The holiday season is almost upon us. Are you ready? Here are 25 simple, easy projects to get your home ready for the holidays.


home ready for the holidays projects

Last weekend I spoke at the Pinner’s Conference at the Arlington Convention Center.

I was speaking at 11:30 and had every intention of getting there by 10:30 because I had tons of stuff to set up and a book table to get ready.

I wanted to look prepared.

I wanted to look like a professional speaker.

I wanted to have extra time to fluff my hair and calm my nerves and apply red lipstick.

And then?

A yardsale happened.

I couldn’t help it.

I saw the sign and the piles of amazingness and worn, wood chippy architectural pieces and vintage spindles and somehow, some way…

….my car just turned itself at the yard sale sign.

In good news? I found the most amazing finds.

In bad news? All that amazingness and yard saling and carting off treasures from the sale left me running behind.  I arrived at the convention center with only 15 minutes to get ready.  My hair wasn’t fluffed.  My red lipstick was a little wonky.  My book table was a little pitiful.  My project display at the front of the room was off-kilter on one side.  But in the end–none of that mattered.

Because the audience?

THEY WERE AMAZING.

Hundreds of people were cheering and laughing and uniting together over our love of decorating and our homes and 25 unique and creative projects to get a home ready for the holidays.

So in case you missed the talk.  In case you were out yard saling, too.  In case you love decorating and projects just like me.

Here are 25 projects to get your home ready for the holidays.

(ps  If you attended the speech—I changed it up a bit with a few more holiday projects just for you)

ideas to get a home ready for the holidays

home ready for the holidays

1. key art

Find cute keys that represent each of the homes you’ve lived in.

Attach them to a piece of wood and create a wall display with them.

You could even add your addresses underneath.

home ready for the holidays pillow

2.  Linen scrap pillow of the house

This is such an easy project.

Perfect for a housewarming or Christmas or celebration of a place or a home that’s special to you.

See the DIY instructions here.

vase project to get home ready for the holidays

3.  Twig vase

This is a free project that takes about half a Hallmark movie to complete.

I found my inspiration in this vase that I purchased from a local store.

All you need to make your own are twigs and a clear vase.

See the DIY instructions here.

4. recipe wall

If you have read this blog for more than five minutes, you’ve seen this project.

It’s one of my all-time favorites.

See the DIY instructions here.

And a few life lessons I learned from it here.

5.  Wood bead strand

The amazing project that makes every vignette a little cuter.

Add it to a stack of books, a basket or a bookshelf display.

See the DIY instructions here.

6.  No sew pom pom throw

This is a one and a half Hallmark movie project.

Perfect for fall and perfect for anyone who doesn’t like to sew.

See the DIY instructions here.

7.  embroidered tray

This is one of the earliest projects on the blog.

And still one of my favorites.

See the DIY instructions here.

8.  Wooden tray

This is the tray for every Happy Birthday in our home.

It was easy to make and has held up through years of birthdays.

See the DIY instructions here.

9.  felted acorn

When you need a little felting with your acorns.

Here’s a fun project for fall.

See the DIY instructions here.

10. DIY covered books

When your books aren’t cute what do you do?

Cover them, of course.

See the DIY instructions here.

11.  reclaimed wood monogram sign

This project uses stain pens just like paint pens.

It creates the impression of old wood and vintage monogramming.

See the DIY instructions here.

12.  spray painted number basket

Don’t pass up those baskets at a yard sale.

Spray paint them with numbers instead.

See the DIY instructions here.

13.  Spindle Christmas tree

When an old rocker shows up on your porch what do you do?

Make a Christmas tree.

See the DIY instructions here.

14.  DIY spoon cabinet handle

We had these on our cabinets at the farmhouse for years.

Best kitchen conversation starter ever.

See the DIY instructions here.

15.  DIY Monogrammed pillow

Add a monogram to your couch.

It all starts with the Monogram It app.

See the DIY instructions here.

16.  Faux wood wrapping paper with Christmas tree

When you want to get creative with your Christmas wrapping.

It all starts with faux wood paper.

See the DIY instructions here.

17.  Pom pom pillow

I love this project just as much as the first day it showed up at my house.

The perfect pillow for any room.

See the DIY instructions here.

18.  Book page leaf garland

This is a simple project.

It’s a one Hallmark movie DIY.

See the DIY instructions here.

19.  DIY topiary

This is such an easy project and a great solution for an inexpensive topiary.

You just need ivy and a wire coat hanger.

See the DIY instructions here.

Fall Letters

20.  Wood block letters

This is one of the simplest projects on the blog.

It makes the perfect mantel or display for fall or Christmas.

See the DIY instructions here.

home ready for the holidays scrabble tile project

21.  Scrabble tile Christmas tree

If you have scrabble letters and a chalkboard this is the project for you.

O Christmas tree.

See the DIY instructions here.

home ready for the holidays pumpkin project

22.  Wood stick pumpkin project

Another project featuring my love affairs with twigs.

This is a one Hallmark movie project.

See the DIY instructions here.

home ready for the holidays book page pumpkin

23.  Blue pumpkin with scrapbook paper leaf

I just showed this one yesterday.

But it deserves a repeat because it’s SO EASY.

And has so many possibilities.

See the DIY instructions here.

24.  Christmas tree pom pom pillow

The best part of this project?

The cotton balls are tea-stained.

See the DIY instructions here.

home ready for the holidays abacus

25.  How to make a giant abacus

I saw this long ago in a catalog and couldn’t afford it.

So I just DIY’d my own.

See the DIY instructions here.

home ready for the holidays

Whew.

That was a lot.

I get it.

I understand.

It’s overwhelming to get your home ready for the holidays.

You could always just pin this for later…

…and go yard saleing instead. 🙂

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
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