It’s important to me to focus on the magic of Christmas, family and friends during the holiday season with these 100+ simple Christmas ideas. I don’t want to spend a lot of time decorating, choosing gifts, wrapping gifts or cooking. I want to pamper my family and friends during the holiday season, but I don’t want it to overwhelm my time or energy. These are simple Christmas ideas that any busy person can really do and be proud to share.
Originally published October 16, 2016 and updated November 23, 2022.
Simple Christmas Ideas
It’s important to identify what is Christmas spirit to you. Identifying those foundations, allow you to focus on what’s important and let go of the other holiday craziness.
A simple Christmas means different things to different people:
- Minimalist Christmas – You can choose where on the minimalism scale you want to land. Don’t think you have to go to extremes (unless you want to).
- Simple traditions – For many, finding simple, meaningful traditions brings deep joy during the holiday season
- Bring back cherished family traditions
- Add new traditions focusing on the spirit of simplicity
- Deciding to exchange simple gifts
- Focus on simple pleasures of connection
- Attending church services
- Spending time with the entire family
- Sharing handmade Christmas gifts
- Encourages not spending too much money during these challenging financial times
- Involve children and other family members in crafts and making gifts
- There are tutorial for more than 80 easy-to-make handmade gifts below
- Maintaining a simple schedule
- Make a list of holiday activities
- Holiday decorating
- Sending Christmas cards
- Christmas parties
- Christmas Eve events
- Christmas morning
- Christmas dinner
- Determine what’s most important to you and what you can let go.
- Make a list of holiday activities
- Including natural elements – Rather than purchasing more decorations, look for ways to incorporate fresh materials
- Pine branches and evergreen sprigs
- Fresh fruit
- Popcorn
- Homemade ornaments baked in the oven
How Do You Make Christmas Easy
- Decide what makes Christmas time important to you.
- Measure all activities and Christmas ideas against what you decided was important.
- Eliminate any activities that don’t contribute to what you’ve identified as important for you.
- Say, “No, thank you” to activities that don’t match up 100% with what you’ve decided is important to you.
- Say, “No.” to activities that will create stress during a busy holiday season.
- Don’t get caught up in competing with past traditions, the neighbors or relatives or even the commercialized version of the holiday.
- Determine a set Christmas budget and stick to it.
- Find simple Christmas Ideas that work to support what you identified as important.
Check out my favorite simple and meaningful Christmas activities below:
- Organizing
- Charitable giving ideas
- Christmas decorating
- Advent calendars
- Decorating
- Christmas crafts
- Christmas gift guides
- Gift wrapping ideas
- Christmas printable game and activities
- Christmas recipes
Simple Christmas Ideas
Planning and Organizing for the Holidays
A little planning and organizing prior to December and during the holiday season is probably the most important simple Christmas idea.
Free Christmas Planner Printable – 14 different pages to plan your entire Christmas day and preparation leading up to the big day.
Holiday Season Preparation Dos and Don’ts – Planning and organization allow you to enjoy Christmas & focus on what’s important to you. These 7 tips for holiday season preparation are the key.
An Organized Christmas Morning – Just a few easy planning tips and you, too, can have an organized and peaceful Christmas morning.
Holiday Air Travel Tips – Traveling over the holidays can be stress-free and even enjoyable with these simple tips.
How to Toddler Proof a Christmas Tree – Simple tips that really work from a mom of three and parent educator.
How to Pack Christmas Decorations for Free – You can use repurposed items and these hacks to securely pack your precious decorations without spending a penny.
How to Store Your Decorations to Survive a Military Move – How you store your decorations are important for preserving them through moves and years of storage in all types of environments.
Free Printable Christmas Labels – Use these free printable Christmas labels to identify your decoration storage boxes. Organization will help you save time during this busy season.
Charitable Ideas for Christmas
Simple Christmas ideas to help others in your community during the Christmas season and share the true meaning of Christmas.
DIY Santa Sack for Christmas Toy Donations – Make an adorable reusable fabric gift bag using basic, beginner sewing skills. This gift bag is the perfect accompaniment to donated children’s gifts.
Homeless Care Package and Blessing Bag Ideas – More than 10 care package ideas specifically to help the homeless.
Charitable Giving Tips and Ideas – More than 20 different ideas to give back to your community and help others.
30 Purposeful Daily Acts of Kindness – 30 free printable cards with ideas for a daily act of kindness for each day of the month.
Advent Calendars
Easy Homemade Advent Calendar – Make this easy Advent Calendar from items you probably already have.
DIY Advent Calendar – This DIY Advent Calendar is perfect for sending to deployed troops or college students.
Repurposed 45 Record Advent Calendar – You’ll be rockin’ around the Advent calendar when you make a one-of-a-kind Advent calendar featuring an upcycled record.
Christmas Decorating
Easy DIY Ornaments – You can make these charming ornaments for a dollar each. They only take minutes to make.
Personalized Christmas Tree Ornaments – Make these personalized ornaments to give as gifts or as unique decorations for your tree.
