17 DIY Living Room Christmas Decorations That Are Cooler Than Mom’s

Dec 06, 2015

Christmas decorations are high on our to-do list these days. Feeling the same? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Start by decorating your living room — AKA the most important room in the house — so you (and your guests) are immediately greeted with holiday cheer as soon as you walk in the door. Check out the 17 DIY projects below to get you in the stylish holiday decor spirit.

1. Colorful Forest: Show off your power tool skills (or bribe someone with warm Christmas cookies to help you) with these bright + modern Christmas trees. Dilute your paint with a little water to allow the woodgrain to show through and use the other end of your paint brush to add the dots. (via Inspired by Charm)

2. Tinsel Letter Garland: Add a touch of glam to your holiday decor by wrapping long strips of tinsel garland around wooden letters to create a festive phrase. Staple the letters to another garland, hang and admire. (via A Bubbly Life)

3. Retro Ranch Holiday House: If a snow-covered Christmas isn’t something you’re used to, then put together this tropical village instead. The cardstock ranch-style houses and palm trees are absolutely adorable. Finish it off with gold bead embellishments and bottle brush trees. Now you just have to find a prime location for it in your house. (via Vitamini Handmade)

4. DIY Holiday Throw Pillows: Okay, here’s the deal: If you buy a blank pillow cover, then these are completely no-sew. But if you happen to have extra fabric lying around, go for it and make the cover yourself. You totally got this. (via Style Me Pretty)

5. Christmas Card Holder: Display your Christmas cards in style this year. This project is perfect for your front entryway and will get tons of compliments. When you’re done with it, just roll up the cork board tree, package away the pushpins and put it away until next year. (via A Bubbly Life)

6. Ornament Wreath: Show off your collection of vintage ornaments by turning them into a vibrant wreath. The ornaments are attached with pins so you can remove them if you want, but once you see the finished product you’ll never want to take it down. (via Martha Stewart)

7. Woven Christmas Tree Wall Hanging: This Anthropologie-inspired wall hanging is a great project for anyone wanting to try their hand at weaving. Make your own loom with a picture frame, nails and string, and get to work. Bonus: Since you’re only working with one color, any flubs you make won’t be noticeable. (via Everything Emily)

8. Sequined Wreath: Create this sparkly wreath now and you can leave it up all year long (or at least through Valentine’s Day). Wrap sequined trim around a foam wreath form and glue it in place at both ends. This one is so bright, you just might need shades. (via The Style House)

9. Astronomical Accent: Your guests will never believe you made the huge silver star hanging above your mantel out of paper (and tons of glitter). This project is a prime example of how easy it can be to make high-impact decorations with everyday materials. (via Martha Stewart)

10. Christmas Tree Lanterns: Here’s a project you can totally do during nap time and still have time to eat lunch. All you have to do is cut a dozen Christmas tree shapes out of tissue paper and glue them on plain lanterns for a Scandinavian-esque holiday style. It doesn’t get much easier than this. (via A Bubbly Life)

11. Ornament Garland: String up bunches of ornaments on a long piece of ribbon or tulle to create an eye-catching garland that will look killer regardless of where you put it. You are going to need quite a few ornaments for this one, so keep an eye out next time you hit the local thrift store. (via Brit + Co)

12. Washi Tape Christmas Tree: Put your tree directly on the wall if you’re short on floor space. Strips of washi tape in the same colors make this simple piece look pulled together and Instagram worthy. Just don’t forget the star at the top. (via Nalle’s House)

13. DIY Wooden Trees: If you prefer your decorations on the minimal side, then this DIY is right up your alley. Paint wooden triangle shapes and add gold leaf detail all around. Since these are small, display them in clusters so they don’t get lost among your larger pieces. (via Sugar and Cloth)

14. Mini Present Garland: Add a bit of retro flair to your tree with this adorable package garland. Wrap empty raisin boxes in bright crepe paper and tie with embroidery thread. You’re going to want to make a bunch of these after you see just how cute it is. (Oh Happy Day)

15. Fabric Stag Head: Adorn your wall with a colorful stag head using only half a yard of fabric. Pick a more neutral fabric and keep it up all year long for a fun + funky piece of decor that is sure to become the focal point of your space. (via Pillar Box Blue)

16. Gold-Dipped Bottle Brush: Make your bottle brush trees look even cuter with a little gold leaf action. Brush it lightly on the tips of the bristles, then go back over it with gold glitter nail polish for a bit of sparkle. Now, go grab a cup of tea and admire your work. (via Studio DIY)

17. Popsicle Snow Flakes: Popsicle sticks aren’t just for making birdhouses at summer camp anymore. This project is a great one for the kids to help out with since the snowflakes can be made in any shape or size. Add a layer of gold (or silver) spray paint and hang with double-sided tape. (via Making Home Base)

Which one of these DIYs are you going to tackle first? Leave us a comment. We’d love to hear from you!

