How to Have a Festive Christmas at Home

It’s only Novemember and I know it might be a *bit* too early to jump into the holidays, I have been thinking about it. This quarter ends on December 4th for me so I have almost an entire month off to be festive. I am planning for the future because I am really looking forward to a break! Also, this year flew by and I know it might be a little different. I am not seeing my family for the holidays (like many others) and we won’t be carrying out our traditions like going to the tree lighting. For anyone else looking for holiday things to do while staying home, here’s my holiday bucketlist for those of you wondering how to have a festive Christmas at home this season.

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How to Have a Festive Christmas at Home

It’s entirely possible to have a festive Christmas at home! You might have to get creative with Zoom if you’re not seeing your family, but here are some ways to be festive from the comfort of your home this season.

1. Bake Holiday Treats

What screams Christmas more than making holiday treats and leaving them for your friends and family? For some of my favorite vegan holiday treats, try one of the recipes below!

1. Snowball Cookies via NoraCooks (Vegan)
2. Danish Butter Cookies via Wallflower Kitchen (Vegan)
3. Vegan and Gluten-Free Holiday Thumbprint Cookies via Blissfully Basil

2. DIY Your Own Ornaments

*TWO* DIY ornamanet posts are coming soon to the blog, but if you’re looking for a fun holiday craft that will spice up your tree, try your hand at this! DIYing ornaments isn’t expensive and can keep you + any kids you have busy for hours.

3. Christmas Movie Marathon

I’m definitely a Hallmark Movie kind of girl! If you only have movie streaming services, try one of the movies below!

1. Let it Snow – Netflix
2. The Holidate – Netflix
3. Holly Star – Netflix
4. The Knight Before Christmas – Netflix
5. Naughty & Nice – Hulu
6. The Spirit of Christmas – Hulu

4. Make a Holiday-Themed Drink

It’s the perfect time of year for warm and festive drinks! Try making your own mulled wine, apple cider, peppermint (or regular) hot chocolate. I’m impartial to hot chocolate, but this year I am also going to try and perfect a mulled wine!

5. Decorate the Heck out of Your Space

If you’re going to be spending extra time at home this year, you may as well deck out your home! I am excited to be able to decorate this year for the first year now that I am living on my own. I bought stockings for Danny and I last weekend as well as a couple of decor pieces that I will be putting up soon. If you’re on a budget, try your hand at DIYing!

6. Try a Christmas Craft

Speaking of DIYing, here are some Christmas crafts and DIYs that I am going to be trying out this year. If you want some ideas, try one of these:

1. Rustic Felt Christmas Trees via Little House of Four
2. Wreaths via Little Yellow Wheelbarrow
3. Rag Tie Garland via A Fireman’s Wife

7. Put a Holiday Playlist on Repeat

I haven’t been in full Christmas music mode yet, but I did hear it was on the radio and listen to it a bit today!

8. Read a Holiday Themed Book!

For the books on my to-read list this December, check out:

1. Let it Snow by John Green 
2. One Day in December by Josie Silver

9. Go on a Walk or Drive to Look at Christmas Lights

Around me, a lot of the Christmas light viewing events are closed, but you can still take a walk or drive to view Christmas lights in nearby neighborhoods. Grab your hot cocoa or peppermint mocha pre-drive!

10. Take a Trip to the Mountains (if you live by them)

We don’t get a lot of snow near me, but the mountains are only an hour away that usually get a ton of snow. If you’re near mountains and aren’t getting any snow, take a drive and pull over at a turn off or find a hike! As long as you’re wearing the proper clothes (and shoes), snow hikes are surprisingly not as cold as you think! Plus the views can be incredible. Just be sure the trail isn’t too slippery, is open during the winter, and doesn’t have any steep drop-offs. Also, always tell someone who won’t be on the hike where you are because hikes are usually less trafficked in the winter and you can never be too safe!

11. Send Christmas Cards

Even if you’re reading this in early December, you still have time to send Christmas cards. Take your own photos or hire a photographer. Danny and I will be sending out our first Christmas cards together this year!

12. Donate

Donate a toy, donate food, donate your time. It’s the season of giving y’all!

13. Build a Gingerbread House

Or if you want more of a challenge this year, bake your own gingerbread and design your own gingerbread house. Some people are crazy talented at this, but I’m going to stick with the boxed sets. I have a hard enough time trying to get the pre-made gingerbread to stick together, but I do love watching Holiday Baking Championship and the talented bakers put together their own gingerbread houses on there!

I hope this helped to remind you that just because you might be home more this year, you can still be festive!

It’s been a hard year for everyone and Christmas can be an especially challenging time. Focus on what you can control this year!

Be sure to let me know in the comments if you have any other ideas on how to have a festive Christmas at home. For more upcoming holiday related posts you can follow my Instagram here or my Facebook here. Also, if you’re reading this in November- I will be posting my first GIVEAWAY! I am so excited to be posting this giveaway and will be posting it on one of my socials (which has yet to be decided). If you want to enter, be sure to check back in for that.

I hope all of your holidays are off to a great start!