Christmas is the perfect time for kids to unleash their creativity and add a personal touch to festive decorations. From simple crafts to unique ornament ideas, children can bring their holiday imagination to life. With just a bit of inspiration, kids can turn everyday items like cardboard, old jars, or fabric scraps into magical decorations. This embodies the true spirit of childhood and the holidays—finding joy in creating something meaningful with what’s at hand. Here are some easy decoration ideas for kids that are fun, mess-free, and will make your home sparkle with festive joy.
1. Popsicle Stick Ornaments
Start by gluing together popsicle sticks into fun shapes like stars, snowflakes, or mini trees. Once your shape is dry, let the kids paint it with festive colours, add some glitter for sparkle, and stick on sequins for a touch of glam. These ornaments are light, easy to make, and perfect for hanging on the tree or decorating windows.
2. Paper Snowflakes
Fold a piece of paper into a triangle, and let your kids snip away at the edges to create unique snowflake designs. Open them up to reveal the intricate patterns, then hang them on the walls, from the ceiling, or even make a stunning garland by stringing them together.
3. Handprint Christmas Tree
Trace your child’s hand on green craft paper and cut out the handprints. Layer them to form a tree shape and glue them together. Decorate the tree with pom-poms, stickers, or glitter, then proudly hang it on the wall or fridge to showcase your little one's creativity.
4. Mason Jar Lanterns
Fill a mason jar with battery-operated fairy lights or a small LED tealight. Add some festive decorations like stickers or tie a colourful ribbon around the jar. The glow from these lanterns will add a cosy, magical feel to your holiday decor.
5. Decorated Gift Boxes
Gather up some empty boxes and let the kids decorate them with wrapping paper, bows, and holiday stickers. Stack them under the tree, or use them as props in family photos. These mini gift boxes are a perfect addition to any Christmas setup.
6. Holiday Photo Frames
Grab some plain photo frames and let the kids get crafty with holiday-themed stickers, glitter glue, or mini ornaments. Once the frames are decorated, add a family photo or a fun Christmas drawing, and place them around the house to spread the festive cheer.
7. Cardboard Stars and Trees
Cut stars, trees, or snowflakes out of old cardboard boxes. Let the kids paint them with bright, festive colours or cover them with glitter. Once dry, hang them on walls or the Christmas tree for a homemade touch.
8. Tin Can Lanterns
Take some empty tin cans, punch small holes into them in fun patterns, and let the kids paint them with bright colours. Place a battery-operated tealight or fairy lights inside to create glowing lanterns that will light up your home with holiday magic.
9. Paper Christmas Tree
Cut strips of green paper and roll them into cone shapes to form the base of your tree. Stack them to create a layered effect, then decorate with glitter, beads, or colourful stickers. These charming paper trees make a perfect festive centrepiece for your table or a cute addition to the mantel.
10. DIY Christmas Banner
Cut triangles or rectangles from coloured paper to make a festive banner. Write messages like ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Ho Ho Ho’ on each piece, decorate with glitter or stickers, and string them together with yarn or ribbon. Hang your banner across the mantel or in any room to bring holiday cheer.
11. Reindeer Cutouts from Glitter Sheets
Cut out reindeer shapes from glittery sheets of craft foam or paper. Let kids decorate them with googly eyes, pom-pom noses, and even tiny bows for added charm. These sparkly reindeer can be hung on the tree, used to decorate cards, or attached to festive garlands for a magical touch!
12. Gift Box Towers
Take boxes of different sizes and wrap them in colourful Christmas paper. Stack them on top of each other to create a festive tower. Add ribbons, bows, or stickers for extra flair, and display them in a corner of your living room or next to the Christmas tree.
13. Personalised Tree Toppers
Craft a unique tree topper by cutting out a star or angel shape from stiff paper or cardboard. Let the kids decorate with glitter, paint, and festive drawings. Add a ribbon loop on top, then place it on top of your Christmas tree to give it a personal touch.
14. Paper Plate Santa Faces
Take a paper plate and turn it into Santa’s face using cotton balls for the beard, red paper for the hat, and markers for the details. Hang these Santa faces around the house or stick them on windows to spread festive joy.
15. Shiny Ornaments
Repurpose old chip bags by cutting them into star, heart, or snowflake shapes. Punch a hole at the top and hang them on the Christmas tree. The reflective surfaces of these ornaments will catch the light beautifully, adding extra sparkle to your holiday decor.
16. DIY Santa’s Bag
Turn a large chip bag into a mini Santa’s sack! Clean the bag and fill it with small treats or goodies. Tie the top with a ribbon for a cute and functional decoration that kids can help make and fill with surprises.
17. Paper Chain Garland
Cut colourful paper into strips, then loop them together and glue the ends to form a chain. This classic craft is perfect for kids, and they can make long garlands to decorate the tree or hang around the house for an added festive touch.
18. Pom-Pom Snowman
Stack white pom-poms together to create a snowman shape. Add small buttons for the body, fabric scraps for a scarf, and a little paper hat to complete the look. These cute snowmen can be displayed on shelves or mantels to add personality to your holiday decor.
19. DIY Toy Drum Ornaments
Take a cardboard tube and cover it with colourful paper or fabric. Attach felt or paper circles to the ends and crisscross twine around the tube. Add beads or glitter for extra sparkle, and tie a string for hanging on the tree as adorable toy drum ornaments.
20. Making DIY Edible Garland from Popcorn or Candies
Create a delicious decoration by stringing popcorn onto a needle and thread, or use colourful candies like gummies and marshmallows to make a sweet garland. Drape it around the tree or hang it along windows for a festive touch that the kids can snack on too!
Creating Christmas decorations together is a wonderful way for kids to bond with family while adding charm to the holiday season. These simple DIY ideas not only make the home feel festive but also allow children to take pride in their creative contributions. So, gather the supplies, put on some Christmas music, and let the fun begin!
