Last-Minute Xmas Decorations You Can Pick Up at the Supermarket
If you are strapped for time or lacking inspiration, try these simple Christmas decor ideas you can pick up last minute
Christmas is a super busy time of the year, with the planning, preparation and the end-of-year events – the thought of decorating can feel all too much, too hard and just plain exhausting. It needn’t be though, because a quick trip to the grocer or your local fresh market can bring you an abundance of affordable and simple ideas to decorate your home, and might even tick a couple of things off the food shopping list at the same time. Here’s how.
An added bonus of pomegranates is that they keep for weeks if stored in cool, dark place. As they ripen, the crimson red colour develops and they’re then ready for eating. After using them for styling, I like to sprinkle the pomegranate seeds over my Christmas pavlova or use them as an attractive garnish for a salad or festive cocktail.
Pears
You may not have the partridge, but you can have the pear from the pear tree. Pears are another sculptural element that can be added to your table or mantel this holiday season. Pears come in a range of natural green tones depending upon their variety, and you can style these with pomegranates or cherries to create that traditional festive red-and-green colour scheme.
Pears store best at room temperature and, once ripened, you can put them in the refrigerator to keep for a few extra days.
Bonus tip: Put a pear at each place setting on your Christmas tablescape and attach a handwritten gift tag to the stem for a unique place card.
You may not have the partridge, but you can have the pear from the pear tree. Pears are another sculptural element that can be added to your table or mantel this holiday season. Pears come in a range of natural green tones depending upon their variety, and you can style these with pomegranates or cherries to create that traditional festive red-and-green colour scheme.
Pears store best at room temperature and, once ripened, you can put them in the refrigerator to keep for a few extra days.
Bonus tip: Put a pear at each place setting on your Christmas tablescape and attach a handwritten gift tag to the stem for a unique place card.
Oranges
A fragrance that springs to mind when thinking of the festive season is that of spiced oranges, cinnamon and pine. Oranges can be used to decorate if you are after an alternate look to the traditional red and green.
A fragrance that springs to mind when thinking of the festive season is that of spiced oranges, cinnamon and pine. Oranges can be used to decorate if you are after an alternate look to the traditional red and green.
For a seasonal idea that smells as good as it looks, try our Christmas-scented potpourri recipe.
Slice the oranges approximately 2 centimetres thick and lay out on an oven rack, (not a tray as they’ll stick and burn). Place in a cool oven, about 120°C, allowing them to slowly dry for about 2-3 hours. Turn off heat and allow to cool in the oven, remembering that slow and steady is key.
Place the orange slices on a wreath and complement with cinnamon sticks and pine cones.
Slice the oranges approximately 2 centimetres thick and lay out on an oven rack, (not a tray as they’ll stick and burn). Place in a cool oven, about 120°C, allowing them to slowly dry for about 2-3 hours. Turn off heat and allow to cool in the oven, remembering that slow and steady is key.
Place the orange slices on a wreath and complement with cinnamon sticks and pine cones.
Oranges aren’t just for Christmas either, find inspiration from this citrus menorah for your Hanukkah table.
More Hanukkah DIYs
More Hanukkah DIYs
Cherries
Ruby red and ultra delicious, cherries are a must on the Christmas table. Use them to garnish your Christmas cocktail, watch them float in the champagne bubbles or pop them on your pavlova for a festive touch. Either way, if don’t have time to decorate, put a big bowl of cherries on your table and fill a few vases with fresh greenery. Voila!
Ruby red and ultra delicious, cherries are a must on the Christmas table. Use them to garnish your Christmas cocktail, watch them float in the champagne bubbles or pop them on your pavlova for a festive touch. Either way, if don’t have time to decorate, put a big bowl of cherries on your table and fill a few vases with fresh greenery. Voila!
Herbs & Spices
Cinnamon
Use cinnamon to help scent your home for Christmas by making a yummy stovetop potpourri. Simply mix together water, orange slices, a few snapped cinnamon sticks, cranberries (or raspberries if you can’t find them), a sprinkling of cloves and nutmeg. Heat slowly over a flame in a large pot and fill your house with an amazing aroma. Just top up the water when it gets low and heat as long as desired.
