14 Unique Holiday Decor & Gifts: Personalize Your Holidays with Creative Touches
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The holiday season is the perfect time to express love and appreciation, and nothing says “you’re important to me” quite like handmade unique holiday decor and gifts. Crafting your own decorations or creating personalized gifts not only adds a thoughtful touch but also allows you to save money and reduce waste.
Whether you’re decorating a cozy family home in Omaha, NE, crafting gifts for your festive gathering in your Manhattan, NY rental, or adding DIY touches to an apartment in Boise, ID, these creative ideas will help bring your holiday vision to life with unique holiday decor options. Here are some great tips from experts across various fields.
Read the full article here: 14 Unique Holiday Decor & Gifts: Personalize Your Holidays with Creative Touches| ApartmentGuide
The holiday season is the perfect time to express love and appreciation, and nothing says “you’re important to me” quite like handmade unique holiday decor and gifts. Crafting your own decorations or creating personalized gifts not only adds a thoughtful touch but also allows you to save money and reduce waste. Whether you’re decorating a cozy family home in Omaha, NE, crafting gifts for your festive gathering in your Manhattan, NY rental, or adding DIY touches to an apartment in Boise, ID, these creative ideas will help bring your holiday vision to life with unique holiday decor options. Here are some great tips from experts across various fields.
1. Create unique diy Bobbin frames
If you’re looking for a unique way to display art, Swakara from contemporary art platform BetterShared suggests making a DIY bobbin frame. “Make your art gift truly special with a DIY bobbin frame, using half wood balls, primer, and a paint color of your choice,” she says. This creative project adds a charming touch to any piece of artwork and can be used for both gifting or unique holiday decor in your home. Swakara also recommends using leftover wrapping paper or wallpaper to create a custom photo frame mat, making your artwork pop.2. Spread the love with homemade edible gifts
Food gifts are always a hit, especially when they come in personalized packaging. Alba Kimos of Alba Artisan Bakery, located in Austin TX, offers a delightful way to gift baked goods. “Start by selecting festive boxes or bags, and fill them with a combination of treats like cookies, macarons, or chocolate-covered nuts,” she advises. You canadd a personal touch by including a recipe card and decorating the outside with ribbons or handwritten notes.Lizzet Belcher, interior designer at Lizzet Frausto adds, “A homemade edible gift, whether something sweet or savory, something done in a flash or a true labor of love, is a very thoughtful present that expresses that you care better than thousands of words ever will.” The care and personal touch behind an edible gift make it a unique holiday decor and gift idea.
3. Design a customized candle
Table stylist Arin from Fancy My Table in Los Angeles, CA, shares a simple yet elegant DIY candle idea to match your holiday decor. “To create a customized candle, all you need is a 6-inch pillar candle, decorative napkins, parchment or wax paper, and a blow dryer,” she explains. By applying low heat from the blow dryer, you can secure the napkin to the candle, creating a beautiful and personalized design for your holiday setup.4. Make a personalized memory box
If you’re looking for a deeply meaningful gift, consider creating a personalized memory box. Sindhu Srivastava, CEO of LA-based event planning company We Crush Events says this is a wonderful way to showcase cherished memories. “Decorate it with personal touches like photos or symbols and fill it with keepsakes that tell your unique story,” she suggests. This DIY project is perfect for those who value sentimental gifts, as it captures the essence of your relationship in a tangible form.
Photo courtesy of Holiday Decorating by Chris Zimmer Photography
5. DIY pinecone ornaments for effortless charm
For those who are less experienced with DIY projects, Evvery Harvey-Smith from Holiday Decorating in Montgomery County, MD, offers a simple but elegant idea: pinecone ornaments. “A can of spray paint or some leftover house paint can transform a simple pinecone into a lovely decoration,” she explains. You can paint the pinecone tips white for a snowy effect or use glitter for a more glamorous look. These ornaments are easy to make and can be given in sets as charming holiday gifts.6. Elevate gift wrapping with origami techniques
Shiho Masuda, an expert in Japanese gift-wrapping, recommends using Origami techniques to make your wrapping paper as special as the gift inside. “Add flowers, small gifts, or handwritten cards to make them truly unique and heartfelt,” she suggests. You can also incorporate Japanese Washi paper to give your gifts an artistic flair, or try creating a Furoshiki wrap using fabric. These wrapping techniques are eco-friendly, stylish, and thoughtful—perfect for adding a personal touch to any present.
Photo courtesy of Shiho Masuda
7. Build a 3D cardboard holiday village
For a fun and creative holiday display, Peter Seltzer of Pete’s Papercrafts located in New Orleans, LA recommends building a 3D cardboard village inside a shadow box. “Cut out festive images from magazines, glue them to cardboard for dimension, and layer them to create a charming winter scene,” he advises. This DIY project adds a playful, festive atmosphere to your home and also makes for a thoughtful, handmade gift that can be enjoyed year after year.8. Handcraft your own wrapping paper
Kathryn Kellogg, writer of the eco-friendly blog, Going Zero Waste encourages a sustainable approach to holiday gift wrapping. “I like to put on a festive movie and doodle on brown shipping paper that I’ve saved up over the year,” she shares. Using a white paint pen or holiday-themed stamps adds a fun, personal touch, while recycling the leftover paper helps reduce waste.
Photo courtesy of Shiho Masuda
9. Use fabric for wrapping large gifts
Fabric is not only a chic alternative to traditional wrapping paper, but it’s also reusable. Annabelle from Tinsel Town Gift Wrapping in the LA area recommends using scarves, bandanas, or even bed sheets to wrap larger or odd-shaped gifts. “Fabric wrapping is both rustic and elegant, adding a personal touch to your presents while also being kind to the environment,” she explains. For a finishing touch, top your gifts with a small homemade wreath instead of a bow.10. Make natural centerpieces with foraged materials
Jonah Azurin of Nadine De Leon in Washington, DC suggests adding warmth to your holiday decor by creating centerpieces with natural elements. “Foraged pinecones and florals can bring a cozy, festive feel to any table,” he notes. These natural materials not only look beautiful but also offer an eco-friendly way to decorate without spending a lot of money.11. Gift custom photo puzzles
For a memorable and interactive gift, Gary Elphick, CEO of M.I.A. Merchandise located in New York, NY, recommends custom photo puzzles. “You can turn a cherished photo into a puzzle that your loved ones can enjoytogether during the holidays,” he says. This DIY gift adds a personal touch to holiday gatherings and provides a fun activity for everyone.
12. DIY wreaths from natural materials
If you enjoy crafting with natural elements, try making a DIY wreath using foraged pine and dried citrus slices. Ariana Storniolo, writer of sustainable blog, Greenify Me shares this eco-friendly idea, “Just bend a coat hanger into a circle, tie the pine and citrus onto it with twine, and you have a beautiful wreath that can be composted after the holidays.” This simple yet stunning decoration is perfect for adding a unique holiday decor to your home.13. Modern Brutalist ornaments
For a modern twist, Greta from The Design Craft in Saint Petersburg, FL suggests creating Brutalist-inspired ornaments using cement texture gift wrap. “These simple yet striking pieces add a contemporary, architectural feel to your holiday decor,” she explains. For those who love vintage glamor, she recommends using Art Deco gift wrap for creating bold, geometric ornaments.14. Fill tree spaces with larger ornaments
To create a lush, full tree without overcrowding it, Karen Bodu of Austin Staging by Karen recommends filling in empty spaces with larger ornaments or stems like magnolias. “This adds texture and dimension to your tree without needing several smaller ornaments,” she says. Using fewer, larger pieces is a simple way to achieve a polished, elegant look.
