sure to spray them periodically with water to keep them alive.
When the holidays are over, don't forget to store your decorations properly so you can use them next year.
Is your home ready for the holidays? Use our interactive holiday cleaning guide to make sure!