22 Paper Christmas Decorations You'll Want to DIY This Year
22 Paper Christmas Decorations You'll Want to DIY This Year
The easiest way to cut your holiday spending? DIY your decor, of course—and it's especially budget-friendly when the decor is made from relatively cheap material. Enter paper Christmas decorations, a Christmas miracle if there ever was one. We rounded up plenty of inspiring examples that are just as festive as other holiday decorations, but a lot more affordable and scrappy (literally—put those wrapping paper scraps to use). You can totally handle constructing these yourself. Read on for instructions and ideas to deck the halls the crafty way.
1) Retro Paper Ornaments
These retro paper ornaments by Lia Griffith are almost as good as actual vintage glass ones. Plus, they're super simple to whip up. All you need is colored paper, thread, and glue. Bonus: They won't break if they ever fall off of your tree!
2) Black Paper Tablecloth
Ditch a fussy tablecloth and use black butcher paper instead. This way, you can channel your inner artist and paint or draw on decorative details and place cards. Plus, it makes cleaning up after a holiday dinner much easier.
3) Faux Leaf Garland
Add a little greenery to your table with a DIY paper leaves chain. Then give it the full Christmas treatment with red berries sprinkled throughout.
4) Upgrade Wrapping Paper
Christmas paper decorations don't have to involve complicated instructions and a penchant for crafting. It can be as simple as upgrading your wrapping paper. Coordinate your gift wrapping to complement the color scheme in your living room, and use the same techniques for your ornaments for a cohesive whole.
5) DIY Christmas Bulb Advent Calendar
Not only is this super colorful strand of bulb string lights gorgeous wall (or tree!) decor, but it's also a clever advent calendar filled with treats. Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.
6) DIY Origami Paper Christmas Trees
These origami trees from Bird's Party might be the cutest Christmas paper decor we've ever seen. Use bold, graphic patterns, but stick to a monochromatic with metallic statements for a more modern spread.
7) Accordion Trees
Emily Henderson got these more rounded, soft paper Christmas Trees from West Elm, but you can also try a DIY version. Here's a tutorial from Ruffled.
8) Paper Candle Christmas Tree Ornaments
Make some paper candles to hang on your tree. Much better than hanging actual candles... because the real deal would be a fire hazard for sure. Learn how to make them from The House That Lars Built.
9) DIY Garland on Paper Pendant
Buy paper lantern lights and then spruce them up with faux flowers and twinkly lights. These are so pretty, you'll want to leave them up all year. Get the tutorial at eHow.
10) Bark-Effect Leaves
Paint some construction paper to look like bark or print out a hi-res image of tree bark and then cut your paper into the shape of leaves. String them together with plain white leaves, metal stars, and twinkly lights for a holiday display that doesn't follow the traditional red and green color scheme.
11) Outdoor Porch Decor
For something especially festive, considering DIYing some oversized felt Christmas lights, like these from Sugar & Charm. Or use construction paper and cardboard if you have any of those materials lying around. If your door is painted a bright color, match some of the "lights" with it, while keeping the others on theme for Christmas.
12) Nordic Paper Origami Star Ornaments
If you're skilled in origami, let these white paper origami star ornaments by JoyfulArray on Etsy inspire you. They're so chic! And if you're not so sure about your origami abilities, you can always buy a few.
13) Make a Bell Garland
String up red and white paper bells with a fishing line along your mantle for a bright, festive, and airy hallway display. Red and white is the perfect color scheme for a candy cane theme (bonus points if you add a touch of green with an accent chair).
14) DIY Paper House Christmas Ornament
Yes, gingerbread houses are great and all (listen, they're edible!), but these mini paper houses from Lia Griffith are better-suited for your tree.
15) Spice Up a Garland
Grab some construction paper in fun, vibrant colors and then cut out some shapes (here, little triangles that resemble trees). Then glue those shapes together and hang them from your garland to give it a fresh, personal touch.
16) Hang Snowflakes Overhead
Dangle white paper lanterns or DIY snowflakes from the ceiling over your holiday dinner table. For a complete winter wonderland atmosphere, stick to an all-white look with some fresh greenery sprinkled in.
17) Mini Cornucopia Ornament
For this ornament, all you need to do is make a paper cone, attach string to it, and fill it with a few festive faux accents, like leaves and berries. Get the tutorial at Good Housekeeping.
18) DIY Pom Pom Christmas Tree
Who even needs lights and ornaments with a tree this colorful? It's perfect for apartment dwellers or as office decor during the holidays. Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth.
19) Metallic Paper Holly and Mistletoe Wreath
Finally—a wreath you won't have to throw out at the end of the season. And it's a great craft for holiday parties or to keep the kids busy. Get the tutorial at Lia Griffith.
20) Repurpose Coffee Filters
You really can use anything to make pretty Christmas decorations if you put your mind to it—including this garland is made from crinkled-up coffee filters! If you don't have any of those lying around, tissue paper is a great swap.
21) Colorful String Lights
These string lights brighten up an entire room, even if they are just made of paper. Playful, colorful, and no fire hazard whatsoever. Get the tutorial at Studio DIY.
22) Paper Scraps Ornament
After you've finished wrapping presents, put your gift wrap scraps to good use. All you need is a plain ornament, Mod Podge, and a few little ribbons to tie it all together. You can get the full tutorial at Modge Podge Rocks.
Crafty, chic, and affordable.