10 Small Items That Will Make Christmas Decor More Magical

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Creating extra magic in your Christmas decor is easy with a few inexpensive Christmas-ready items. A small wreath, a sprinkle of faux snow, or a pretty bowl of ornaments can make your holiday home feel more festive and special.

What if your Christmas decorations could go from pretty to extra memorable with just a few simple touches? You can give your home a Christmas look you love by adding a handful of well chosen embellishments. These small details make Christmas decor sparkle with warmth and personality. I use many of them every year, and they always add a bit of Christmas magic.

If you want an easy way to make your home feel more festive, these ideas will help. They are simple to use and easy to repeat from season to season. Let’s make this Christmas especially beautiful by using these items to embellish your holiday home.

As you look through the images in this post, notice how I layer and mix these decorating elements together. Let’s start with something I reach for every year.

Use Faux Snow Liberally

This is one of my favorite Christmas decorating embellishments, and for good reason. Up close, faux snow looks like tiny bits of shredded plastic, but once you sprinkle it into an arrangement, it turns into soft, pretty snow that gives everything a wintry look. It looks like Hallmark movie snow! It is perfect at the base of a candle, under a village, or down the center of a table. Such an easy way to add a bit of magic.

Another reason to love faux snow is that it is reusable. After Christmas, I gently scoop it up, store it in a plastic bag, and bring it out again the next year.

If you are looking for really good faux snow, Pottery Barn is my favorite source. Their snow looks realistic and works beautifully in almost any display. Add a little to your Christmas decor and watch how pretty and wintry everything looks.

See my favorite faux snow HERE.

Add Cranberries For A Pop Of Color

Real cranberries are such a simple holiday decorating staple. They add a natural and festive element to Christmas displays, and their bright red color looks beautiful against greenery, whites, and metallics. Cranberries bring that classic Christmas look, and they are so easy to use in arrangements and small vignettes.

Choose firm berries with no soft spots and refrigerate them until you are ready to use them. Cranberries are a budget-friendly way to add color and a seasonal look to your home. When Christmas is over, you can compost them, which makes them an earth-friendly choice too.

Ideas For Using Cranberries

• Create a Floating Candle Centerpiece: Fill a pretty glass container with water, add cranberries, and float candles on top for a simple, festive look.
• Surround a Candle for Holiday Color: Scatter cranberries around the base of a pillar candle in a tray or hurricane vase.
• Layer in a Mason Jar Display: Add faux snow to the bottom of a mason jar, tuck in evergreen sprigs, and drop in cranberries.
• Use Them in a Small Bowl Display: A small decorative bowl of cranberries adds a quick burst of color to a coffee table, console, or kitchen island.
• Simmer For A Holiday Scent: Combine cranberries with cinnamon sticks, orange peels, and whole cloves in a pot of water. Let it simmer, and your home will smell like Christmas.
• Top Off a Cake Stand Display: Add cranberries to a cake stand with candles for a cheerful layer of red.
• Decorate Your Table Settings: Add a few cranberries to napkin rings or sprinkle them along the table for a finishing touch.

Cranberries are amazing little pops of color. They also give off a wonderful aroma when added to a Christmas Simmer Pot!

Bits Of Greens And Berries

I keep clear plastic shoeboxes filled with bits and pieces of faux greens. Some have a bit of sparkle, some are frosted, some have berries, and others are simple evergreens. They all look realistic, and these little pieces always make my Christmas decor look more finished. Just a tiny sprig of evergreen or a small cluster of berries can make any holiday arrangement look more thoughtful and pretty.

Once you do this, you will have a whole stash of small pieces to tuck into arrangements, wreaths, bowls of ornaments, bows on gifts, and so much more. These small touches make such a difference.

I used some of these pieces to create the tiered bowl centerpiece you see above. You can find the step-by-step instructions for making it HERE.

These bits of greenery and berries add a finishing touch to almost any holiday design. Simple, inexpensive, and so pretty.

If you want even more helpful ideas, you might enjoy reading:

• Best Tips For Decorating With Faux Greens At Christmas
• Tips For Keeping Live Greens Fresh At Christmas

Votives And Fairy Lights For A Golden Glow

Votives and fairy lights are one of the easiest ways to fill your Christmas home with a warm golden glow. These tiny lights add a soft, welcoming shimmer wherever you use them. Votives, with their gentle flicker, bring warmth to tables, mantels, or shelves. When you place them in frosted or metallic holders, their glow becomes even prettier, casting a soft reflection on everything around them.

Fairy lights add that same warm sparkle. Tuck them into bowls of ornaments, weave them through greenery, or add them to a tray or vignette. A small strand of lights makes anything feel more festive.

Both votives and fairy lights work with every Christmas decorating style and can be reused year after year. Simple, pretty, and full of Christmas charm.

