Don’t spend weeks on decorations; these creative recycling ideas will lend big impact to your next holiday party for not much time or money.
Planning a holiday party? Forget week-long cleaning sprees and complicated crafts. You can deck your whole house with our easy, two-step party decorations that use creative recycling ideas to lend impact to your next party. Each decorating idea is as simple as it is gorgeous.
Display party favors
Party favors like these adorable fire starters can do double duty as party decorations until the guests head home.
Step 1: Attach wicks to pinecones with wax.
Step 2: Put each pinecone in a pretty foil baking cup.
Wrap vases and candles
Create an easy holiday centerpiece by dressing up candleholders or hurricane vases.
Step 1: Wrap colored velum around vases or candleholders, and adhere it in place with double-stick tape.
Step 2: Use strips of aluminum-foil tape to add easy metallic sparkle.
Layer snack bowls
Amp up your party decor with a tasty decoration for the buffet table.
Step 1: Place a filled snack bowl in a wider, shallower dish.
Step 2: Fill the bottom dish with small ornaments.
Make snowflake garlands
Decorate any table with a sweeping garland of snowflakes.
Step 1: Cut an array of white paper snowflakes.
Step 2: String them onto twine or ribbon and secure in place with tape or staples.
Play with place cards
The key to a gorgeous holiday table is a variety of scale. These clever place cards add height without taking up too much space.
Step 1: Add a sprig of pine to a tall shot glass.
Step 2. Top the glass with an ornament tied with a name tag.
Deck the dining chairs
Help party guests find their seats with this easy numbering idea.
Step 1: Adhere wooden crafts numbers to burlap wreaths with glue or wire.
Step 2: Use a wide ribbon to tie a wreath to each chair.
Style party favors
Let party favors dress up place settings at your holiday party.
Step 1: Fill take-out-style boxes (available from crafts stores) with your favors.
Step 2: Top each box with a leaf, flower or sprig of greenery—whatever matches the rest of your party decorations.
Decorate with garlands
For a dramatic banister, double up on garland.
Step 1: Wrap a traditional green garland around your banister.
Step 2: Attach a contrasting garland—like this one made of felt flowers—to the first garland with wire ties.
Hang stuffed stockings
An overflowing stocking on each chair gives your dining room a party-ready look. If you’re in the giving mood, fill each stocking with inexpensive party favors like candies and cute ornaments.
Step 1: Tuck greenery and vintage ornaments inside the stockings.
Step 2: Hang the stockings from your dining chairs for a festive Christmas dinner decoration.
Use family photos
Hosting a family dinner? Make it even more personal with family photos as party decorations.
Step 1: Trim family photos into circles.
Step 2: Place the photos under glass salad plates.
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