Make your home sparkle like a treasure trove this holiday season. These gemstone-inspired decorating ideas including trees, tablescapes, and mantels really put on the glitz.
A white tree trimmed with a rainbow of ornaments is like the bubbly, beloved sister of the traditional evergreen. We love how its white foundation acts as a clean slate for gemstone-colored stars, orbs, and pipe cleaner chains. Top it off with a big ol' blue star.
Photo: Pencil Shavings Studio
Get More Ideas
Covered with seed beads and sparkling sequins, these sixties-inspired orbs will turn your tree into the life of the party. Though this ornament craft does require some attention to detail, the end result is an eye-catching keepsake you'll look forward to unpacking year after year.
Photo: Vitamini Handmade
Bring the snow globe to your tabletop to make formal meals even more festive. In this bright display, mini nutcrackers covered in glitter double as placecard holders, and tiny painted trees form a forest through the center of the table. Don't forget a color-coordinated tablecloth for a uniform look that helps with cleanup.
See the Party
Festive wreaths aren't just for front doors! This home brings the party inside by displaying two small DIY wreaths on its barn doors. Gemstone-colored ornaments pep up the otherwise-neutral entryway, and the gnomes hanging out inside each one are extra-mischievous. Craft your own gnomes using felt and wood spheres.
Photo: Christie Troxell
If your fridge has no more surface area to spare, whip up a sweet mobile from an embroidery hoop and paint stir sticks to display favorite holiday moments. This darling DIY display features paint sticks coated in traditional ruby and emerald paints, but the addition of aqua and rose lends extra sweetness. Keep photos and cards in place with mini clothespins as they twirl.
Photo: Sugar and Cloth
The most beautiful Christmas trees come in all shapes and sizes, and this wall tree assembled from hardware store staples is no exception. Various widths of pipe arranged in a triangle formation are attached to a sheet of birch plywood using epoxy, then filled with colorful trinkets like toys, letters, and small ornaments. The whole family can take part in scavenging the house for trinkets to paint and tuck into each pipe. Make them extra-colorful (and unified!) with spray paint. When the tree is finished, simply lean it against a wall like a mirror, or mount it like the true masterpiece that it is.
Photo: Martha Stewart
Make the Project
This homespun wreath embraces the quirkier side of the holidays. It's a festive cross between a fairy garden and a cozy knit craft project, and its tiny size is just right for tucking into a bookshelf or hanging on the back of a chair. Ruffled felt, yarn pom-poms, frosty trees, and a tiny cardstock cottage whimsically layered together in vibrant hues make this cute-as-a-button wreath a Christmas keeper.
Photo: Mollie Makes
Can't squeeze a full-size tree into your space? This darling tabletop version can be made in an hour or less, and it's entirely customizable for your holiday palette thanks to today's near-infinite supply of paint color options. Use a piece of poster board to create a cone structure for your tree. Cut paint swatches in half, longways, bring ends together to form a loop, and dot with glue. Working from the base of the cone, glue the loops to the tree until the poster board is hidden.
Photo: The Heathered Nest
Make the Project
A neutral fireplace is the perfect candidate to pack a punch with bold hits of color. Use an oversize piece of art as a starting point, then fill in the space around it with varying heights of wood candlesticks, string a DIY garland across the mantel, and line it with stockings for every person and pet. Give stockings a sweet layer of personalization with monogram embellishments crafted from modeling clay or glitter letters.
Photo: The Handmade Home
It only takes a few minutes to glam up your everyday items before pressing them into service for the holidays. This setup combines everything needed for Christmas morning mimosas with pink-heavy gemstone decor like decorative trees, silver tinsel, and mini ornament strands. Don't forget to finish the look with a mylar balloon banner!
Photo: For the Glitz
It's the season to adopt an attitude of gratitude, and the countdown to Christmas will zoom by with a sweet Advent calendar idea like this one made from colorful paper, felt, pom-poms, and twine. Take a cue from Joni's family and fill each paper pocket with a do-good task or experience that's fun for everyone in the family to take part in.
Photo: Lay Baby Lay