Add Christmas Ornaments And Balls To Coordinate Your Decor

Christmas ornaments are not just for the tree. They are small, versatile decor that add shine and interest wherever you use them. When you coordinate ornaments and Christmas balls with the colors already in your home, your holiday decor looks thoughtful and pulled together. Ornaments add depth, sparkle, and personality, and they are so easy to work with.

The key is to think beyond the tree and use ornaments throughout your home for a cohesive Christmas look.

Way To Use Christmas Balls and Other Ornaments In Your Decor

• Fill a Bowl or Cloche: Add ornaments to a decorative bowl or cloche for an easy, eye-catching centerpiece. Choose colors and finishes that work with your room.
• Add Them To A Wreath: Wire ornaments onto a wreath for extra color and shine. A mix of sizes and textures looks especially nice.
• Nestle In A Dough Bowl: Combine ornaments with greenery, pinecones, or fairy lights in a dough bowl for a festive tabletop display.
• Dress Up A Garland: Add ornaments to a mantel or staircase garland for a bit of sparkle.
• Incorporate Into Gift Wrapping: Tie a small ornament onto a gift ribbon for a pretty touch that doubles as a keepsake.
• Hang From Chandeliers: Suspend ornaments from a chandelier or light fixture for a whimsical focal point.
• Use As Napkin Rings: Tie a small ornament onto a ribbon and wrap it around a napkin for a festive place setting.
• Fill A Tray: Add ornaments to a tray with candles, greenery, and figurines for a layered Christmas look.
• Decorate A Houseplant: Add a few ornaments to a houseplant for a sweet Christmas accent.
• Stack In A Glass Vase: Layer ornaments in a clear glass vase for a simple, colorful display.

Tiny Wreaths Add Beauty And Whimsy

Tiny wreaths add such a sweet touch to Christmas decor. These little accents draw the eye wherever you place them and make a space feel thoughtful and charming. I love them. Small wreaths have a way of tying a look together and adding a bit of personality to your Christmas home.

I have collected small wreaths over the years, and now I have a nice mix of evergreen and boxwood wreaths to use in every room. If you would like to make one, my Simple and Natural Mini-Pinecone Wreath is an easy Christmas DIY.

Here Are Some Charming Ways To Use Small Wreaths

• As Napkin Rings: Slip them around rolled napkins for a festive place setting.
• On Cabinet Doors: Hang them on ribbon from the kitchen or living room cabinets.
• In A Gallery Wall: Layer them over picture frames for a seasonal touch.
• On A Mirror: Hang one from a ribbon on a mirror for a simple Christmas accent.
• As Ornaments: Add tiny wreaths to your Christmas tree for a cohesive look.
• On Door Handles: Hang them from door handles to spread Christmas cheer throughout your home.
• In A Window Display: Hang small wreaths on ribbon in front of windows.
• As Candle Rings: Place one around a candle for a soft, layered look.
• As Filler: Add small wreaths to the bottom of a bowl and top with Christmas balls or fruit.

Tiny wreaths may be small, but their impact is big. They add charm and a bit of whimsy wherever you use them.

Anything With Glitter

Glittery Christmas decor has a way of catching the light and instantly making any space feel festive. A little glitz during the holiday season is such a pretty touch. Glitter adds sparkle, depth, and a bit of shimmer to even the simplest displays. When you mix glittered decor with other textures and materials, your Christmas decorations feel balanced and thoughtful.

Beyond their pretty sparkle, glittery touches bring a feeling of celebration to a room. The most common place to use glitter is on the Christmas tree, but think about adding a touch of frosted sparkle to small arrangements, greenery, or tabletop vignettes. A little glitter goes a long way.

Use Real Ribbon

Real ribbon adds such a pretty touch to Christmas decorating. The thin, shiny gift wrap ribbon never looks the same. Real ribbon has a beautiful texture, rich color, and sturdy construction, which makes your decorations feel more finished and special.

Whether you choose satin, burlap, silk, or velvet, real ribbon drapes well, ties into full bows, and adds a polished look to arrangements and wreaths. It is also reusable, so adding a few new spools each year is a smart way to build a collection. I have collected real ribbon for decades, buying a little every year. I keep it neatly stored, and with a quick press of the iron, it is ready to decorate a tree, a wreath, a gift, or a Christmas arrangement.

Real ribbon holds its shape, looks beautiful, and adds a lovely finishing touch wherever you use it.