Alternatively, if you’re feeling extra crafty and creative why not try making this Finnish himmeli cinnamon stick wreath.
Cinnamon
Use cinnamon to help scent your home for Christmas by making a yummy stovetop potpourri. Simply mix together water, orange slices, a few snapped cinnamon sticks, cranberries (or raspberries if you can’t find them), a sprinkling of cloves and nutmeg. Heat slowly over a flame in a large pot and fill your house with an amazing aroma. Just top up the water when it gets low and heat as long as desired.
Alternatively, if you’re feeling extra crafty and creative why not try making this Finnish himmeli cinnamon stick wreath.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a versatile herb you can grow in your garden or pick up from your local market. It has a wonderful woody aroma, so it’s perfect for seasoning your Christmas roast and garnishing festive cocktails. What’s more, the cuttings can be used to decorate the table – place a sprig at the end of each napkin on your table, or twist it into a circle and use as a napkin ring.
Rosemary is a versatile herb you can grow in your garden or pick up from your local market. It has a wonderful woody aroma, so it’s perfect for seasoning your Christmas roast and garnishing festive cocktails. What’s more, the cuttings can be used to decorate the table – place a sprig at the end of each napkin on your table, or twist it into a circle and use as a napkin ring.
Fresh Flowers
You can’t go wrong with fresh flowers to help decorate your home at Christmas. You can pick these up last-minute at your grocery store or market. Stick with a colour scheme that reflects your Christmas decorating style. White flowers can go with almost any colour scheme and pair brilliantly with fresh green florals such as eucalyptus, magnolia leaves or spruce tree cuttings.
For a more colourful look pick a standout shade to put your Christmas table (and dinner) on the map. Stylist Mardi Mason (pictured) used rustic purple and blue hydrangeas to highlight her beach cottage table, with edible flowers sprinkled across her festive fig pavlova to match.
You can’t go wrong with fresh flowers to help decorate your home at Christmas. You can pick these up last-minute at your grocery store or market. Stick with a colour scheme that reflects your Christmas decorating style. White flowers can go with almost any colour scheme and pair brilliantly with fresh green florals such as eucalyptus, magnolia leaves or spruce tree cuttings.
For a more colourful look pick a standout shade to put your Christmas table (and dinner) on the map. Stylist Mardi Mason (pictured) used rustic purple and blue hydrangeas to highlight her beach cottage table, with edible flowers sprinkled across her festive fig pavlova to match.
Finally, don’t throw away the off-cuts of plants, instead use the sprigs as embellishments on your Christmas table. Tie some spruce to napkins with twine, or tuck a spray of eucalyptus leaves under a dinner plate to add a pop of fresh greenery.
Baked Goods
Gingerbread
Gingerbread biscuits are available in most stores and markets and you can grab them last minute. Stack them up on a decorative plate to offer guests and friends that stop by, or enjoy with a tall glass of milk. You can even use them as tree ornaments by threading them on some baker’s twine using a sharp needle.
Gingerbread
Gingerbread biscuits are available in most stores and markets and you can grab them last minute. Stack them up on a decorative plate to offer guests and friends that stop by, or enjoy with a tall glass of milk. You can even use them as tree ornaments by threading them on some baker’s twine using a sharp needle.
Lollies
And don’t forget the candy canes to decorate the tree – whatever the size.
TELL US
What’s your ultimate last-minute Christmas decorating tip? Share them with us in the Comments below.
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Read more Christmas decorating stories
And don’t forget the candy canes to decorate the tree – whatever the size.
TELL US
What’s your ultimate last-minute Christmas decorating tip? Share them with us in the Comments below.
MORE
Read more Christmas decorating stories
Pomegranates
For me, a fruit that is synonymous with Christmas is the pomegranate and they are a fantastic styling tool. For one thing, they’re the perfect shade of crimson red that can look divine intertwined among fresh greenery and candles in the middle of the Christmas table. For another, they have a firm, sculptural nature about them which means they can stand alone in a bowl or on a mantle.