Christmas Decorating Hacks: 14 Clever Tricks That Make Holiday Setup So Much Easier

Christmas decorating hacks can turn a long, frustrating weekend of untangling and re-hanging into one easy afternoon. Every December we fight with skimpy garland, sliding bows, nowhere to hang stockings and bins of mystery decorations. The good news is that clever people have already solved most of it, and their tricks get shared by the millions. One short video showing a simple trick to secure holiday decorations passed 33 million views. Below are fourteen of the smartest, cheapest tricks for garland, walls, windows, stockings and storage, all things you can do with stuff you already own or can grab for a few dollars. Let us make this the easiest setup yet..

Christmas Decorating Hacks Start With a Fuller Garland

The number one trick designers use is to never hang just one garland. Cheap garland looks thin on its own, but two or three strands twisted together look lush and expensive. Hold them together with a few zip ties every couple of feet, then fluff every branch out in different directions. Tie big velvet bows at the posts to hide the ties. The whole room in this photo uses that same idea, plus a few other tricks you will see below. Once you try it, you will never hang a single strand again..

You will need: Two or three strands of faux garland, small zip ties, scissors, wide velvet ribbon, garland ties or soft twist ties.

How to make it: 1. Lay two garlands side by side and twist them loosely together. 2. Zip tie them every 18 inches and snip the tails. 3. Fluff each branch up, down and out. 4. Attach to the rail with soft ties and add bows to hide them.

Floral Picks Tucked Into Plain Garland

Floral picks are one of those Christmas decorating hacks that work like a secret ingredient, just like in those expensive looking store displays. Buy a bundle of berry picks, frosted pine cones and glitter leaves, then just poke the stems into a plain garland. The wire stems twist around the branches and stay put. Spread them out in a repeating pattern so the eye travels along the mantel. Ten picks can make a ten dollar garland look like it cost a hundred. Which colors would you choose for your mantel this year?

You will need: A plain faux garland, 10 to 20 floral picks (berries, pine cones, glitter leaves, flocked sprigs), wire cutters.

How to make it: 1. Lay the garland in place. 2. Trim pick stems to about 4 inches. 3. Push each stem into the garland and twist it around a branch. 4. Repeat the same pattern every 12 inches.

Christmas Decorating Hacks for Perfect Tiny Bows

Tiny bows are hard to tie with your fingers, but a regular dinner fork makes them perfect every time. Wrap narrow ribbon around the tines, thread the end through the middle slot, tie a knot, slide it off and fluff. In two minutes you have a little bow for gift tags, mini wreaths, napkin rings or the tree. Make a bowl full in red velvet, green satin and gingham while you watch a movie. They look so neat and store bought. Have you ever tried the fork trick?

You will need: A dinner fork, narrow ribbon about a quarter to half inch wide, scissors.

How to make it: 1. Wrap the ribbon around the fork tines once, crossing in front. 2. Thread one end down through the middle gap and back up. 3. Tie a tight knot over the front. 4. Slide the bow off the fork, fluff it and trim the tails at an angle.

Tension Rod Ornament Window

Want Christmas decorating hacks for a showstopper window with zero holes in the wall? Fit a spring tension rod inside the window frame and hang ornaments from it on ribbons of different lengths. It catches the morning light and looks so pretty from outside too. Use shatterproof ornaments in the kitchen, mixed with a few glass ones up high. When the season is over, the rod pops right out. It is a perfect renter friendly idea. Which window in your house gets the best light?

You will need: A spring tension rod to fit your window, 15 to 25 ornaments, ribbon in two or three colors, scissors.

How to make it: 1. Fit the tension rod inside the window frame near the top. 2. Cut ribbons in several lengths. 3. Tie each ornament to a ribbon and knot it over the rod. 4. Mix heights and colors until it looks balanced.

Christmas Decorating Hacks for Lamps: A Plaid Shade

This is one of the fastest ways to make a room look cozy. Wrap a plain drum lamp shade in a piece of red and green tartan fabric and hold it in place with fabric tape or a few clothespins on the inside. When the lamp is on, the whole corner glows with a warm plaid light. It costs the price of half a yard of fabric, and you can take it off in January without a trace. Never use glue near the bulb, and keep fabric away from it. Which lamp would you dress up first?

You will need: A drum lamp shade, half a yard of plaid fabric, double sided fabric tape or small clothespins, scissors.

How to make it: 1. Wrap the fabric around the shade and mark the overlap. 2. Trim, leaving an inch at top and bottom. 3. Fold the edges to the inside and secure with fabric tape or clips. 4. Make sure no fabric touches the bulb.

Picture Frames Wrapped as Giant Gifts

Here is a clever way to make a gallery wall feel like Christmas without taking anything down. Wrap the frames, right on the wall or quickly off and on, in kraft, striped or green paper and tie a big ribbon bow on each one. The whole wall turns into a stack of giant presents. Use painter tape on the back so you do not damage the frames. In January just unwrap them like gifts. It is so cheap and kids love it. Do you have a wall of frames ready to wrap?

You will need: Wrapping paper in two or three patterns, wide satin ribbon, clear tape, painter tape, scissors.

How to make it: 1. Take each frame down and wrap it like a present. 2. Tape the paper on the back only. 3. Tie a ribbon cross and bow on the front. 4. Rehang the frames in the same spots.

Christmas Decorating Hacks for the Kitchen: A Cake Stand Vignette

A cake stand instantly lifts anything you put on it, so it is the quickest way to make a pretty display. Pile on a few mini bottle brush trees, some ornaments, a tiny house and a sprinkle of faux snow. In five minutes you have a little winter scene on the counter or coffee table. Use what you already have and change it out for different holidays. A glass cloche beside it makes it look even more styled. Which cake stand is hiding in your cupboard right now?