Ways To Use Real Ribbon In Christmas Decor

• Tie Big, Full Bows: Add bows to wreaths, garlands, and Christmas trees.
• Weave Into A Christmas Tree: Tuck ribbon into the branches or cascade it vertically for a tailored look.
• Decorate Holiday Gifts: Use real ribbon on presents to make the wrapping part of your decor.
• Enhance A Tablescape: Use ribbon as napkin ties or accents around candle holders or jars.
• Adorn Stockings: Use ribbon to hang stockings or add small bows to stocking hooks.
• Embellish A Mantel Or Staircase: Weave ribbon through a garland on a mantel or banister.
• Hang Ornaments: Replace metal hooks with ribbon for a softer, more finished look.
• Decorate Gift Bags: Add ribbon to gift bag handles for a festive touch.
• Accent Floral Arrangements: Tie ribbon around a vase or add small bows to stems.
• Dress Up Chairs: Tie ribbon on the backs of dining chairs for holiday gatherings.
• Add to Lanterns: Tie a bow to the top of a lantern for a simple Christmas charm.

You might like to read more about Using Ribbons and Bows at Christmas.

Beautiful Mongolian Throws And Pillows

Mongolian throw blankets and pillows add a soft, cozy feel to a room, and they are among my favorite Christmas accents. I added my first Mongolian pillow to our living room sofa more than 15 years ago, and since then, I have collected enough to use them throughout our home.

Their fluffy, inviting texture brings instant warmth and dimension to a space. Whether draped over a sofa, layered on a bed, or tucked into a favorite chair, these pillows and throws make any room feel more comfortable and welcoming. They pair beautifully with twinkling lights and Christmas greenery, and add a bit of quiet luxury to everyday furniture.

Just beautiful and so inviting. You will want to snuggle right in.

Add Versatile Pinecones

Pinecones are nature’s perfect Christmas decorating accessory. Their timeless shape and natural texture make them a wonderful addition to almost any holiday look. Whether you leave them natural, add a touch of glitter, or paint them to match your Christmas colors, pinecones bring warmth and a bit of rustic charm to your decor. They remind us of the beauty of the season and fit beautifully into both casual and more polished Christmas styles.

One of the best things about pinecones is that they are reusable, easy to store, and, if you collect them, free. They are one of my go-to Christmas decorating elements.

Ideas For Using Pinecones In Your Christmas Decor

• Fill a Bowl or Basket Add a simple bowl or basket of pinecones for an easy, natural centerpiece.
• Create a Pinecone Wreath Glue pinecones onto a wreath form for a rustic holiday accent.
• Add to a Garland Tuck pinecones into a mantel or staircase garland for texture and interest.
• Tuck Into a Christmas Tree Place pinecones throughout your tree for a woodland touch.
• Use as Ornaments Tie ribbon around pinecones to hang them as ornaments.
• Enhance Gift Wrapping Add a small pinecone to a ribbon on a gift for a festive detail.
• Create a Candle Ring Arrange pinecones around a candle for a warm holiday accent.
• Incorporate Into Tablescapes Scatter pinecones down the center of a table or add them to napkin rings.
• Use in a Dough Bowl Combine pinecones with greenery, faux snow, or ornaments in a dough bowl.
• Make Pinecone Firestarters Dip pinecones in wax to create pretty and functional fire starters.
• Display in a Cloche A few pinecones under a glass cloche make a simple and elegant vignette.
• Hang from Ribbon Hang pinecones from ribbon in front of windows or on interior doors.

For more ideas, you might enjoy these helpful posts:

• Easy Pinecone Firestarters are both decorative and practical. Such an easy Christmas craft to enjoy all season.
• Decorating With Pinecones At Christmas: A Holiday Ultimate Guide offers so many ideas for collecting, cleaning, and decorating with them. As well as how to store them.

Pinecones are a simple, pretty way to bring the outdoors in and add a natural touch to your Christmas home. Their beauty lies in their versatility, and they are a must have for the holiday season.

Bonus Magical Christmas Element: Dried Oranges

What goes around comes around. Are you old enough to remember when dried oranges were so popular in Williamsburg-style Christmas decorating? They are back in a big way this year, and no wonder. Dried oranges are truly magical. They add a beautiful pop of color, tuck easily into almost any arrangement, and are very economical to make.

These pretty little gems are edible and can be used to embellish drinks, desserts, or added to a pot of Christmas Mulled Cider. They smell wonderful and bring a simple, natural charm to your holiday home.

Make sure to read
• How To Dry Oranges So They Stay Vibrant for step-by-step instructions.

And for even more inspiration, you might enjoy
•Fall Through Christmas: 8 Ways To Use Beautiful Dried Oranges.

Christmas decorating does not have to be complicated to be beautiful. Small touches like ribbon, faux snow, greens, pinecones, dried oranges, and little lights can bring so much charm and joy to your home. These simple accents are easy to collect and use year after year, and each one adds its own bit of Christmas magic.

I hope you try a few of these ideas in your home this season. They are sweet, inexpensive, and make your Christmas decorating feel thoughtful and personal. Merry Christmas, friend.

Frequently Asked Questions About Making Christmas Decor Magical

It’s not too late to collect these magical elements of Christmas decor and use them to decorate your Christmas house! They will add that charming, magical look to your home!

Merry Christmas, friends!