Easy Inexpensive Holiday Decorations

Boughs of holly? Been there, done that. This year, deck the halls with surprising everyday items you can pick up at stores you’re visiting anyway.

Decorating Shortcuts

Decorating From the Party Supply Store
Three house-trimming ideas that don’t involve a tangled strand of lights? Now that’s something to celebrate. Watch the video for the easy craft how-tos of these Christmas decorations.

Doable Christmas Decorating From the Craft Store

Even the craft-challenged can pull off these three Christmas decorations that take mere minutes and leave nary a drop of glue behind. Watch the video.

Photo: Shawn Engler

Doable Christmas Decorating From the Garden Center

Look beyond the Frasier firs in the parking lot for Christmas decorations that won’t leave needles all over your floor. Watch the video for the craft how-tos.

Photo: Shawn Engler

Doable Christmas Decorating From the Office Supply Store

Glad tidings: These three holiday ideas—for entertaining and gift wrapping—require very little work (and lots of play). See the video for the craft how-tos.

Photo: Shawn Engler

Secrets to a Spectacular Centerpiece

If you're feeling uninspired, see how easily three unique table arrangements come together.

Photo: David Meredith

DIY Decorating

Holiday Ideas

Christmas Decorating From the Grocery Store
Don’t bite off more than you can chew over the holidays: Pick up the ingredients for these deliciously simple Christmas decorations at your local supermarket. Watch the video for the craft how-tos.

The Best Holiday Lights
All lights are not alike. Add some holiday cheer to your home with these editor-approved strands.

Holiday Organizing Checklist

Overwhelmed by all the season’s good tidings (invitations, gifts, wrapping, and decorations)? Print out this list of suggestions from organizing expert Jodie Watson and you’ll have a happier Yule.

1. Create a holiday planning binder to stay on track over the holidays. In it, place lists for gifts, cards, invitations, menus, grocery-shopping, and to-dos. Include a countdown calendar to help you plan when you will get everything finished. Spread the workload over a number of weeks to avoid last-minute stress.
2. About a month before the holidays, write a list of the people for whom you will be buying gifts, ideas for what you’d like to get them, where you will purchase them, and the estimated amount each present will cost.
3. Window-shop online to narrow down your ideas before you head out to stores.

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