Uh oh! Did you wait until the last minute to do your holiday decorating? Between all the shopping, cooking, cleaning, and baking that happens this time of year, it can be a challenge to fit decorating in as well. But don’t worry, we’ve got you’ve covered! Even if you’re in a time crunch, you can make your home look merry and bright. Here’s how.

Display your holiday cards

Do you receive holiday cards in the mail from your friends and family? You can easily turn them into a fun and festive holiday decoration with items you already have on hand. Tack a length of holiday ribbon to a cabinet door, wall, or stair banister. Then simply clip your cards to the ribbon with clothespins. It will instantly add cheer to your home!

Add string lights to a doorway

Nearly everyone has a string or two of lights hanging around the house. If you do, then tack one up around a doorway in your home. Nothing makes a room feel cozier than the twinkle of holiday lights, and this will only take you a minute or two.

Deck out your bar cart

If you’ve got a bar cart at the ready for when guests arrive, then you can quickly add some holiday cheer. Gather up a few items from around your home, like candles or metallic accents, and place them on your cart. Take it a step further and gather some branches or foliage from outside and place them in a vase. Voila! Your bar cart will look ready-made for the party.

Turn a bookshelf into a mantel

Not all of us have the luxury of having a fireplace in our homes. But you can create the same feeling with a bookshelf. If you have holiday stockings, then hang them all from a shelf. Add a few decorative touches like a snow globe or twinkle lights, and maybe Santa will even be fooled into thinking it’s the real thing.

Raid the fridge

If you’re really pressed for ideas, then look no further than your fridge. You probably have a few items in there that can double as holiday decorations. For example, gather up some citrus fruits like oranges, limes, and lemons and display them in a glass bowl. Or take that handful of herbs you have in the crisper and put them in a vase with a big red bow. We guarantee these can add just the right amount of cheer to any table.

Build a “fire”

Is there anything as cozy as a roaring fireplace on a cold winter’s night? If you have a television or computer, then you can create the same effect even without one. Simple search Netflix for “Fireplace for Your Home” and in just a few seconds your screen will be turned into the fireplace of your dreams. You can also search YouTube for “cozy fireplace” videos. There are countless choices, each with its own vibe. The best is that many of them run for several hours or have festive music playing along.

Compliments of Virtual Results