This year’s Christmas trend is energizing Grandma’s house—with a side of high Ralph Lauren vibes. Think deep reds, hunter greens, tartan plaid, everything gingerbread, and that wonderful warmth you remember from the ’90s.
The best part? You don’t need a Pottery Barn budget to get the look. I’m sharing a bunch of easy, affordable DIYs (all from the Dollar Tree!) that will make your home feel festive!
1. Bottle Brush Tree Display
The $150 Pottery Barn version? Good.
My DIY version? $24 and I’m just dreaming.
Take a bunch trees call the bottle (Dollar Tree has them in every color right now—run!), glue them to a flat surface (I flipped the Dollar Tree logo), and arrange them by height and color. Hide the base with white sprigs, fake snow, or batting. Add fairy lights, and you’ve got yourself a magical little forest.
2. Gingerbread Houses
Gingerbread bread is like that all over this season, but to bake the whole town? No thanks.
Instead, go to the playground and grab those little pink plastic houses or ceramic Christmas houses. Spray paint them brown (I used Rustoleum color “nutmeg”), then use a white Sharpie to “frost” them.
Seriously, that’s it.
🎄 Don’t worry about being creative. Just follow the outline around the house and watch a Christmas movie while you doodle.
3. Mini Faux Lanterns
TikTok made me do it, and I’m glad it did. These are small lamp jars look up and give your hat a cozy glow.
You will need:
- The Dollar Tree candle holders
- Small jars or containers
- Fake snowa bottle tree, and a mini truck
- A push the light that goes inside the lid
Hot glue it all together, top it off with a bow or fake greenery, and you have a magical winter lamp. All for less than $5.
4. Christmas dishes
The classic Christmas dishes are back, baby. And Dollar Tree has it beautiful green plates with treestartan patterns, and matching mugs. Grab a dinner plate, salad plate, and tablecloth ready to celebrate!
And yes, you should keep them. But at $1.75 a piece, it’s worth it once a year wow.
5. Area Rugs Turn into Cozy Pillows
Forget sewing from scratch. My smart friend Jess showed me this trick: Insert the placemat. Seriously.
Cut a small slit in the back, fill it with fluff or an old pillow (or even a stuffed animal you remove), and boom—you’ve got a trendy tartan pillow that looks like it came from Pottery Barn. Except it costs less than $2.
I may have a pillow addiction now.
6. Hot chocolate cups
This DIY made me crazy. Take a cup (spray paint it brown for a gingerbread look), fill it with paper again lightweight spackleand pipe it as frosting using a Ziploc bag. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon and a cinnamon stick or straw, and it will look like real hot cocoa.
Perfect for trays or kitchen shelves—and no mess!
🧁 Bonus: You can do this in pots, too, with candy canes and sprinkles.
7. Snowball Garland Lights (Pottery Barn Dupe!)
I saw this at Pottery Barn for $150 and almost choked.
So I did it with DIY Amazon LED string lights and Dollar Tree white pom poms. Just hot glue them on—it’s done.
It took 20 minutes and completely changed my window. You can also glue on snowflakes instead of pom poms if that’s your style. Either way, it’s funny, cozy, too it is very cheap.
8. Wrap It All Up
If you don’t want to add clutter, use it wrapping paper as decoration.
Brighten up your existing wall art, storage boxes, or cookbooks with plaid or vintage holiday prints. I covered all my blue-toned art with red plaid, and instantly made the room feel Christmassy.
🎁 It’s easy. It’s cheap. Reversible. No additional storage is required.
9. Nostalgia Is The Vibe This Year
This whole trend—Grandma’s Christmas, Ralph Lauren vibes—is about comfort, simplicity, and joy. We all yearn for a little bit of that magic from the ’90s. Snowmen, tartan bows, clay teapots… nothing short of perfection. It’s about the heart.
If you have old jewelry that’s been in the bin—or sensitive items that you almost threw away—dust them off and use them. Add practical pieces that also look good. This year’s tradition is being celebrated eclectic, cozy, and practical…and honestly, I’m here for you!
The bottom line is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make your home feel happy!
With a little creativity, Dollar Tree finds, and a glue gun, you can create a space that feels nostalgic and happy!
🎄 Get more Christmas Inspo HERE!
Shop The products I used in this video are not available at Dollar Tree
Products in CANADA:
Fast N’ Final Spackling – https://amzn.to/47M4DGU
Spray Paint – Nutmeg – https://amzn.to/47M4DGU
White Paint Marker – https://amzn.to/48QnCRV
Curtain String Lights – https://amzn.to/47y1byt
Poly fill –
Products in the USA:
Fast N’ Final Spackling – https://amzn.to/3JuHZcZ
Spray Paint – Nutmeg – https://amzn.to/3X1z3Pi
White Paint Marker – https://amzn.to/4qvcZKD
Curtain String Lights – https://amzn.to/47L3orB
Poly Fill –
🎙 Subscribe to my Podcast Channel and Get Inspired! sub_confirmation=1
🧺 EDITING SOLUTIONS AND EDITING ITEMS WE DEAL WITH:
✨ DECLUTTER AND CLEANS LIKE A PRO – My top picks
Popular Cleaning Tools: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/2xYW0
Popular Planning Solutions: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/JOrJm
Favorites Sorting Kitchen: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/8YWRx
🛍️ SHOP MY AMAZON:
📲 Let’s meet people! Follow Me Here ↓
Instagram: https://urlgeni.us/instagram/ffwh
Facebook: https://urlgeni.us/facebook/Clutterbug
TikTok: https://urlgeni.us/tiktok/TikTokClutterbug
Website: