Use A Common Kitchen Ingredient To Give Last Year's Ornaments A Brand New Look

When the holiday season rolls around, so does the urge to buy new ornaments. The old ones might still be intact, but sometimes you just want a different look. It's a holiday decor trend trap to keep buying new decorations, but one that's so easy to fall into. Well, instead of splurging on more ornaments and having too many in storage, you can easily update them with a mix of baking soda and your favorite shade of acrylic or latex paint. The combination gives last year's ornaments a new textured finish in just one afternoon.

This simple DIY is a great way to not only give old decorations new life but also upcycle ornaments from the thrift shop that have seen better days or dollar store decor that looks too cheap. It's a wonderful tip for Christmas decorating on a budget, and you can apply it to other celebrations. Just wipe your ornaments clean to remove any dust, and get ready to paint.

First, mix 1 cup of non-oil-based paint with 1 tablespoon of baking soda. You can add more baking soda, a little at a time if you want your ornaments to have a rougher finish. Adding glitter to the paint also gives it a nice sparkle and more texture. Next, use a paintbrush to apply an even coat around the bulb. For an even more textured look, dap the ornament with a crumpled paper ball while it's still slightly wet to create a popcorn ceiling-like effect. You can also finish the design by dusting baking soda onto each ornament for a frosted look or adding a clear top coat for the right sheen. Finally, apply a second coat of paint, if needed, before hanging the ornaments to dry.

Instead of monochrome ornaments, doodle fun holiday emblems, like mistletoe and bows, on your creative DIY Christmas decorations. Paint patterns like stripes and snowflakes, or use stickers and pom-poms for embellishments. You can also personalize the decor with stamped fingerprints or written names to keep as memories. Changing the ornament cap is another way to upgrade your creation. Simply, twist or pull the cap to remove it, wipe it clean, and paint it for a new look. Caps that match the color of the bulb help it blend in for a minimalist look, but painting them a metallic shade will make the ornament pop. Swap the hanging string with ribbon, twine, fabric strips, or pipe cleaners. Next year, if you want something new, just strip the paint and start over.