13 DIY Christmas Decorations For A Homemade Holiday Season

If the thought of decking the halls conjures up visions of tangled burned out lights, wasteful ornament avalanches, and a PVC tree that will linger in landfills for decades, fear not. We’re here to help you ditch the disposable mass-produced decor, and dive headfirst into the world of DIY Christmas decorations that are both beautiful and eco-friendly.

Grab your twine, dust off your crafting cap, and get ready to sleigh the holiday decor game with DIY ideas that are as unique as they are festively eco-friendly.

Sticks and branches offer one of the most versatile and eco-friendly ways to create a Christmas tree. Depending on the space and look you want, you can bring in a large (or small) branch from the garden and decorate it with your DIY ornaments and energy-efficient LED fairy lights, or construct a more traditional triangular-shaped tree using sticks tied together with twine.

Both styles create a striking rustic centerpiece or Christmas tree alternative that avoids the waste of plastic trees while keeping your holiday decor creative and sustainable.

To make your own, gather:

• Foraged sticks or branches (look for interesting shapes and you can experiment with foliage too)
• A sturdy base or pot filled with soil or sand (for branch-style trees)
• Twine or string (if building a structured stick tree)
• Optional: ornaments, lights, ribbons, or natural decorations

For a branch tree, secure your chosen branch upright in a pot filled with soil or sand, then decorate with LED lights and ornaments. For a stick tree, arrange sticks in a triangular “tree” shape, securing them with twine, and then add your favorite DIY decorations.

This project is wonderfully adaptable! You can keep it simple and minimalist, or get as creative as you like with different shapes, sizes, and embellishments. Either way, you’ll end up with a unique holiday centerpiece that’s natural, reusable, and completely compostable at the end of its life.

Clove-studded oranges (also called pomander balls) are an old-school DIY Christmas decoration that engages all the senses. Not only do they look beautiful gathered in a bowl, but they also fill your home with a warm, spicy citrus scent that lasts for weeks. This project is a little more time-intensive, but it’s a fun and nostalgic way to make your home smell like the holidays. Many of us remember making these in school!

To create your own pomander balls, gather:

• Fresh oranges (or other citrus like mandarins)
• Whole cloves (enough to cover the fruit ideally)
• A bowl for display

Take each clove and pierce it into the orange’s skin until only the rounded bud end is visible. Continue adding cloves until the orange is fully (or mostly) covered. Repeat with several oranges, then place them in a bowl together as a fragrant centerpiece.

These natural DIY Christmas decorations are completely compostable when you’re finished with them, making them one of the most sustainable festive crafts.

Transforming natural elements into festive ornaments is a creative and eco-friendly way to add charm to your sustainable Christmas tree. These ornaments bring a touch of nature’s winter beauty indoors, creating a cozy, rustic look, but can also be used as DIY outdoor Christmas decorations due to their durability (that is where they come from, after all!).

To make this DIY rustic Christmas decor, gather these craft supplies:

• Pine cones, preferably sourced sustainably (i.e. those that have already fallen, not plucked off trees)
• Twine or ribbon for hanging
• Optional: Earth-safe paint (like that by Natural Earth Paint) or biodegradable glitter for a festive touch

Start by collecting pinecones, ensuring they’re clean and free from bugs and pesticides. Attach a loop of twine or ribbon at the top of each pinecone for hanging.

If you’re adding color, be aware that most forms of glitter and paints (unless made with only plant-based ingredients) are not home compostable, and thus you still won’t be able to compost the ornaments if you ever decide to move on.

Repurposing old Christmas cards into unique decorations is a wonderful way to recycle and add a personal touch to your DIY holiday decor.

This project turns paper that would otherwise be discarded into charming, colorful ornaments. For this upcycling project, you will need:

• Old Christmas cards
• Scissors
• Glue or adhesive
• Any additional decorative elements like ribbons or glitter

Begin by selecting your favorite cards and cutting them into desired shapes, such as stars, trees, or circles. Use glue or another adhesive to attach ribbons or additional decorative elements.

These upcycled cards can be hung on your Christmas tree, displayed on walls or mantles, or used as gift tags, adding a unique and personal flair to any type of zero waste gift wrapping.

Crafting natural wreaths is a fantastic way to bring a bit of the outdoors inside for the holidays. These natural wreaths not only look beautiful, but also fill your home with the delightful scents of the season. It’s like extra pretty potpourri!