Mini Rustic Christmas Wreaths – These charming wreaths are great for decorating, ornaments or even decorating gift packages.
DIY Twine Balls – Beautiful Christmas décor you can make for pennies. A fun craft to make with children.
Champagne & Wine Corks Craft – Use repurposed corks from wine and champagne to create these charming Christmas tree decorations. They can be hung on the tree or placed on tables and mantles.
Christmas Decor from Repurposed Game Blocks – A charming addition to your Christmas décor made from repurposed wood game blocks.
Recycled Laundry Scoop Decoration– Make a beautiful and magical Christmas decoration from a simple recycled laundry scoop.
Easy Candy Wreath – Create a fun and festive wreath from candy. Makes a wonderful gift.
Upcycled Book Page Christmas Wreath – A sophisticated holiday decoration for the book lover.
Christmas Gift Giving and Wrapping
Christmas Gift Wrap Idea – Create magical gift wrap that warms the heart. It all starts with recycled sweaters.
Christmas Gift Wrapping Idea – Air Force Flight Suit- A fun and unique gift wrap idea for the aviator or aviation lover on your list.
Repurposed Sweater Sleeve Gift Bags – Charming gift bags are made from recycled sweaters.
Easy to Make Felt Gift Bag – You can make charming felt gift bags for Christmas or Hanukkah.
Repurposed Packaging for Homemade Treat Gift Giving – You can make gift giving containers for your homemade baked treats.
Fabric Gift Bags – Make lovely fabric gift bags that are earth-friendly since you can use them again and again for years.
DIY Gift Card Holders – Gift cards are the perfect gift for so many situations. Jazz up those gifts with handmade, unique gift card holders.
30+Creative Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas – There are ideas here for everyone. Christmas gifts wrapping should be fun and creative.
Christmas Printable Checklists and Christmas Activities
Free Santa Letterhead Printables – Add a dash more magic to your child’s Christmas with these 3 free Santa letterhead printables that create treasured Christmas memories.
Yearlong Gift Planner – Plan your gift giving and accomplish it all year long so that you’re not stressed out at the last minute.
Christmas Scavenger Hunt – Keep children occupied playing a fun Christmas game that works for parties, visits to grandma’s house, parties and more
Christmas Craft for Kids – Rudolph Puppets – a fun Christmas craft for kids to go with the nostalgic Rudolph movie. Free template to make 8 favorite characters as puppets or decorations.
Hallmark Christmas Movie Scavenger Hunt – 10 Different game boards to make movie watching even more fun.
Christmas Memory Matching Game – 96 different free printable Christmas Memory Matching Game cards. Design the game as you’d like and create fun traditions & memories.
Christmas Tree Coloring Pages – These six free Christmas tree coloring pages are perfect for children and adults of all ages. You can download and print them immediately for Christmas fun.
Christmas Word Search – Free 4-page Christmas word search activity sheets. You can print these immediately and use them again and again for home or classroom use.
Christmas Games for Families – Have fun and build family memories with more than 20 Christmas family game ideas including free games & ideas for all ages and interests.
Best Family Christmas Movies – 30 of the best family Christmas movies from the past 70 years with movies for every age & interest. Create a family movie watching tradition.
Christmas Crafts
Making handmade gifts and decorations add a warmth and nostalgia to Christmas. But we’re all busy people, so simple Christmas ideas for crafts are a must.
Grinch Craft Puppet – Unleash your creativity with this fun and easy Grinch craft puppet tutorial with free printable pattern. Can be used for many different holiday crafts.
DIY Christmas Candy Wrapper – Who doesn’t love candy for Christmas (or any time, really)? Decorate a gift of candy with this easy-to-make and adorable Santa wrapper.
DIY Decorative Matchbox from Recycled Christmas Cards – Make adorable decorated matchboxes to accompany charming gifts of candles.
Christmas Decor from Repurposed Game Blocks – A charming addition to your Christmas décor made from repurposed wood game blocks.
DIY Snowflake Votive – You can make these decorated votive candles in minutes and for pennies. They make great party decorations, favors and small gifts.
Recycled Laundry Scoop – Make a beautiful and magical Christmas decoration from a simple recycled laundry scoop.
Repurposed Santa Treat Box– Craft a charming treat container and decoration from a repurposed plastic container. A great kid’s craft project.
Plastic Container Snowman – Craft a charming snowman treat container and decoration from a repurposed plastic container. A great kid’s craft project.
DIY Wintery Epsom Salt Jars – An upcycled craft using recycled glass jars and simple epsom salt. These lovely and magical jars can be used as decorations on a mantle or table or given as party favors.
Christmas Stocking Stuffers
DIY Christmas Candy Wrapper – Who doesn’t love candy for Christmas (or any time, really)? Decorate a gift of candy with this easy-to-make and adorable Santa wrapper.
Edible Wizard’s Crafts – Make unique edible treats that are perfect for the Harry Potter and fantasy genre fans on your gift list.
