While I love decorating over the holidays, I want to go beyond tradition this year. Don't get me wrong, there's something comforting about seeing all the familiar decorations scattered around your home during this time of year, but I'm determined to make my home feel not only festive, but impressive this Christmas.
Straying from the typical Christmas decor ideas, I've been on the hunt for inspiring and easy ways to uplift my home in the spirit of the holidays. After turning to my go-to source for homemaking inspiration, Martha Stewart, I was (of course) met with an influx of ingenious ideas that balance fun with festivity.
While Martha isn't short on ideas, I instantly fell in love with her DIY Christmas jar ornament. In her tutorial, Martha says, 'Do you need some fresh ideas for holiday decorating? This little scene for a tabletop or mantel is charming and very easy to make. When the lights are dimmed, you'll have a surprise.'
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Go beyond all the usual Christmas table decorating ideas with Martha's timeless ornaments. They're achievable with a few key pieces. Start with a good apothecary jar, then some battery-powered twinkle lights, a large bag of salt, and finish off the look with a nostalgic decoration.
With footed bases and enticing shapes, the Brentten glass jars will bring timeless grandeur to your table or mantel. Keep them in a trio or scatter them around your home for a good old dose of elevated nostalgia.
Unique in shape, this set of glass apothecary jars is the perfect way to give your dining table grandeur. Fill them with nostalgic ornaments and Christmas lights for the ultimate balance of festive cheer and sophistication.
Martha places nostalgic glass ornaments inside her jars, much like this charming gingerbread house ornament from Williams Sonoma. Delicately painted, it's a classic choice bound to transform your apothecary jar in an instant.
Picture this bronze house ornament illuminated by christmas lights and faux snow in your apothecary jar. A classic choice that radiates nostalgia, you'll want to bring this little decoration out every year.
Martha uses battery-operated lights for her jars so they can shine proudly all season long. These fine fairy lights are the perfect thickness and will slot right into your jar.
Fifty warm bulbs make up these wire lights. Perfect for slotting in the base of your jar, they couldn't be easier to incorporate into your home, whether you're creating Martha's decoration or simply elevating an empty corner that needs some light.
The perfect way to create an expensive festive tablescape for less, Martha's DIY jar ornaments are impactful yet surprisingly simple. You'll need a footed apothecary jar, some LED microlights (battery-operated), a generous helping of salt, and a kitschy decoration of choice.
First, Martha inserts the lights into the bottom of the glass. She explains, 'The way we do this is by fixing the battery pack close to the bottom of a glass (any small drinking glass will do, as long as it fits into the apothecary jar) and then wrapping the LED lights around and around. At the very end, you tape a piece of scotch tape to the glass.'
She adds, 'Insert the glass right down into the bottom of your apothecary jar and pour in the salt, instead of using artificial snow, just to cover the top of the glass. I want to be able to reach down and turn on my battery pack.'
Once your drinking glass and lights are covered by your salt (or 'snow'), get your ornament ready. Martha explains, 'Put your little ornament on top of the snow and very simply insert some pieces of evergreen, and cover with your (jar) top, and you have a very pretty snowy scene. A pair of these on a table would be very beautiful, or on a mantelpiece. Easy and fun, and very festive – an excellent way to decorate.'
A refreshing twist on all the usual holiday decor, Martha Stewart's jar ornaments are impactful and festive and couldn't be easier to put together.
