This year’s Christmas trend is giving Grandma’s house energy—with a side of high-end Ralph Lauren vibes. Think deep reds, hunter greens, tartan plaids, gingerbread everything, and that magical 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 Dollar Tree!) that’ll make your home feel festive!

1. Bottle Brush Tree Display

Pottery Barn’s $150 version? Gorgeous.
My DIY version? $24 and just as dreamy.

Grab a bunch of bottle brush trees (Dollar Tree has them in every colour right now—run!), glue them to a flat surface (I flipped a Dollar Tree sign), and arrange them by height and colour. Hide the base with white sprigs, faux snow, or batting. Add fairy lights, and you’ve got yourself a magical mini forest.

2. Gingerbread Houses

Gingerbread is everywhere this season, but baking a whole village? No thanks.
Instead, head to the toy aisle and grab those tiny pink plastic houses or ceramic Christmas houses. Spray paint them brown (I used Rustoleum “nutmeg” colour), and use a white Sharpie to “ice” them.

Seriously, that’s it.

🎄 Don’t worry about being artsy. Just follow the outlines on the houses and pop on a Christmas movie while you doodle.

3. Mini Faux Lanterns

TikTok made me do it, and I’m glad it did. These little lantern jars look high-end and give your mantel a cozy glow.

You’ll need:

Dollar Tree candleholdersMini jars or containersFake snow, a bottlebrush tree, and a mini truckA push light that fits inside the lid

Hot glue it all together, top it with a bow or faux greenery, and you’ve got a magical winter lantern. All for under $5.

4. Christmas Dishes

Vintage Christmas dishes are back, baby. And the Dollar Tree has gorgeous green plates with trees, tartan patterns, and matching mugs. Grab a dinner plate, a salad plate, and a cloth napkin for a table that’s ready to celebrate!

And yes, you have to store them. But for $1.75 per piece, it’s worth it for that once-a-year wow.

5. Placemats Turned Into Cozy Throw Pillows

Forget sewing from scratch. My genius friend Jess showed me this trick: Stuff a placemat. Seriously.

Cut a small slit in the back, fill it with fluff or an old pillow (or even a stuffed animal you’re decluttering), and boom—you’ve got a trendy tartan pillow that looks like it came from Pottery Barn. Except it cost under $2.

I may have a throw pillow addiction now.

6. Hot Chocolate Mugs

This DIY made me giddy. Take a mug (spray paint it brown for a gingerbread look), fill it with paper and lightweight spackle, then pipe it like frosting using a Ziploc bag. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon and a cinnamon stick or straw, and it’ll look like real hot cocoa.

Great for tiered trays or kitchen shelves—and no mess!

🧁 Bonus: You can do this in jars, too, with candy canes and sprinkles.

7. Snowball Garland Lights (Pottery Barn Dupe!)

I saw this on the Pottery Barn site for $150 and almost choked.
So I DIY’d it with Amazon LED string lights and Dollar Tree white pom poms. Just hot glue them on—done.

It took 20 minutes and completely transformed my window. You can also glue on snowflakes instead of pom poms if that’s more your style. Either way, it’s whimsical, cozy, and so much cheaper.

8. Wrap It All Up

If you don’t want to add clutter, use wrapping paper as decor.
Wrap your existing wall art, storage boxes, or even cookbooks in plaid or vintage holiday prints. I covered all my blue-toned art with red plaid, and it instantly made the room feel Christmassy.

🎁 Easy. Cheap. Reversible. No extra storage needed.

9. Nostalgia Is the Vibe This Year

This whole trend—Grandma’s Christmas, Ralph Lauren vibes—is about comfort, simplicity, and joy. We’re all craving a bit of that magic from the ‘90s. The snowmen, tartan bows, ceramic teapots… it’s not about perfection. It’s about heart.

If you’ve got old decor tucked away in bins—or sentimental things you almost decluttered—dust them off and use them. Add practical pieces that also look cute. This year’s trend celebrates eclectic, cozy, and useful…and honestly, I’m here for it! 

The bottom line is you don’t have to spend a fortune to make your home feel festive!
With a little creativity, some Dollar Tree finds, and a glue gun , you can create a space that feels nostalgic and joyful!

🎄 Find more Christmas Inspo HERE! 

Shop the Products I used in this video that 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 – https://amzn.to/4nxghdJ

Products in 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 – https://amzn.to/43M3QU3

🎙 Subscribe to my Podcast Channel & Get Inspired! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzb9pSHe_w_e1jeg5BaK-bQ? sub_confirmation=1

🧺 ORGANIZING & STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR UNIQUE ORGANIZING STYLE: https://clutterbug.me/2025/02/storage-and-organizing-solutions-to-fit-your-style.html

✨ DECLUTTER & CLEAN LIKE A PRO – My Top Picks
Fave Cleaning Tools : https://urlgeni.us/amazon/2xYW0
Fave Organizing Solutions: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/JOrJm
Kitchen Organizing Faves: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/8YWRx
🛍️ SHOP MY AMAZON: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/Clutterbug

📲 Let’s Get Social! Follow Me Here ↓
Instagram: https://urlgeni.us/instagram/ffwh
Facebook: https://urlgeni.us/facebook/Clutterbug
TikTok: https://urlgeni.us/tiktok/TikTokClutterbug
Website: http://www.clutterbug.me

Some links are Amazon affiliate links to products I love!  I may earn a small commissions for purchases made through these links (but don’t worry, it doesn’t cost you anything extra)