A tree. A garland. Some baubles. You’re essentially done. That’s the bare minimum that anyone needs to decorate for Christmas to make it obvious what holiday they’re celebrating. But then people decide to add stockings, 5M fairy lights, as well as the cutest little bits of cutlery and crockery anyone could have imagined existing. 

The members of the subreddit community r/christmas have been very busy this year. Many of them shared their works of art online, and today we are privileged to have some of the most incredible ones present on this list. But how did we ever come up with such novel ways of decorating, such as a garland of light-up multicolored bulbs? 

This custom goes way back to when Christmas trees were first decorated using simple candlelight, but now the use of string lights goes far beyond festivities, as it’s an easy way to bring an aura of coziness to any environment. 

But it goes even deeper than that. According to Olivia Hannigan, a writer at The Knight Crier, the combinations of lights and colors all packed into one area puts the brain on an emotional overload, leading people to feel more fulfilled or comforted. 

A study of the health benefits of light showed that playing with light stimuli can “induce specific emotions, behaviors and mood” and can be a “source of aesthetic pleasure or environmental enjoyment” because of how light engages with “electrical brain activity, influencing the neurotransmitters.” Lights go flicker flicker and my brain is like ‘whoa, that’s just like me!’

But all these lights come at a cost. Also, some of these designs that we see here are a little difficult to replicate easily. Not only do they require space, but also the know-how to make it all come together in a cohesive way. Also, the cost of living crisis that’s been affecting more and more households isn’t helping one bit. Thankfully, one doesn’t need to sell their left foot in order to make their home more festive!

With a little crafting and a whole lot of imagination, anything is possible. Holly Walsh, a content editor at Ideal Home, has put together a list of some of the most approachable and beginner-friendly projects to spice up your home, and we’re not just talking about cinnamon sticks!

Hang some handmade stars. Arrange lengths of wooden dowel into star shapes, wrap the ends together with florist wire, and then add beads, glitter, or faux berries for a little more pizzazz. Jazz up some jam jars by gluing glitter onto them and placing candles inside them. Create an easy bauble chandelier with the help of hula hoops, baubles, and gift wrap! 

Honestly, the trick here is to use what’s available to you. Paint some newspapers in festive colors, fold them into fan shapes, and glue them together to make paper baubles. Furthermore, you can cut out custom snowflakes and hang them all throughout the house for a snowy look. Bake gingerbread or shortcake biscuits in heart or star shapes and decorate them with white icing to make the dinner table look nice. 

If this is all too complex or time-consuming for you, then just invest in tons of cheap baubles and fairy lights and that’ll be more than enough. The fact of the matter is that no matter how your home looks this Christmas, it’s the heart that counts. 

Same goes for Christmas gifts. If things are a bit too complex finance-wise, then maybe some shared experiences could be all the more interesting. Going for a special walk, baking cookies together, cooking a festive meal, or even watching a movie together with a bottle of wine and good vibes could be enough. 

You make Christmas special, not some gift! So I very much hope that this holiday season brings you nothing but joy, dear Pandas! Don’t fret about a thing, just enjoy these fantastic bits of holiday cheer. Upvote your favorites, leave some comments below, and I shall see you all in the next one!