You will need: A cake stand, 3 mini bottle brush trees, a handful of small ornaments, a small ceramic house, faux snow.

How to make it: 1. Set the tallest tree at the back. 2. Add the smaller trees in a staggered line. 3. Tuck the house and ornaments in front. 4. Sprinkle faux snow across the top.

Ornament Clusters Wired Into Garland

Among Christmas decorating hacks for garland, this one makes the biggest difference. The most expensive looking garland is the kind that is packed with ornaments. Instead of hanging them one by one, wire three to five ornaments together into a little cluster first, then attach each cluster to the garland. It goes so much faster and looks fuller. Use shatterproof balls for outdoor railings like these steps. One color family, like red and copper, keeps it from looking busy. Would you go all red or mix in gold?

You will need: A garland, shatterproof ornaments, floral wire or pipe cleaners, wire cutters.

How to make it: 1. Thread floral wire through the caps of three to five ornaments. 2. Twist the wire tight to make a cluster. 3. Wrap the wire ends around the garland. 4. Space clusters every foot or so.

Christmas Decorating Hacks When You Have No Mantel

No fireplace? No problem. A blanket ladder leaning against the wall becomes the perfect stocking holder. Hang each stocking from a small S hook on a rung, drape a little garland over the top and set a basket of gifts at the bottom. It looks charming and gives you a cozy focal point in any room. You can also use a curtain rod, a coat rack or a row of hooks on a wooden board. Where would you hang yours?

You will need: A blanket ladder, S hooks, stockings, a short garland, a basket.

How to make it: 1. Lean the ladder securely against the wall. 2. Hook an S hook over a rung for each stocking. 3. Hang the stockings evenly spaced. 4. Drape garland over the top rung.

LED Fairy Light Bottles

Empty wine bottles become instant mood lighting with one strand of battery fairy lights each. Soak off the labels, dry the bottles, then feed the tiny wire lights inside and leave the battery pack hidden behind the bottle or tucked in the neck. Line three on a sideboard with pine and berries for a soft glow that is safe to leave on all evening. They are perfect where you would never put a real candle. How many empty bottles do you have saved?

You will need: Clean glass bottles, battery powered LED fairy light strands, pine garland or sprigs, warm water to remove labels.

How to make it: 1. Soak the bottles in warm water and peel off the labels. 2. Dry them inside and out. 3. Feed the fairy lights into each bottle. 4. Tuck the battery packs out of sight and switch on.

Empty Boxes Wrapped Once, Used for Years

Wrapped boxes make the cutest decor under a tree, on the stairs or in a basket, and you only have to wrap them once. Use sturdy empty boxes, wrap the lid and the bottom separately, and they can even hold ornaments while they sit out. When the holidays are over, store your ornaments inside them. Next year they come out already wrapped. Fun patterned papers make a stack look playful and bright. Are you keeping any shipping boxes this month?

You will need: Sturdy empty boxes with lids, wrapping paper, tape, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Wrap the lid and the box bottom separately. 2. Tape the paper on the inside edges. 3. Add a ribbon only on the lid so it lifts off. 4. Stack them as decor and store ornaments inside later.

Christmas Decorating Hacks for the Sofa: Swap the Covers

You do not need new pillows for the holidays, just new covers. Slip red buffalo check, green velvet and cable knit covers right over the pillows you already own. They store flat in a drawer all year and take one minute to change. Add a plaid throw over the arm and the whole sofa says Christmas. Of all the Christmas decorating hacks here, this one may be the fastest. Which colors would you mix?

You will need: Holiday pillow covers sized to your pillows, a plaid throw.

How to make it: 1. Measure your pillow inserts. 2. Pick covers in two or three coordinating patterns. 3. Slip them on over the old covers or swap them out. 4. Fold the throw loosely over the sofa arm.

Storage Bins Sorted by Room

One of the best Christmas decorating hacks happens when you take everything down. Pack decorations into clear bins by room, not by type, so next year you carry one bin to the kitchen and one to the living room and you are done. Store ornaments in clean egg cartons so they do not break, and wrap lights around a piece of cardboard. Add a colored dot for each room and a tag listing what is inside. Future you will be so grateful. Which room takes you the longest to decorate?

You will need: Clear lidded bins, colored dot stickers, kraft tags, egg cartons, cardboard pieces for lights.

How to make it: 1. Pick one color for each room. 2. Pack each room into its own bin. 3. Nest ornaments in egg cartons and wrap lights on cardboard. 4. Add a dot and a tag listing the contents.

Christmas Decorating Hacks for Mirrors and Entryways

A wreath hung on a long ribbon in front of a mirror is the quickest way to make an entryway feel special. Loop wide velvet ribbon over the top of the frame, tape it on the back, and let the wreath hang in the middle. The mirror doubles the greenery and bounces light around the room. Set a few wrapped gifts and pine cones on the console below. For more ideas just for the tree, see our Christmas tree hacks. With these Christmas decorating hacks, your setup will be faster than ever. Which one will you try first?

You will need: A wreath, 2 to 3 yards of wide velvet ribbon, painter tape or a removable hook, scissors.

How to make it: 1. Tie the ribbon to the top of the wreath. 2. Hold the wreath in front of the mirror at the height you like. 3. Loop the ribbon over the frame and secure it on the back. 4. Tie a big bow at the top of the wreath.