DIY Gift Card Holders – Make adorable and personalized gift card holders from recycled and repurposed Christmas cards. Creating a one-of-kind gift card holder jazzes up the gift.
Gift Guides
Gift guides take the tough work of coming up with just the right gift idea for everyone on your Christmas gift list. This includes both DIY gift guides and gifts for all budgets.
Best Subscriptions Boxes for Older Women – Collection of 36 of the best subscription boxes for older women organized in 6 categories. Subscription boxes make an ideal gift for all older folks.
Handmade Gifts for a Boyfriend – Gift ideas are easy with these more than 20 handmade gifts for a boyfriend. Tutorials range from beginner level to more complex, including budget-friendly.
Best Subscriptions Boxes for Men – Find the best gifts for dad with these 32 subscription boxes for men. Gift ideas for birthdays, Father’s Day, Christmas, unique gifts, food & drink & more.
Practical Housewarming Ideas & Gifts – 23 practical housewarming ideas to give as gifts for a new home. These gifts are available in a range of prices and variety of categories.
Top Fitness Subscription Boxes – 14 of the top fitness subscription boxes for men and women of all activity levels and interests. Makes a great one-time or on-going gift.
Gift Guide for the Tech Lover – A complete gift guide for the tech lover – 10 affordable gift ideas they’ll love for family and friends of all ages.
80+ DIY Christmas Gifts – Giving handmade gifts is a special way to show you care. Handmade gifts are unique ad often one-of-a-kind.
Best Dinosaur Gifts – 155 of the best dinosaur gifts for all ages and budgets, with all the amazing dinosaur gifts you’re looking for, including stocking stuffers and party favors.
Creative Hobby Subscription Boxes – The best 20 unique monthly & quarterly subscription boxes for crafts, cooking, baking, gardening and puzzles. There are fun ideas for every interest.
Comprehensive Travel Gifts for Men – 85+ travel gifts for men, with gift ideas for every budget and interest. Find the perfect present for the traveler on your list.
Best Candy Subscription Boxes – The 16 best candy subscription boxes to give as a one-time or monthly gift. The best boxes for every occasion and candy preference.
Top Art Subscription Boxes – 21 of the best art subscription boxes for children ages 3 and up, tweens, teens and adults. Boxes include a variety of themes and mediums.
Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Adult Children – 70 of the best gift ideas for adult children. Ideas for Christmas, birthday and any occasion for any budget and a wide range of interests.
Made in the USA Gift Ideas – Most people underestimate the power they have when and how they choose to shop. And the key is – how you to choose to shop. Choose to buy Made in the USA products with this gift guide of fun ideas.
Best Gift Ideas for Friends – 40+ best gift ideas for friends. Ideas for birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s & any occasion. Gifts for everyone on your list & every budget.
Best Gifts for Grandad – Whether for Father’s Day or Christmas, these 65+ gift ideas are sure to please.
Coffee Lover – Hawaiian Coffee – Finding the perfect gift doesn’t have to be difficult with this list of gift ideas that are sure to please.
Unique Gifts for Moms – 42 unique gift ideas for mom, including DIY gifts, subscription boxes, gift boxes. There’s a gift idea for every interest, every budget & every skill level.
DIY Christmas Crafts and Handmade Gifts– A collection of homemade gifts any skill level can make in the DIY Christmas Crafts and Handmade Gift Guide that’s sure to please everyone on your gift list.
Christmas Decorated Cookies
Best Decorated Sugar Cookies – Our family’s tried and true decorated cookie dough recipe. We’ve used this recipe for two generations in my family.
Doctor Who Cookies – Eleven of the doctors made from a simple gingerbread man cookie cutter and store bought icing.
Philadelphia Flyers Cookies – Using just a gingerbread man cookie cutter and a toothpick, you can create your favorite sports figures.
Christmas Recipes
Holiday Almond Cookies – These cookies are as pretty as they are delicious. They’re a much-requested holiday cookie in my family.
Easy White Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe – These mini no-bake cheesecakes are scrumptious and perfect for holiday entertaining.
Holiday Party Recipe – Warm Seasoned Pecans – We always serve these savory nuts at holiday parties and often give them as neighbor homemade gifts.
Fresh Strawberry Cookies – Make chocolate dipped strawberry cookies for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion. Fresh strawberry cookies are made with only 5 ingredients and easy to make a clean eating version.
Chili Mixed Nuts Recipe – Spicy, mixed nuts that are perfect for entertaining or gift giving.
Pecan Tassie Cookies – These bite-sized cookies are the best of mom’s pecan pie in a mini version.
Old Fashioned Jam Thumbprint Cookies -This nostalgic cookie uses my grandmother’s favorite recipe.
Cannoli Pie – This creamy pie is always a holiday hit.
Find all our gift ideas in the table below. You can scroll though the table and look for ideas or search for specific ideas with the magnifying glass in the upper right-hand corner (on desktop). Click on the topic and then click through the specific article.