Fast Festive Fixes!

Billy Howe
3 days ago
2 min read

Three DIY projects to spruce up your home for the holidays!

December always sneaks up on us. One minute the pumpkins are out, the next you’re wondering if the house feels even remotely ready for the holidays. The good news? You don’t need a full makeover—or a shopping cart full of décor—to warm things up.

A few simple DIY projects can go a long way toward making your home feel more inviting this time of year. Nothing complicated, nothing expensive. Just quick fixes that add a little cheer wherever you need it.

Here are three we’re liking this season:

1 - A Simple, Festive Mantel Setup

Christmas tree with red and silver ornaments, gifts below. Fireplace with white stockings, garland, and lanterns. Cozy holiday setting.

The fireplace ends up doing a lot of the heavy lifting this time of year. Even if there’s a TV above it—and a lot of us have that layout now—you can still make the mantel feel warm and intentional without overthinking it. A little greenery, a few candles, and something with height on either side is usually enough to pull the room together.

If you want a clean example to follow, Jenna Kate at Home has a great walkthrough that shows how she layers garland, lights, and stockings in a way that feels festive but not crowded. It’s an easy look to recreate with whatever you already have.

See her mantel setup here.

2 - A Painted Porch Sign for the Season

Wooden wall and black door with "Happy Holidays" sign. White chair with plaid blanket and basket. Rustic decor with birch logs and wreath.

A porch sign is one of those projects that looks harder than it is. At its core, it’s just a tall board, a little outdoor paint, and a word that sets the tone when people walk up to your door. You can go classic with “Welcome,” keep it simple with “Joy,” or paint something that fits your own style.

If you want a clear, step-by-step guide, Jennifer Rizzo has a great tutorial that shows how to prime the board, add your lettering, and finish it for outdoor weather. It’s straightforward, budget-friendly, and easy to customize with whatever paint you already have on hand.

See Jennifer's porch sign tutorial here.

3 - Painted Terra Cotta Pots

Three festive pots, decorated as gingerbread, snowman, and Santa, hold wrapped treats. Tags read 'Tis the season', 'happy holidays'.

Terra-cotta pots are one of those things everybody has sitting around somewhere, and they take paint beautifully. A couple of colors and a steady hand can turn them into simple holiday pieces for the porch, the kitchen counter, or even a gift basket if you’re headed to a party.

If you want ideas—Santa, snowman, gingerbread house—Kelly at PJs and Paint has a fun roundup that shows how she decorated a set of small pots and turned them into holiday containers. It’s easy to adapt her designs to whatever paint you already have at home.

See the terra-cotta pot ideas here.

None of these projects take long, but they make a house feel a little more lived-in and ready for the season. If you end up trying one, enjoy the process. It’s a good time of year to slow down and make things look a little brighter.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!