December is finally here and with it comes the Christmas spirit. Everything is being decked out in red and green. Trees are decorated and houses are lit. Unfortunately, you are stuck in school until finals are over. However, there are still plenty of ways you can decorate your dorm or apartment to revel in the Christmas sprit.
Pro Tip: Use these as a stress reliever from finals! But, make sure you don't use them as procrastination.
1. Paper snowflakes
These simple crafts look much more intricate and difficult than they are to make. Simply take some paper, fold it as many times as you would like, and cut random shapes into the folded paper. Tada! Now you have beautiful snowflakes to enjoy indoors without having to venture outside into the cold.
These can go everywhere and anywhere! Decorate your door with a variety of shapes and sizes. Tape them to your walls. Hang them from your ceiling. Deck your entire room with them to create a winter wonderland.
Pro Tip: Make sure that the paper you cut from has equal sides (ex. a square or circle). Using a rectangular shaped piece of paper won't mess up the process but a same-sided shape creates a much more symmetrical snowflake.
2. Paper garlands
Garlands, like snowflakes, are simple to make and, essentially, use only paper. You cut strips of paper, staple the ends (of the first strip) together to form a circle, loop the next strip through the circle, and staple the ends of that strip together. You continue this process until you have a long strand of paper circles.
You can do these in any color you want! You can use them along with paper snowflakes and make them white. Or you could continuously change the colors to create a whimsical red and green decoration.
Pro Tip: Make sure that you secure these well wherever you are placing them. The longer the garland is, the heavier it is. The best way is to loop a string at the ends of the garland and tie the string to some part of your room. Poles and pipes are ideal.
3. Lights
Nothing quite says "Christmas" more than bright lights.
Also, who's to say that you can't have these up year-round?
Hang them from the ceiling or create a border around your room. White lights provide a classic feel and are more versatile for all-year use. However, colored lights are seasonal and absolutely scream, “Christmas!"
Pro Tip: Never leave lights unattended. Make sure that you always unplug or turn them off when you are not in the room. Additionally, make sure that they are not near anything that could easily catch flame. Safety is the most important aspect when it comes to decorating for the holidays.
4. Ornaments
You may not be able to have a live tree but you can certainly use ornaments to decorate your room!
Hang ornaments all over your room for a visible celebration of the holidays.
As with lights, you can go the traditional route or the unique one. With traditional, choose similar ornament shapes and complimentary colors. This is often very easy with the ornaments that come in large packs. For a unique look, grab various random ornaments that either you like or that mean something to you personally.
Pro Tip: As with garlands, make sure these are secure. You do not want ornaments falling all over you while you sleep. Also, buy plastic ornaments not glass ones. You probably will have one decoration fall and do not want to have to clean up shattered glass afterwards.
5. Stockings
Stockings are great because they are multi-purpose!
Use them simply for decoration or as a way to give and receive presents. Form a Secret Santa with your friends and give each other little gifts in your stockings every day until Christmas. It's a great way for everyone to get into the Christmas spirit and celebrate the holiday with one another even if you will not be together on the actual day.
Pro Tip: Use glitter glue to personalize your stocking with your name! Don't be afraid to add some personality to what is usually a standard decoration.
6. Wrapping paper
You will be the envy of everyone in your hall with your original and beautiful wrapped door. While I do not recommend wrapping your entire room (although that would be an incredible prank), wrapping paper is a great way to decorate your door.
Pro Tip: Anything that you put on top of the wrapping paper will weigh it down. Make sure that, if you are adding extra decorations – such as stockings – to your door, you anchor them to the actual door and not the wrapping paper. Otherwise, you will be left with an abundance of decorations and wrapping paper on the floor instead of on your door.
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