How to make Christmas decorations

Whether you want to get the kids involved in a festive activity or just fancy a homemade look, we have plenty of Christmas decoration ideas to keep you busy – so you can leave the tatty tinsel in the attic.

Peppermint candy canes

Complete your Christmas tree with a few peppermint candy canes – these no-cook versions are made by rolling out icing, so kids of all ages can help out. Got some extras? Add them to a homemade hamper or tape them on top of Christmas cards and presents for an extra festive lift.

Fruity tree decorations

Bake thin slices of apples and oranges to dry them out, then thread them onto string to be tied up on the tree, around door knobs, or underneath the mantle piece. These completely natural fruity tree decorations are scented with cinammon and cloves, so your house will smell deliciously Christmassy all day long.

Bay, popcorn & cranberry strings

Create beautiful, rustic decorations to drape around your tree or just your home, with this simple idea for bay, popcorn & cranberry strings. Older children will have the threading skills required to do this on their own.

Orange & cardamom biscuits

Sometimes less is more – these understated orange & cardamom biscuits make a beautiful addition to the Christmas tree. Festive biscuit stamps are widely available in shops and online, so it should be easy to pick some up in any style you like. This also makes a fairly mess-free activity for kids, and there won’t be any hundreds and thousands or icing in sight!

Orange & ginger stained glass biscuits

Who would think smashing up some sweets could make something so pretty and magical? These lovely orange & ginger stained glass biscuits are so simple to make – the only real trouble is that they smell and taste delicious, so they may not make it to the tree. A magical way to spend a winter’s afternoon with children, too.

Watch our video on how to make iced decorative biscuits:

Cookie cutter wreath

This contemporary take on the classic Christmas wreath takes only minutes to put together, and makes minimal mess. Use a variety of cutters in festive shapes to create a striking cookie cutter wreath – the more eclectic, the better.

Peppermint & rose cream napkin decorations

Our delicate napkin adornments will add something really special to your Christmas table. You can get as creative as you want with food colouring and shapes, but we love the simple snow-white effect in the photo. Try our peppermint & rose cream napkin decorations.

Coconut & cinnamon place-name cookies

Make your guests feel warmly welcomed with our thoughtful coconut & cinnamon place-name cookies. If you have a pantry full of various sprinkles, pick a different one for each guest. If you're serving coffee after dinner, these are the perfect accompaniment.

Christmas pudding cake pops

Need a centrepiece for the dinner table? These fun Christmas pudding cake pops make perfect eye candy. They are bound to be a huge hit with kids and adults alike, so you may have to keep an eye on little hands. These also make the perfect alternative to traditional Christmas pudding.

Christmas cake bauble bunting

If you're not an icing pro but still want to dress up your Christmas cake, this homemade bunting is sure to impress. Bake the fruited sponge of our suits-all Christmas cake, then follow the decorating instructions in the second step of our classic iced holly cake to give you a blank canvas, then create your cake topper. Not a fan of fruitcake? Use to top any round cake, such as our ultimate chocolate cake, cappuccino cake, banana cake with pecan crumble crunch or passion layer torte.

Muffin tin Advent calendars

Make the countdown to Christmas extra special by letting children design their own muffin tin Advent calendar. All you need is a 24-hole mini muffin tin, some sturdy card and a work surface to let them loose with pens, pencils and paints. When they're done, fill each hole with chocolates or sweets, or small trinkets (being mindful of choking hazards) and cover with the numbered cards.

Discover more creative ideas for Christmas

How to style a Christmas party
Homemade Christmas decoration ideas
Christmas crafts
27 Christmas projects for kids