The holidays are right around the corner, which means it’s time to deck those halls and trim those trees.
While some prefer a classic, elegant style for their Christmas decor, I’m all about embracing the kitschy and quirky side of the season.
Come on in, and let your inner holiday decorator run wild!
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Neon Window Clings
Let’s kick things off with one of the easiest yet eye-catching decorations you can get – neon window clings!
These are essentially giant stickers that you just peel and stick onto the inside or outside of your windows for an instant pop of color.
They come in all sorts of festive shapes like Christmas trees, snowflakes, candy canes, Santa hats, reindeer, and more.
I’m especially loving the 3D effect clings that make it look like Santa and his reindeer are flying through the night sky above your neighborhood.
The great thing about window clings is that they’re a totally commitment-free way to decorate.
When the holidays are over, just peel them off and store them away for next year.
No muss, no fuss.
They’re perfect for rented apartments or anywhere you don’t want to deal with taping up lights and other more permanent displays.
So embrace the gaudy neon colors this year and let your windows shine bright!
Inflatable Christmas Decorations
Nothing quite signals the holiday season like yards filled with giant, inflatable Christmas decor.
I’m talking massive Santa Clauses, snowmen, reindeer, and more that get staked into your lawn and plugged in to blow up into larger-than-life spectacles.
They are completely over-the-top and I love them for it!
Inflatables make such a playful statement and are sure to bring a smile to any neighbor or passerby’s face.
Kids get a huge kick out of them too.
And there are so many designs nowadays like ice skating penguins, flying sleighs, nutcrackers, and more.
You can even get customized inflatables with your family name on them!
So don’t be shy – go big or go home!
Decking out your yard with the wackiest, most colorful inflatables you can find is sure to spread the holiday cheer on your street.
Just be sure to stake and tether them down so they don’t blow away in the winter winds!
Funky Christmas Tree Skirts
Once you’ve got your Christmas tree set up and decorated, you can’t forget about the tree skirt!
This is the perfect opportunity to have some fun with loud colors, patterns, textures – really anything goes.
Let your tree skirt reflect your personality.
Some of my favorite funky finds have included a skirt decorated with pom poms, one with a snowflake disco ball pattern, a colorful patchwork quilted skirt, and even a plastic grass skirt like you would wear at a luau!
Tree skirts are so easy to DIY as well – just get some festive fabric and hem up the edges.
So this year, skip the traditional red and green velvet skirt and go for something that makes you smile instead.
Your Christmas tree will love showing off her wild side too!
Giant Candy Cane Yard Stakes
Speaking of Christmas yard decor, giant candy cane stakes are another wonderfully playful and colorful addition to your display.
You’ve likely seen these before – they are oversized plastic candy canes that stand several feet tall on a stake and you push them into your yard as décor.
Such a fun and festive way to show off your Christmas spirit!
The great thing is candy canes come in so many great color combos beyond just red and white.
You can get rainbow colored stripes, pink and green, blue and orange – the list goes on.
Mix and match to your heart’s content!
I especially love placing jumbo candy canes along my driveway and walkway to really lead visitors into the merry and bright atmosphere.
Sprinkle in some shorter candy cane stakes in your garden beds too.
Sweeten up your home this year with these tasty yard decorations!
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Character Christmas Inflatables
Earlier I mentioned the typical Christmas inflatables you see like Santa, snowmen, etc.
But if you really want to take your inflatable game up a notch, go for some character and pop culture designs!
We’re talking giant, blow-up versions of familiar faces from movies, TV shows, video games, comics and more dressed up in their holiday best.
Some of the hilarious examples I’ve seen include the lovable Minions decked out in Santa hats, an inflatable Grinch trying to steal Christmas, and a larger-than-life Pikachu wearing reindeer antlers!
You can also find popular Disney characters, comic superheroes, and lots more.
It may seem weirdly random to see these characters on holiday display, but that’s exactly the charm of it!
Pick your favorite pop culture icons and let them spread some seasonal cheer.
Your neighbors will get a good laugh and appreciate the playful novelty.
Gaudy Outdoor Christmas Light Displays
When it comes to decorating the exterior of your home for Christmas, I say go bold or go home!
None of this simple white twinkle light business – we’re talking massive, over-the-top, multicolored light displays that can be seen from space!
I’m talking huge LED candy canes, massive LED snowflakes, gigantic tree outlines, rainbow arches over your front walkway – anything bright, shiny, and ideally able to be seen by your neighbors three streets away.
Bonus points for set-to-music light shows and animations!
Outdoor decorative lighting has come so far these days, so take advantage of all those options and deck your halls to the extreme.
Your home can become that fun, flashy house people take their families to drive by and get into the holiday spirit.
Lean into the gaudiness – trust me, it pays off in holiday cheer!
Kitschy Christmas Gnomes
Bring some color into your indoor decorating with one of the latest holiday trends – Christmas gnomes!
Much like garden gnomes in the summer, holiday gnomes have taken over the season with their cheerful colors, irreverent poses and adorable pointy hats.
You can find gnomes dressed as Santa, gnomes in candy-cane striped clothes, skiing gnomes, caroling gnomes – every kind of festive rendition you can imagine!
I especially love putting decorative gnomes throughout my house for that extra dose of holiday whimsy in every room.
Place some gnome friends on your mantel or coffee table, use smaller gnomes in tabletop displays, have a pair of gnomes greeting guests at your front door!
