Transform Your College Apartment into a Winter Wonderland with These Holiday DIY Decorations

By Meghen Jones

Are you tired of recycling the same ideas of affordable, impromptu Christmas decorations? As a seasoned college student, you’re probably looking for something a little classy or understated even. Though you may not be able to fork over the cash for the most opulent of holiday decorations, there are still ways that you can get into the spirit of things while sticking to a set budget. And now that the season is finally here, you can put all of those festive, Pinterest-worthy décor ideas to the ultimate test!

The joy of the season will take over you once you create one—or all—of uCribs’ top 5 affordably, stylish Christmas décor DIYs. Check out our suggestions below.

Glittered Mason Jar Lanterns

Your holiday can sparkle and shine with these beautiful Glittered Mason Jar Lanterns! Created by using a mason jar of any size, a heaping amount of glitter, and some sticky glue, Glittered Mason Jar Lanterns are sure to add the perfect touch to your front porch or backyard space this holiday season. It’s especially great if you have no outdoor electrical outlet available, allow you to keep pace with the Clark Griswolds of your neighborhood.

If you prefer to hibernate indoors from the harsh conditions of winter, then these lanterns make equally gorgeous nightstand décor, perfect for those nights spent reading a good book or binging Christmas movies. Just be sure to put it out before you go to sleep—whether it’s indoors or outdoors to prevent any fire hazard. Not to extinguish your Christmas spirit, but no one wants a ho-ho-holiday full of smoke.

Materials Needed:

Clean, empty mason jars

Glitter

Clear glue

1-inch flat artist’s brush

Spoon

Flameless candles

Instructions

1. Use a 1-inch flat artist’s brush to apply clear glue to the inside of the jar. Brush the glue on heavier towards the bottom of the jar and lighter towards the top. Feather edges of the glue towards the top and leave about 1/4 of the top of jar free of glue.
2. Immediately sprinkle glitter onto wet glue using a spoon. Roll the jar around to allow the glitter to coat all of the areas where the glue was applied. Pour excess glitter back into the container to be reused.
3. When ready to use lanterns, insert the candles and light. Use outdoors in dry/clear weather or indoors. Never leave a candle unattended.

Peppermint Stripe Pillow

Peppermint Milkshakes, Peppermint Mocha Frappes, Peppermint Candy Canes… yeah, we sure you get the point that it’s the season for all things peppermint. So, why not take that seasonally-inspired flavor and transform it into a home decoration? Sure, Buddy the Elf passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, but it’s just as much of an achievement to create the perfect Peppermint Stripe Pillow to really bring your cozy space together—just in time for the holiday season.

These retro throw pillows add an extra layer of cheer to your apartment home for very little cost. Whether you’re flying it solo this year or plan on hosting the main event, these pillows are the perfect addition to any room. Place them in an accent chair beside the Christmas tree or use them to brighten your bedroom space. Whatever you choose to do with them, you’ll definitely have this strange craving for some peppermint bark…although, we couldn’t imagine why.

Materials Needed

White pillowcase

Pillow insert

Red ribbon

White ribbon

Scissors

Stick pins

Fabric glue

Instructions

1. Remove the pillow insert from the pillowcase, then lay the pillowcase on a flat, clean work surface.
2. Roll out the ribbons diagonal across the pillowcase, alternating ribbon color and type. Cut to create a 1-inch overhang on either side. Leave the spacing between the ribbons slightly random and pin into place as you work your way down.
3. Using the fabric glue, attach the ribbons to the pillowcase and remove the stick pins as you go.
4. Once the ribbons are attached to the pillowcase, neatly trim the excess ribbon along the edges and replace the pillow insert.

Snow Christmas Tree Ornaments

As you go through your mental checklist, you notice that most of your Christmas decorations are set-up already. Stockings hung with care? Check. Perfectly placed, colorful outdoor lights strung along each nook and cranny? Check. Christmas tree? It’s up, but lacking ornaments…hey, you’re still a young collector who cannot compete with any standard parents’ selection. But, there’s a solution to this–well, other than dropping a chunk of change at The Home Depot.

Now, we know that those traditional red and green ornaments are the typical go-to, but we believe neutral-toned ornaments offer a classy take on the traditional Christmas grandeur. So, why not switch it up with these charming Snow Christmas Tree Ornaments? These ornaments are sure to become an all-time favorite! The lights wrapped around your tree will illuminate the soft tone of the ornaments and brighten up your living area like never before.

Materials Needed:

Clear glass Christmas tree ornaments

Diamond dust glitter

Mod Podge

Craft brush

Clear acrylic spray sealer

Instructions:

1. Cover the glass ornaments with Mod Podge, then sprinkle with the Diamond Dust glitter.
2. After the Mod Podge has dried, spray the Glitter Snow Christmas Tree Ornaments with acrylic finishing spray to keep the glitter from flaking off.

Snow-Covered Pinecones

No matter how hard we try, we cannot escape the sights, smells, and sounds of winter: the sight of your footprints in the crisp, white snow that fills the sidewalk, the smell of burning wood from some far-off outdoor bonfire, and the sound of pinecones crunching beneath your hefty winter boots. You love the sound so much that sometimes you just step on them for the heck of it! But, why not do something more productive with nature’s gifts?

Get a little creative and incorporate these free objects into Snow-Covered Pinecones. Not only are they simple to make, but they also make for a simple, elegant centerpiece for your seasonally decorated dinner table. We’re sure that once mom sees the finished result, she’ll be tossing her own pinecone creations in a decorative bowl for the next holiday get-together.

Materials Needed:

Pinecones

Glue

Fake snow

2 paper plates

Instructions:

1. Pour a generous amount of glue on a paper plate.
2. Pour the fake snow on a separate paper plate.
3. Dip the pinecone in the glue where you would like the fake snow to stick, then roll the glued pinecone around in the fake snow. Place the pinecones on a protected surface to dry.
4. Once they are dry, shake or tap them to let the excess fake snow fall off.

Gift Bow Wreath

There’s nothing more exciting than creating a customized wreath for your front door. Well, maybe unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning or watching your loved ones’ faces as they unwrap a gift from you. So, why not combine the two into a new holiday tradition?

With Christmas Day fast approaching, it’s time you toss out that fall-themed wreath for a Gift Bow Wreath. Whether you’ve made Santa’s naughty or nice list, this festive Gift Bow Wreath is sure to make coming home the equivalent of unwrapping a present from the big man in a red suit each day. Plus, it will be the envy of all your family members, friends, and neighbors!

Materials Needed:

14-inch foam wreath form

Around 100 bows

Hot glue

Wide ribbon

Instructions:

1. Take your ribbon and hot glue it to the back of your foam wreath form.
2. Wrap around once completely with the ribbon to cover the foam, then hot glue the ribbon to the backside and trim the excess ribbon, winding it back up onto your spool.
3. Add bows, pushing them up against one another to prevent from seeing the white areas of the form beneath. Before gluing one down, play with it— just like a puzzle to see how you can get the best fit.

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