Get Your Pad Xmas Ready

Although we all get up in arms when the stores bring out the Christmas decorations too early (although, we’ll never complain when they bake Mince Pies too early), even a few Christmas decorations can create a lot of smiles at this time of year.

Whether you want to go ‘full Griswold’ and light up your house like Las Vegas, or just place a cheeky wreathe on the front door; a little can go a long way to make your place more festive.

However, Christmas decorations don’t tend to be cheap, so here are a few DIY ideas to help you get festive, without hurting your finances.

Step on It

Welcome mats are often the first thing people see when they arrive at your home. So why are mats usually so boring?

You don’t have to splurge on a new mat, just head to your nearest hardware store and pick up a few paints.

You can get crafty with any design you can imagine, or here's a quick tutorial on how to make a Christmas tree themed doormat. 

A Living Tree

Even though there’s nothing quite like the welcoming smell of a real, pine Christmas tree; they are a lot of money for something that’s just going to end up as council mulch in January.

So instead of buying a new, dead tree every year; why not invest in a potted plant that can be brought inside for Xmas?

Australian natives such as Hoop and Wollemi Pines will make a perfect, potted substitute for a Christmas tree; and as long as you show them a little love, you’ll only have to buy them once.

Baubles on a Budget

If you’ve got a few tennis balls that don’t bounce like they used to, some ping pong balls that no longer ping or pong, or any style of ball that’s not too heavy to hang off of a branch; then turn them into cute Christmas decorations.

If you’ve got a few dollars for some festive fabric, then that’s a great start. If not, don’t worry, as colourful napkins also work.

This tutorial calls for Styrofoam balls, but trust us – old tennis balls are fine.

Paper Chains

If you went to a kindergarten anywhere in Australia, then you probably already know how to put-together a paper chain. If that’s not the case, or you’ve forgotten that particular lesson, you can find a quick guide over at Wikihow.

If you’re going to go to the effort of making a paper chain, then it’s probably worth investing in some coloured paper. After all, if you store it right – you can use your paper chain every year.

However, if you’re on a tight budget this year, you can use the pages from colourful catalogues and magazines. They’ll look great, and create an interesting conversation starter – as people try to figure out which magazines the paper came from.

Plan Ahead

Although it’s not going to help you this year, it’s worth noting that the cost of Christmas decorations drops significantly once the festive season draws to a close.

So if you do want to go all out next year, then it’s worth your time heading to shops like K-Mart and Bunnings as soon as their sales start after Christmas.

It may seem a little extreme, but just think of it as your gift to yourself for next Christmas.  

In the meantime, just relax, because thanks to its modern lines, open planned placed and tonnes of space; your new Thrive Home looks festive without any extra decorations. Just  picture Christmas lunch in your beautiful open plan dining or alfresco area.

If a Thrive Home is on your Christmas wish list this year, contact our friendly team here.