These wreaths can range from simple and understated DIY farmhouse Christmas decor, to elaborate and ornate creations, depending on your taste and the materials you have at hand, such as:

• Greenery (like fresh pine branches, holly, or eucalyptus)
• Floral wire or a wreath base
• Natural decorations (such as pinecones, dried flowers, dried fruit, or nuts)

To create your wreath, start by arranging your chosen greenery on the wreath base and securing it with floral wire. Add your decorative elements, positioning them around the wreath for a balanced look.

Speaking of scented DIY Christmas ideas…

Citrus slice ornaments are a vibrant and fragrant addition to your Christmas decor. These ornaments are simple to make and bring a burst of color and natural aroma to your holiday setting. You’ll need the following:

• Oranges, lemons, or grapefruits
• A knife and cutting board
• Oven or dehydrator

Slice your citrus fruits thinly (¼ inch / ~5 mm thick works best) and evenly, and remove any seeds. Pat with a paper towel or clean dish cloth. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet and dry them in an oven set to a low temperature (150–200°F / 65–90°C) for around 2-4 hours (depending on thickness of slices and your oven). Flip the slices every 30-45 minutes to ensure they dry evenly. Alternatively, use a dehydrator for an easier process.

Once dry to the touch, translucent and no longer sticky, these citrus slices can be hung on your tree or used in garlands, adding a fresh and zesty touch to your decorations. Not only are these incredibly easy Christmas decorations to make, but they can be tossed directly in your indoor compost bin if they start to lose their scent or look a little worse for wear.

Mason jar snow globes are a charming and customizable project for the holiday season, and can even be used as DIY outdoor Christmas decor (though this is not recommended if you live in a climate that gets below freezing).

These miniature winter scenes encapsulated in jars can be as whimsical or as elegant as you like. Start with:

• Mason jars
• Figurines, trees, or other small decorations
• Biodegradable glitter, rice or sequins (white and silver makes for perfect fake snow)
• Distilled water
• Plant-based glycerin (to thicken the water)

Place your chosen figurines or decorations inside the jar, fill it with distilled water mixed with a bit of glycerin, and add a sprinkle of your sparkles of choice. Screw the lid on tightly, and you have a magical snow globe that captures the wonder of winter.

Creating a fabric scrap garland is a wonderful way to bring a splash of color and texture to your DIY xmas decorations, all while being eco-friendly. It’s an excellent opportunity to put your eco-friendly crafting skills to the test by playing with patterns and colors, turning what might have been wasted into a festive masterpiece:

• Fabric scraps in various colors and patterns
• Scissors
• String or yarn

Begin by cutting your fabric into long strips of different lengths and widths. You can play with color combinations and patterns to create a look that complements your holiday theme. Once your strips are ready, tie them along a piece of string or yarn, spacing them as desired.

The beauty of this garland is in its versatility—go for a whimsical, multicolored look, or stick to a more uniform color scheme for elegance. Hang your fabric scrap garland as DIY Christmas tree decor, drape it across your mantelpiece, or use it to frame a doorway.

Cinnamon stick stars are a scent-sational addition to any holiday decor (homemade or otherwise), combining visual appeal with the warm, inviting aroma of the holidays. This easy project is a great way to bring a touch of natural elegance while the scent of cinnamon evokes memories of festive cheer. Gather these materials:

• Cinnamon sticks
• Glue
• Twine or ribbon

Start by arranging the cinnamon sticks into star shapes. Use a dab of glue at each joint to hold the shape together. You can use the twine to reinforce the join and to add an extra design feature. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly. After the stars are set, tie a piece of twine or ribbon to one of the points for easy hanging.

These cinnamon stick stars can be hung on your Christmas tree, used to adorn a wreath, or even attached to zero waste gifts as a charming and fragrant accessory. They also make lovely standalone DIY holiday decorations, bringing a rustic and aromatic charm to any room.

Turning scrap paper into festive flair or eco-friendly wrapping paper is an affordable and imaginative way to reduce waste and personalize your decor. It’s an excellent activity for families and can be adapted to suit any age or skill level using the following supplies:

• Recycled paper (old magazines, newspapers, or old book pages)
• Scissors
• Glue or tape
• String or ribbon

Begin by cutting the recycled paper into strips or shapes, depending on the design you have in mind. You can create stars, snowflakes, or even intricate spheres. Fold or roll the strips and secure them with glue or tape to maintain their shape. Get creative with patterns and colors, mixing and matching different types of paper for an eclectic look.