Not Close With Your Family? Here's How To Have a Joyous And Connected Holiday Season

Last year, some of us celebrated the holidays apart from our families for the first time. COVID has brought with it many changes, some of them arguably positive (like increased flexibility to work from home), some difficult (such as the realization of vastly different political and social views between family and friends), and some horrible (obviously, the health implications of a global pandemic). However, for some of us, celebrating the holidays without family members isn't exclusively due to COVID. In addition to so many of us living in different areas than our families of origin, some of us simply don't have close bonds with the people we grew up around. Sometimes, this can cause loneliness.

If you're not close with your family members, the holidays can be a difficult time. This is doubly true if you don't have a close circle of friends to call upon. But make no mistake, if this sounds like your situation, you're not alone — there are thousands of other people going through the same struggles you are. We sat down with Irad Eichler, founder of Circles, a website that connects people who are sharing similar struggles, like heartbreak, grief, or loneliness. Here are some of Eichler's tips for coping — and even thriving! — during the holiday season when you're not planning on spending it with your family, for one reason or another.

Don't Fall For "Perfect Families" On Social Media

Laura Chouette

The first VERY important step to having a joyous holiday season when you're going it alone is to stop believing the narrative that others' family situations are perfect, Eichler says.

"Remember people only post a moment in time, and only the moments when they look their happiest and best."

In addition to the fact that everything you see on social media is curated for the 'gram, it's also important to remember that by focusing on what others have and you lack, you risk failing to see the great things at play in your own life.

"These holiday periods can become a time of focusing on who and what we don't have, rather than who or what we do, and can cause a negative spiral into depressing and dreadful feelings of inadequacy," says Eichler.

Gratitude is the reason for the season, after all. So instead of only seeing the negative, try some gratitude journal prompts to help you focus on what's actually really wonderful about your life right now.

Make An Effort To Deepen New Connections

Joel Muniz

While it may seem like everyone has friends and family to spend time with during the holiday season, that doesn't mean no one is available for deepening a blossoming relationship or new friendship.

"Make a list of people you can or would like to connect with, and try to reach out to at least one of them," advises Eichler.

Reaching out doesn't have to mean a big plan or an hour-long conversation. Even a quick text letting a friendly coworker know you're thinking about them can go a long way toward deepening the relationship and moving it in the direction of closer friendship.

Don't have an acquaintance in mind? Then it's time to make new acquaintances. What's more in line with the Christmas spirit than attending a Meetup or event full of people eager to make new friends?

"Join groups with similar interests to yours, such as hiking, baking, or games. Push your boundaries and be brave - you might find new people who have much in common with you."

Give Back

Priscilla Du Preez

The holiday season is a great time to focus on giving back to your community, and coincidentally, acts of generosity and kindness are known to reduce loneliness and help people feel happier. One study found that knowing a few of your neighbors and doing small acts of kindness for them — such as cheering them up, listening to them, mowing their lawn, providing advice about local business recommendations and job opportunities, and chatting over the fence — was statistically correlated with feeling less lonely and having a lower risk of depression.

Helping out elderly neighbors can be a particularly gratifying way to give back.

"Notice older lonely people in your neighborhood or community who might have no family at all, and offer to help them," says Eichler. "These can become mutually meaningful connections, and help you 'adopt' a grandparent."

Connect With Others Online

Thought Catalog

Finally, use the Internet for its highest and best purpose: to connect people. Whether you're using Meetup to find in-person events, digital forums for having conversations about special interests, or programs like Circle for getting support from others in your situation, the opportunities to create new connections are practically endless.

"There are many interest groups that can be found digitally, where or any person can connect with others in the same life stage, going through the same challenges, or who would like to explore the same interests," Eichler states. "Meaningful connections can be formed easily in these circumstances. The Internet enables us to find and connect to people all over the world who fit this, and to whom we can become more easily attached, as we are able to find people with the exact interests that energize us."

If you're struggling with loneliness, you're not alone. Connect with our digital community of makers and creatives here at Brit+Co by following us on IG and signing up for our newsletter!

This post has been updated.