The possibilities are endless.
Just make sure to give your gnomes some lively colors and character so they stand out.
Their cute appearance and nostalgic charm really embody the playful spirit of the season.
Deck those halls with tons of gnomes this Christmas!
Funky Christmas Tree Toppers
Once you’ve picked out your statement tree skirt and piled on the ornaments, it’s time for the essential finishing touch – the tree topper!
Instead of going classic with an angel or star, get creative and opt for something totally unique.
Christmas tree toppers are the perfect opportunity to show off your quirky personality.
Some of my favorite offbeat ideas I’ve seen include a giant bow topper in a fun color or pattern, an inflatable Santa riding in his sleigh, a huge glittery snowflake or candy cane, or even a peacock with big colorful feathers!
If you crochet or sew, make your own personalized tree topper.
Or go for nostalgia and top the tree with a favorite stuffed animal or character toy you’ve had since childhood.
Get inspired by your other favorite decorations and hobbies.
The tree topper sets the tone for the whole tree, so embrace your inner rebel!
Your guests and family members will get a smile when they see what unique creation is crowning your Christmas centerpiece.
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Vintage Christmas Decor
While we’ve mostly focused on playful and over-the-top decorating ideas, I also want to encourage you to display some vintage Christmas items you might have hidden away.
Old decorations from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s carry such nostalgia and retro charm.
They just don’t make ’em like they used to!
Check your boxes of Christmas ornaments and decor for classic pieces your family has passed down for generations.
Rediscover shiny brite ornaments, real glass baubles, handmade crocheted snowflakes, old honeycomb paper decorations, light-up plastic Santas and carolers, and other vintage items.
They likely have that perfectly faded, softened aesthetic that modern decorations just can’t replicate.
Create displays throughout your home mixing new and old.
Use vintage ornaments on your tree and place aged holiday figurines on your mantel or shelves.
The classic candy-colored hues and designs are sure to fill your home with that cozy, nostalgic feeling and extra helping of Christmas spirit only the decades can provide.
Outdoor Light Ball Displays
If you really want your home to glow bright this season, decorate your exterior with festive light ball displays!
These sphere-shaped decorations made of colorful transparent plastic encase a string of LED or incandescent lights for a brilliant glowing effect.
You’ll find them in all sizes, shapes and colors.
Use light ball decorations to illuminate walkways, line roof edges, place in trees and bushes, decorate railings – get creative!
Mix sizes and colors for a fun, whimsical style that pops against winter’s dark nights.
I especially love the extra large globe displays people use to decorate their porches and yards.
They’re waterproof so feel free to get frosty and sleet-proof too!
The brightness and oversized impact of light balls make them such a fun addition to your extreme holiday decorating.
Your home will become a festive beacon of rainbow holiday cheer in your neighborhood for miles around!
Funky Christmas Socks
I couldn’t leave out one of the quirkiest and most festive holiday trends – fun Christmas socks!
Break out your collection of silly and colorful Christmas socks this season and let them peek out above your boots and slippers.
Display them on your mantel or staircase garland for even more festive flair.
You can even use holiday socks as inexpensive stocking stuffer ideas!
Christmas socks are a wonderful way to add a pop of color and whimsy to your seasonal style.
So kick up your feet by the fire donning your most festive, outrageous Christmas socks and enjoy feeling cozy and carefree!
Ornaments
When it comes to decorating your Christmas tree, don’t hold back on the fun and quirky ornaments!
Look for kitschy ornaments at thrift stores, flea markets and craft fairs.
You can find delightfully retro designs from past decades, or handmade creations that are oozing with personality.
How about ornaments that look like tacos, dinosaurs, flamingos in Santa hats, or slices of pizza wearing Christmas lights?
The sky is the limit!
For a DIY spin, decorate basic round or heart-shaped ornaments with glitter, sequins, ribbons, pom poms – anything bright and eye-catching.
You can also decorate wooden shapes like houses, snowflakes or stars with paint and embellishments.
Add silly faces and textures using clay, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, mini pompoms and more.
The colors and variety of your one-of-a-kind ornaments will make your Christmas tree shine with nostalgia, humor and holiday magic.
Every time a guest pauses to admire a particular ornament, you’ll be reminded of the memories made while crafting your collection of holiday uniqueness.
So embrace those inner quirky impulses and let your ornaments reflect the silly, colorful, festive spirit of the season!
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A Christmas Village Display
Finally, one of my all-time favorite pastimes is crafting miniature Christmas village scenes!
I’m talking those classic ceramic Christmas village houses you see in craft stores, arranged on a display board crafted into a wintery neighborhood.
Add glittery snow, tiny Christmas trees, festive shops, little figurines bundled up from the cold – let your creativity run wild!
You can find vintage ceramic village sets, or new mass produced pieces.
I love mixing and matching buildings and decorations from many different sources into my village.
With a backdrop of fake snowy hills and dozens of miniature accents, you can create your own nostalgic wonderland.
Christmas villages allow you to play with color, theme, storytelling – they are such a beloved tradition for so many.
The accessories available nowadays make it easy to design a bright, merry village display that hits every kitschy holiday note.
Let you inner child imagination bring this Christmas tradition to life!
My wish is that you embrace the fun spirit of Christmas by making your home as bright, merry and cheery as can be.
If it’s gaudy, flashy and unrestrained – flaunt it!
May your days be merry and kitschy through the holidays and new year.
Happy decorating!
