Ideas for festive decorations

[lrh3891]

I live alone with my 2 year old, and we won't be at home for Christmas- we leave on the 19th for the whole period, not returning until some time after New Year.

So...part of me thinks it's silly to decorate, get a tree and so on, as I wouldn't usually put anything up until around the 15th anyway. But it's been a very very tough year and we could both use some Christmas cheer to see us through to the end of it.

To this end; I'm looking for ideas for how I could make the place feel festive and warm and Christmassy without going all out. I'm thinking of things like nice lighting, some foliage (but WTF do people actually DO with this foliage?? I keep seeing people buying what look to be litte Christmas tree cuttings, what are they doing with them?!), just...well, I don't know really, that's why I'm here. I'm not very creative 😳.

I would even be open to getting a small tree, if for no other reason than I love the smell!

Any ideas gratefully received :)

I've been on a foliage spree today! I've bought 3 different types and several packs of battery powered lights. I'll be placing some down centre of dinning table with lights entwined. I'm placing some ivy along fire place, again with lights. I bought a long thicker type, removed berries and acorns, frosted it myself and entwined large retro multi coloured light along it and will be drapping that up above window using command hooks, i was inspired by Nexts window display.Some foliage going in other places like along banisters.I went a bit mad, watched to many YouTube festive house tours on my week holiday and as our lights are all warm white wanted to add a few retro multi lights .Going to be pain turing bloody things on and off but I've had fun week getting creative.

You could get a small tree (loads of small potted trees on sale this year) and make some salt dough ornaments with your lo. They are very easy to make, though at 2 I’d split the making of the dough and the cutting of the shapes into activities for two separate days. Either use festive cookie cutters or just use a glass to make round shapes with little hand prints if you like. Use a straw to make a hole at the top and air dry for a day before putting in a low oven. Tiger have lovely red gingham ribbon at the moment that would be perfect.

You could also thinly slice some oranges and dry with kitchen paper before drying in the oven with the salt dough. Adds another lovely layer of fragrance to the house,

Hobbycraft do a felt tree that is perfect for a toddler to decorate and rearrange.

Turn down the lights and turn on a bit of festive music.

Fake foliage unless your going to be there.
. Get fake foliage from the range... Excellent selection there.

Paper snow flakes from the ceiling...

Little touches here and there. Wilko does great cheap Dec's, and for still excellent value but slightly more individual... Home sense t k max

Lots of lights, those sticky things for your windows. Some large lengths of tinsel draped above your fireplace ( if safe to do so 😉)
A few christmassy ornaments.

Paper chains are fun, your two year old could ‘help’!

If you have a garden or outside space, go to the garden centre and get a potted tree the same height as your 2 year old. Every year you can bring it in and see who has grown the most!

Not sure live foliage will work if you're not there but I think fairy lights can be super magical and would be perfect if you're going away. We string them around our banisters and drape them round mirrors. We also hang lots of white snowflakes ( lovely ones at RE ) but even Wilkos have nice ones for £1 each.

Thanks everyone! There are some lovely ideas here. I especially love the idea of salt dough with the little one, though they have only just turned 2 so might still just be a little young.

I'm not in the U.K. so no Wilkos, sadly. And I don't have any stairs, no no bannisters. And no fireplace, windowsills or mantelpiece. But I WILL find a place for fairy lights, I WILL do some crafts with my child, and damnit, I WILL get a tree!

Does anyone know of any scented candles that don't smell like car freshener trees?

Last year I bought some (super cheap) tissue paper snowflakes in pink, icy blue and white (although making them would also be fun - cut out some regular snowflakes and laminate with some glitter) and hung them from the ceiling in my hall, it was like a winter wonderland - I loved it!

Fairy lights on garlands over the doors and windows work, or in alcoves, or in vases/ bowls. I have a bowl of pine cones and lights too

Make paper snowflakes, thread onto cotton and hang from the ceiling (like in the film Elf!)

We did this in a classroom last year and it looks really effective and is really simple.
You can decorate the triangles with whatever craft bits you have and it can be as big or small as you like.

You could make a hand print tree. Paint some paper green (little one can finger paint to help- add a squirt of wash up liquid to the paint and either have wipes to hand or do this in the bath)
When dry draw around lo’s hand on reverse side and cut out hand shapes. Stick to a triangle, fingers down and overlapping to make a Christmas tree.
Each year you can add another layer of hand prints to the bottom so the tree grows with them.

Sprigs of holly tucked above picture frames/mirrors
Classic Paperchains
Candles
Window snow spray
Snowflake Window Stickers
Tinsel
Lots of lights including little string of LED ones for around your computer screen!

I could have sworn I posted on this thread yesterday!

A tiny tree in a pot?

But mostly I was thinking about you and DS making paper chains together (if you cut and help stick, he can choose the colours and guide through the previous loop) and cutting snowflakes/angels from white paper for the windows.

Window clings - snow scene ones if you do the paper snowflakes, or colourful ones if you prefer.

Some fairy lights from the loft, or battery operated sets, strung along bookcases etc rather than on the big tree will still add lots of festive twinkle and magic and be much easier to take down.

And put any cards you get, or any decorations DS makes in nursery etc, up on the mantelpiece.