Easy Christmas Light Alternatives: Simplify Christmas Decorating

I love decorating for the holidays, but due to chronic illness, I need some easier Christmas light alternatives. I’m sharing some creative and festive ways to simplify Christmas decorating. This way, the outside of your house can shine, but you won’t have to untangle a bunch of light cords in cold weather!

The annual tradition of decorating outdoors is such a beautiful way to brighten up the dark Pacific Northwest winters and herald the coming of Christmas. I want the outside of my house to look festive, but it’s too cold out for me to put up lights (asthma and fibromyalgia are not forgiving of the cold). And the last place I need to be is on top of a ladder with my dizziness and balance issues caused by dysautonomia, an autonomic nervous system disorder.

PS Check out my practical gift ideas to help someone with chronic illness.

My family and I have decorated using most of these ideas over the last few years. Several of these ideas incorporate nature for a touch of color that will last all winter.

I love the idea of simplifying for the holiday season: cutting back and really focusing on celebrating Jesus’ birthday and the meaning of the season. I hope this post sparks ideas for ways to celebrate the holidays with less stress and more joy, fellowship, and meaning.

Some of these ideas do require some time, but they’re time spent crafting or creating, which would make a great family activity and way to celebrate the season.

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Easier Christmas Light Alternatives

-Lanterns (solar powered)

I love our solar-powered lanterns—they look beautiful on summer evenings or during a snowfall. They are a beautiful and easy way to brighten up the outdoors. We hang ours on our deck railing.

-Light bulb ornaments

These magical lights use solar power, and you can place a few individually without having to fiddle with tangled wires.

These would look amazing on a little tree, or along an arbor, or really anywhere. I’m getting steampunk vibes, which I love. I don’t have any of these, but the bulbs I linked to have good reviews, and I’d love to try them some year.

-Battery operated candles

I love the idea of putting candles in the window so that others can see them too. This idea is the most like “traditional” Christmas lights.

-Ice lanterns

Aka, ice luminaries. I really want to try this! I’ve been looking up ways to use orange juice cartons or buckets to make these. I’ve seen some decorated with holly berries, orange slices, evergreen boughs, and more. Aren’t they beautiful! (I’d use battery operated or solar candles inside.)

Natural Christmas Decorations

I love the idea of using nature to decorate for Christmas. Here are some ideas.

-Holly “bouquets”

My grandma and mom decorate her empty planting boxes with cut holly, and sometimes cedar boughs. They “plant” the boughs in the soil, and with regular watering, they can stay vibrant throughout the winter. (Grandma’s “bouquets” have lasted four months!) This keeps the planting boxes colorful until they’re refilled with primroses and other annuals in the spring.

-Winterberry plants

We bought a few little winterberry plants, and their pinkish-red berries add lovely pops of color in flowerbeds. They’re really pretty peeping out of the snow.

-Canning jar collections

My mom found these giant “canning” jars to decorate with, and we fill them with pinecones. They look so merry tied up with a big red bow. You could also fill these jars with sparkling ornaments or other Christmasy collections.

-Wreaths

We have a couple beautiful artificial wreaths, which are perfect since one is near the door—a real wreath that close to the door and window would leave me in a sneezing fit. (Yes, I know from experience!) They also make beautiful wreaths with solar powered or battery operated lights built right in. If your allergies have no objections, you can also find beautiful live wreaths at your local nursery or garden center.

(PS after doing some research on how artificial wreaths and trees are made of PVC and usually contain lead, we’ve decided not to have any artificial tree in our house this year for the first time. Our artificial wreaths will remain outdoors. If you’re purchasing a new wreath, I encourage you to look for one made from PE as an alternative.)

-Orange rind garland

I love the idea of using dried orange slices to decorate an outdoor Christmas tree. This one would probably be the most work, so it’s on my list for someday.

You can also cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Or make a paper one for indoors using these printables.

-Pinecone bird feeders 

Did anyone else make these as a kid? You could hang up plain pinecones purely for decoration, or use peanut butter and birdseed to attract wildlife.

Check out these ideas for a “wildlife tree party” for other natural items you can use to decorate trees outdoors.

-Decorate what you have

My mom filled this firewood rack with cedar boughs and pinecones, then wrapped the handle in ribbon. It’s a simple change, but one of my favorite decorations on our porch.

 

For more decorating inspiration, check out my Christmas board on Pinterest.

 

Which of these Christmas light alternative are you excited to try?
What do you love about decorating for the holidays? Do you have a favorite decoration you can’t wait to put up?

 

Here are some other posts I recommend on less stressful and more focused holiday celebrations:

• DIY Painted Jars for Autumn and Christmas
• Low-Cost Low-Stress Gift Giving When You’re Chronically Ill
• For the Christian Who Feels Sad at Christmastime—Here’s What’s Helping Me

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