Zach Bryan & Brianna Chickenfry's Break Up Is COMPLICATED — Here's What To Know

Zach Bryan and Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia's explosive breakup is everywhere right now. From his seemingly one-sided social media posts to all the bombshell revelations she keeps dropping, it's clear this split is NOT amicable. Both parties are dropping tons of lore, info, and everything in between — including new music?! — right now, so it makes sense if you can't keep up. Luckily, I'm here to help break this breakup down for you! Here's everything you need to know about Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry's relationship...or lack thereof.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

October 22, 2024 – Zach Bryan Announces His Breakup With Brianna Chickenfry

On October 22, 2024, after some recent speculation that Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry split up, Zach took to his Instagram stories. The country star said, "Addressing something: Brianna and me have broken up with [each other] and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I'll always thank her."

He continued, noting, "I have had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be. Please respect Brianna's privacy and space in this and if you have it in your heart, mine too."

To wrap it all up, he closed by apologizing to his fans. He said, "With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry. I try my best in everything. I failed people that love me and mostly myself."

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

Brianna hopped on her own Instagram stories shortly there after. She posted, "Hey guys I'm feeling really blindsided right now. Gonna hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately, when I'm ready I'll be back and ready to talk. I love you guys so much thank you for all of your kind words. Remember you are so loved and everything's always gonna be okay 🫶"

The Brianna got on Youtube next, posting a raw, emotional video about the situation. Sitting on the floor of her bathroom, she opened up as much as she could in the moment about her breakup. She said, "I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up and I had no idea that post was going up. He didn't text me, he didn't call me. I just woke up to a bunch of texts, like, 'Are you okay?'"

Brianna, with her teary eyes and red face, explained she's been crying for "five days straight." She said, "I'm at the point where it's like, how can you give someone everything and love them so unconditionally, like through stuff that you shouldn't because you just love them and you want them... like you see the good in them?"

The internet personality said that this is all "so embarrassing" and "really, really heartbreaking." She elaborated that the couple broke up on October 21, but wanted to process on her own and "didn't want it to be public."

Much like her Instagram story, she told her audience that she'll come back when she's ready.

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

November 7, 2024 — Brianna Claims Zach's Emotionally Abusive, Wanted $12Mil NDA

Well, it appears this week, Brianna decided she's ready. On Barstool Sports' BFF's Pod November 7, 2024, Brianna gave an inside look at the breakup unlike any other. Not only did she claim Zach was abusive, but she also alleged that he offered her a $12 million NDA to "not talk about the relationship."

After saying it's been the hardest year of her life, she said. "I'm still scared right now because I'm scared of him. My brain's rewired and I'm scared to make him mad and last week, I didn't want to talk about it 'cause I was scared."

Brianna then described the alleged emotional abuse. She noted that everything was cyclical and that he would build her up only to break her back down again. "There was always another excuse as to why he was treating me so poorly and why I'm crying myself to sleep every night, why he's screaming at me," she said. "And then you wake up, it's the apology, it's the 'I'm going to be better like I need you in my life,' but if you've been through this — I don't expect people to understand emotional abuse if you haven't been through it. I hope you never have to go through it but if you've been there you know what I'm talking about."

Not only does Brianna allege she was offered an NDA, but she said that other women that came before her had to sign their own agreements. She declined the offer because she didn't want to "sign away [her] experiences and what [she] went through to protect someone that hurt [her]." She also wanted to share this experience for other women who've suffered something similar.

And when it comes to the logistics of losing out on the famous lifestyle and alleged $12 million? She said, "It was never about the money — I was with the dude because I loved the dude."

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival

November 8, 2024 — Zach Quit Touring Amid Abuse Allegations

On November 8, 2024, Zach posted on Instagram — where he clearly loves to share all his big news — that not only is his new single "High Road" out today, but that he's also ending his tour early. Read his full statement here:

After not being home for a year and a half I drove out to my mothers gravestone in the dead of night a few days back on familiar Oklahoma roads and I came to realize just like in the past, that she never would call me again

Told her I quit touring because I got accepted to get my masters in Paris next year, I told her I was back in Oklahoma, told her about all my best friends in New York and all the nights we howled with the moon, told her about the immeasurable laughter my band and me have shared these last five years, all the calluses on my finger tips, every tear shed, told her about making it on The Rolling Stone and most importantly told her about porch swinging with my beautiful sister.
I wrote the chorus for this song a month or two back and finished it when I realized I was blessed with all these things.

I figured it was about time I released it.

Thank you guys for listening to ‘This Worlds a Giant’ last night and thank you to all the people who love me; who have truly carried the weight with me.

Seems that all these Quiet Dreams have gotten much too heavy but I’m home now and I’ll hold you through the pain.

High Road is out today and I appreciate all of you"

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