Nearly half of people surveyed in a recent Huff Post poll listed a disorganized home as a major source of stress. With the holidays looming, the stress level in your home may already be approaching critical mass. Don’t add to the clutter and confusion by dragging out boxes full of disjointed knick-knacks in the name of Christmas decorating. Transform the rooms of your home instead into a quaint and calming Christmas wonderland by using easy ideas that add shine and sparkle to your doors, windows and holiday tree. Go cozy, primitive or opt for all-out glitz with ornaments, garlands and greenery you make yourself out of items garnished from the local forest.

Handmade Ornaments

Nothing says lovin’ like a tree decked out in crafty goodness. You’ve seen all those Pinterest boards specializing in decorative uses for everyday items: burlap, chalkboard paint, stick-on gems and more. Find fun and easy ideas online, and take a tour through the holiday section of your local craft store to find the supplies needed to create unique and heirloom-quality Christmas ornaments for your tree this year.

• Burlap-Stuffed Balls: Cut simple strips of rustic burlap fabric, and stuff them inside clear glass Christmas balls. Finish off your primitive ornament with a small raffia bow glued to the top.
• Melt-Art Ornaments: Drop small shavings of colorful crayons inside clear glass Christmas balls, and use a hair dryer to create one-of-a-kind melt-art ornaments.
• I-Spy Christmas Balls: Fill clear plastic Christmas balls with tiny trinkets and clear vase filler or sand to make ornaments that double as I-Spy games for the kids.

Christmas Greenery

Bring the aromatic best of the outdoors inside with fresh greenery picked yourself, or buy in bulk from the local florist. Pine boughs, mistletoe and holly stems all make festive garlands for your mantel, around your doors and windows and as filler in your seasonal arrangements. The large, flexible needles of the white pine tree are especially popular in garlands and wreaths as they mold themselves well around curves. They also smell divine.

Seasonal Accessories

Deck your decor with cute seasonal accessories like stenciled pillows, vinyl wall quotes, quilted table runners and cheery tablecloths. Adding Christmas-themed accessories gives your space that festive feeling with minimal work involved. It also makes un-decorating after the holidays much easier. For an even simpler solution, use two-sided accessories that celebrate fall on one side and Christmas on the other. Changing out the seasons is as simple as flipping over a pillow or turning a chalkboard to the reverse side.

Primitive Window Treatments

Capture the feel of a homespun country Christmas by switching out elegant drapes and curtains in lieu of more minimalist treatments that lend themselves to decking. Find window shades online that mount inside your window frames, leaving your rods free for garlands, greenery or a simple string of white lights entwined with grapevine. Attach decorations to your rods using strips of torn homespun material tied crudely into bows.