Once your shapes are ready, use string or ribbon to create loops for hanging, either as ceiling decorations, wall decor, or tree ornaments.

This project is perfect for wine enthusiasts and crafters alike, turning leftover wine corks into adorable DIY Christmas tree decorations. Wine cork reindeer or Christmas trees offer a playful twist on traditional decor, bringing a sense of whimsy and resourcefulness to your festive decorations.

Materials for these homemade Christmas decorations include:

• Upcycled wine corks
• Twigs for antlers (if making reindeer)
• Small beads for eyes (if making reindeer)
• Red pom-pom or bead for the nose or ornaments (depending on design)
• Hot glue (or superglue, if you don’t have a hot glue gun)

To assemble, attach twigs to the corks as antlers, then glue on beads for eyes and a red pom-pom or bead for the nose.

Display them on your dining table, add a string and hang on the tree, or, because they’re a hit with kids, let them get used as eco-friendly toys—though be sure your kids are old enough to know not to put any pieces in their mouth if they fall off.

Sock snowmen are a delightful and simple DIY Christmas decor project, perfect for an afternoon of crafting, especially with children. Each snowman can be customized, too, using materials such as:

• White socks (an extra high spot on Santa’s nice list if they’re old socks you would otherwise throw away)
• Rice or cotton for stuffing
• Rubber bands or string
• Buttons and fabric scraps for decoration

Start by filling a sock with rice or cotton to form the snowman’s body, using rubber bands or string to separate the head and body. Add buttons for eyes and a fabric scrap for a scarf, along with other creative embellishments.

A herb pot centerpiece is an innovative and practical addition to your DIY Christmas table decor, blending beauty with functionality. Ideal for those who love cooking and gardening, this decoration uses a variety of herbs to create a fresh, natural, and easy centerpiece for your holiday table.

The fresh greenery of the herbs not only enhances the visual appeal of your setup and adds a unique and sensory dimension, but can also be used in your holiday meals! You’ll need:

• Small pots
• A variety of herbs (like rosemary, thyme, or sage)
• Optional: small ornaments or ribbons

Plant an assortment of herbs in small pots and arrange them as a centerpiece. Embellish with small ornaments or tie ribbons around the pots for a festive look.

When it comes to Christmas, DIY decor goes on the SJ Santa Nice List, while conventional plastic decor lands firmly on the Naughty List.

Tinsel, a staple of festive decoration, is often made of PVC, a type of plastic notorious for its longevity in landfills and highly toxic nature. This material can persist for decades, breaking down into smaller, non-biodegradable pieces that pose a threat to wildlife and the environment. Less than 1% of PVC gets recycled, making it a significant contaminant in recycling streams.

~12,500 tons of Christmas ornaments and decorations (not including cards and wrapping paper) enter landfills at the end of the holiday season. Swapping out traditional decorations for upcycled DIY Christmas decorations transforms our festive season into an eco-friendly fiesta.

Embracing DIY is more than just unleashing our creativity, it’s about saying a big ‘no’ to unnecessary plastic and a resounding ‘yes’ to mindful and meaningful celebrations. Plus, it can be a lovely way to connect with loved ones during the festive season by making these DIY decorations together.

Final Thoughts On DIY Christmas Decor

A DIY Christmas needn’t be expensive! All you need to transform your indoor and outdoor space this holiday is a few ideas, a touch of craftiness, a sprinkle of imagination, and a whole lot of holiday spirit.

If the holiday season has you running short on time—between spending quality time with your friends/family and shopping for sustainable stocking stuffers, eco gifts, or non-toxic gifts—there are plenty of sustainable Christmas decorations on the market so you can still spice things up in a more sustainable way. This season, let’s make sure we’re not just decking the halls, but decking them in a way that’s both merry and mindful.

And as you’re humming along to “Go Tell It On The Mountain”, go tell it on the Internet by giving these DIY Christmas decorations a share.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally written in December 2023 by Deidre Maene. In September 2025, it was substantially updated by Joy McConnochie, with two new DIY decoration ideas added and refreshed images.