With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to decorate your home. If you’re looking for some Southern-inspired Christmas decoration ideas for your Charlotte home, look no further! From mason jar snowglobes to pomander trees, there are countless decorations that get us in the holiday spirit. Take a look at these six simple decoration ideas that you can make with your own two hands! So whether you’re looking for a festive wreath to hang on your door or some homemade gifts to give to your friends and family, we’ve got you covered. Happy decorating!

Mason Jar Snowglobes

Looking for the perfect decoration for your coffee table, with only minutes of assembly required? This is the project for you! Mason jar snow globes are easy and adorable. Plus, you don’t need a ton of materials, only glue, glycerin, a glass jar, a decor/ornament to put inside, glitter, and water.

Step 1: Use Gorilla glue to stick your decor of choice to the mason jar's lid. let it dry for about 24 hours.
Step 2: Fill the jar with water (enough to submerge your decor/ornament), and add 3-5 drops of glycerin, and your desired glitter.
Step 3: Glue the lid with your decor/ornament to the jar (submerging the decor into the water).
Step 4: Wait until it's dry to flip it and there you have it! Remember to shake gently.

P.S. You can check out the full tutorial here!

Dried Orange Ornaments

The bright orange of dried citrus is an easy way to bring a pop of color into your home this season. They're perfect to use for dinner decorations, beverages, ornaments, and even wreaths! They are probably the simplest craft you’ll make this holiday. Here’s what you’ll need to make them: oranges, an oven, a knife, a parchment-lined baking sheet, and ornament hooks.

Step 1: Thinly slice oranges and bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 2-3 hours at 200 degrees.
Step 2: Glue on any additional decorations - this is optional.
Step 3: Add ornament hooks, put them on your tree, table, or wreath, and spread the cheer!

Dried citrus ornament hanging from a Christmas tree branch — Image from Pinterest.

Pomander Tree

Not enough citrus? Don’t worry, there’s more. Give your home a fresh feel with these homemade pomander trees. You are welcome to draw the design beforehand or freehand it. All you’ll need are toothpicks, your choice of citrus fruit, cloves, a bowl, and glue.

Step 1: Use a toothpick to poke holes following your design of choice into the pomanders, or another citrus.
Step 2: Push whole cloves into the holes.
Step 3: Pick a bowl where you can stack or arrange the fruit in your desired design.
Step 4: Glue the fruit together to keep the pomander tree standing. Add lights or more decorations if you want to spice it up!

Tiny Cardboard Gingerbread Houses

Instead of buying a kit to make a gingerbread house that you might end up throwing away later, why not try to make this cool hangable gingerbread house out of recycled paper and things you already have in your home. The materials you’ll need include scissors, a white marker, colored markers (optional), a ruler, recycled paper or cardboard, glue, and some string.

Step 1: Search online for a free house template
Step 2: Trace it from the computer or tablet screen onto the sheet of paper. If you’re using cardboard, you can print the template, cut it out, and trace it onto the cardboard.
Step 3: Cut out your house, and with the white marker draw the outline of the house and the decorations you want it to have.
Step 4: Glue on any extra decorations and create a hole with the scissors in the top of the house.
Step 5: Put a piece of string through the hole and hang it anywhere you want!

Cinnamon Stick Candles

These easy cinnamon stick candles will give your home the warm smell of the holidays. Nothing says Christmas in Charlotte like a cozy get-together. They're the perfect project to do with friends or just to light when they come over! These are great decorations to place all over your house and keep burning even after winter ends. You’ll need cinnamon sticks, scissors, plain white candles, a ruler, elastic bands, twine, and wired-edge burlap ribbon.

Step 1: Measure the height of your candles and cut the cinnamon sticks accordingly.
Step 2: Place the elastic band around the candle and start adding and gluing the cinnamon sticks around it.
Step 3: When done, use the wired edge burlap ribbon and glue it around the candle on top of the cinnamon sticks.
Step 4: Use the twine, and roll it around the candle a couple of times before cutting it and tying a bow. And voila!

Look how gorgeous the ones that creator, Louise Roe, made turned out!

Christmas Tree Wine Corks

This is a simple yet fun and stylish idea to create decorations for your house using the pinecones you find outside and the wine corks you were planning on throwing away. Here’s what you’ll need: pinecones, small wooden or cardboard stars, glue, green paint, and wine corks.

Step 1: Paint the pinecones green and leave them to dry for an hour or so.
Step 2: Cut the wine corks in half and glue them under the pinecone.
Step 3: Glue the star to the top of the pinecone, repeat this process for as many trees as desired and you’re done!

Feeling festive yet? We hope that you get the chance to take on one (or all) of these DIY projects this holiday season. Nothing gets you in the spirit quite like a cozy and well-decorated home! And if you’re looking to spruce up your home on a less seasonal level, you should also check these local interior design shops - they’re some of the best in town.

It’s our goal at Team Horton to help you stay connected with your community. So if you ever have any questions or want top-tier Charlotte recommendations, we’re here to help. Check out our neighborhood guide or get in touch with us to discover the best local spots for the holidays or any other day of the year!