Looking for something to do this weekend that doesn't involve braving the busy mall? Want to decorate your home with surprises that are a little more heartfelt and homemade? Try one of these ideas perfect for this time of year. Bonus: some of them can double as gifts.
Do-it-yourself candles: Whether you want to keep them for yourself or give them as a gift, making your own candles is a simple way to personalize home decor. You’ll need wax — paraffin and soy are popular types — wicks, and a container for the candle. Personalize it by adding scents and dyes of your choice — oil-based dyes, as opposed to food coloring, work best. You’ll also need a double boiler and a food thermometer to melt the wax to the correct temperature, depending on what type of wax you use.
Make the house smell warm and cozy: Speaking of scents, a way to make the house smell amazing without ever lighting a match is by putting on a pot of stove top potpourri. With 2-3 cups water, mix 1 cup fresh cranberries, 1 sliced orange, 5 cinnamon sticks, 1 tablespoon cloves and 1 teaspoon nutmeg. Simply simmer on low to fill the house with seasonal scents, refilling the water as needed. For a perfect gift idea, fill a mason jar with all the solid, unsliced ingredients. Decorate with a printout of the instructions tied to the jar with a red ribbon, and give the jar to a loved one.
Decorate some ornaments: Nothing beats the value of a handmade ornament, the one you take out of storage every year when decorating that brings back memories. Take a break from store-bought 40-piece sets and make your own instead. You can get a pack of clear bulbs from a craft store, and then add your own twist. Paint them with festive colors, fill them with pompoms or fake snow or try decoupage with foil or colored paper for a neat effect. Detail the bottom of the ornament with the year you made it, and make it an annual gift that your family can look back on and enjoy.
Make your own votive holders: Can't get enough of candles? Decorate your party with these adorable flower pot candle holders, and then send your guests home with them. Miniature flower pots can be found at a local gardening or craft store. Adorn them with ribbon or paper cut-outs, fill with a touch of moss or garland, and pop in a votive.
Fashion a wreath: The perfect way to make a first impression, you can’t get more classic than a wreath on the front door. Craft stores sell bare, pre-made wreaths along with aisles full of decorative picks. Pick out a bunch according to a theme and stick them into the wreath that fits the scheme of your home. Or, gather a group of friends to have a wreath-making night, and then swap wreaths.