30 Magically Festive String and Fairy Light DIYs for Christmas Decorating

Decorating with lights for Christmas is a tradition. How you use those lights however, is entirely up to you. I’ve found a great collection of 30 unique ways to use string and fairy lights when you’re decorating this Holiday season.

You don’t have to just string those lights up on the tree. There are so many ways that you can use them to add to your Christmas décor. Grab a bunch of those fairy lights when they went on sale last year? I’ve got some really easy ways to use them and add a bit of Christmas charm to your decorating.

From wreaths and quaint little villages to basket decorations for the porch and even a burlap lighted runner for the dinner table – it’s all in here. How about a few Mason Jar Christmas crafts? There are also some great repurposing ideas in here. I guarantee that there’s something in here that’s perfect for that string of lights that you just don’t know where to hang. Sit back, grab the cocoa, and let’s take a look at some creative ways that we can decorate using lights!

Rustic Porch Basket

This gorgeous basket will take visitors to your home back centuries with its rustic look. The addition of clear Christmas lights gives it just the right warm and friendly look to put right there by the front door. The best part is this is so easy to put together, and it won’t cost you anything if you have a few basic supplies on hand.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: cassiefairy

Houses by Night

Some old photos and a string of fairy lights will give you all you need to create this beautiful nighttime scenery for the mantel or countertop. This is such an easy thing to create and so elegant. Just choose your scene and make the appropriate holes so that your lights look like stars or window lights. What a great way to bring a little old world into your Christmas decorating!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: fellowfellow

Snowman Mason Jars

You had to know there would be mason jars in this collection. These snowman jars are whimsical and fun, and add the perfect touch when you light them up with clear Christmas lights. Just add the burlap or flannel ribbon and you’ve got a beautiful centerpiece or a candle for every table. I love how easy these are and how warm and cozy them make the room feel!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: craftsbyamanda

Lighted Wooden Village

This lighted wooden village is the epitome of vintage. It’s adorable and so easy to create. You need a few mini birdhouses or if you really want to DIY it, you could build your own little village houses. Just add the lights and some garland or fake snow to really give it a Christmas look. Cheap, easy, and gorgeous – that’s my favorite kind of DIY.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: designsponge

Rustic Christmas Mantel

Adding lights anywhere during your decorating will give your home that extra-touch. Take a look at this gorgeous mantel, all lit up with clear fairy lights. Even if you don’t have a fireplace mantel, you can create this same look on a bar, table, counter, or wherever you have space. The clear lights make it elegant, and the overall vintage look is just beautiful.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: chiconashoestringdecorating

Glowing Gift Boxes

These glowing presents are wonderful and perfect for decorating outdoors. They are also really easy to make. You can do these in different sizes and just string your lights through to make it easier. Imagine having these on the porch or at the end of the drive. They’re the perfect way to bring your love of decorating to the outdoors this Christmas!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: marthastewart

DIY Lighted Trees

Tomato cages are the perfect things for creating these adorable DIY lighted Christmas trees. Use them indoors if you want, but you can create an entire forest of Christmas trees in your yard, too! They’re easy, and much less expensive than those spiral trees that you buy at the department store. If you wanted, you could do a few in colored lights and some in clear, just to give your yard a really decorated look.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: 17apart

More Rustic Porch Lights

Another great idea for using up those string lights is to grab a bucket, go out into the yard and gather wood, twigs, evergreens, and other seasonal items, and just pile them all in together and add your lights. This is great for sitting by the front door, and you really have to see it in action to get just how beautiful it is. Add a few ornaments and maybe some red ribbon and you’re all set.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: laughingabi

Lighted Burlap Garland

You just can’t do a rustic Christmas without some burlap. I love how flexible and elegant this material can look, especially when you add a string of clear Christmas lights. You literally just wrap burlap bows, and a few red velvet ones too if you want, around you string of lights, and hang it up. This is a really beautiful garland that is perfect for stairs, mantels, or even the tree!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: createcraftlove

Extra-Large Lighted Mason Canisters

Add a string of lights to one of these huge mason jar type canisters and you’ve got instant Christmas charm. Have a couple of these on the mantel or countertop, and you’ve really got a lighted theme going on. These are great and you can use whatever large clear canisters you have on hand. Just surround with some greenery, red ribbon, or other decorations and you’re all set.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: makinglemonadeblog

Light Up the Bedroom

If you have guests coming in for the holidays, really show them your Christmas cheer by lighting up the guest room headboard. This is a great way to spread your decorating throughout the house, and so easy to do. Who wouldn’t want to stay in a room that’s festive and merry?

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: ritamay-days

Lighted Cut Outs

Get yourself some poster board or cardstock, trace a village or forest scene, and then add some lights behind it. You’ve got a gorgeous lit up scene that will instantly brighten up your mantel or table. This one is really easy, and if you have kids who love to trace or draw, you can incorporate their help. Add some fake snow or greenery to give it a beautiful look during the day time. At night, the lights do all the work!

Twinkling Canvas

Create your own beautiful twinkling Christmas canvas that is sure to be a favorite decoration for years to come. I love this O Holy Night canvas and the clear lights intertwined really do make it look like a nighttime scene. You just poke holes in the canvas after you’ve added the message that you want, and stick the lights in. What an easy yet absolutely gorgeous DIY decoration!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: cleanandscentsible

Joy Marquee

A quick painting job and a few clear lights give you the perfect mantel decoration. You could also just hang this one the wall. This Joy marquee is really easy to make and is so filled with Christmas cheer. The lights poke through the canvas which really makes the white lettering of the word stand out. You can do this with any word or phrase, but this one will really help you to spread the Joy of the Christmas season – pun intended.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: thechildatheartblog

Snowman Milk Jugs

Remember milk jug arts and crafts when you were a kid? These snowmen will bring you back to that easier time. They’re so easy to make. This is the perfect kids project. Just remember to save those milk jugs for the next few weeks, depending on how many snowmen you want to create. You basically just drop the lights into the jug and then decorate the outside. How easy is that?

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: freefunchristmas

Fairy Light Globes

These light globes are wonderful, and not nearly as difficult to make as they look. Imagine having these hanging on the porch or anywhere in the house for that matter. You start with wire baskets and you finish with a Christmas ornament looking decoration that fills the space with light. I love how vintage these look, and the fact that you can make them in an afternoon is a major plus!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: fromtheblueshed

Let It Snow Canvas

I absolutely adore these lit up canvases. This one combines pictures of snowflakes with clear fairy lights to really make those snowflakes sparkle. Even if you don’t love snow on Christmas, you have to admit that this is a lovely addition to your decorations. It’s really easy to make, and is perfect for the mantel, wall, or anywhere you want to add it.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: thelovenerds

DIY Christmas Light Balls

Create these stunning light balls for your front yard with some chicken wire and those leftover lights. Imagine having your yard filled with beautiful and colorful ornaments – life sized ornaments, that is. These are really easy to create and don’t take much wire at all. Just add lights, either clear or colored whatever your preference, and you’ve got a yard filled with Christmas cheer.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: blog.christmaslightsetc

Framed Christmas Card Display

Create this neat card display to hang all of those Christmas cards this year. The frame can be any picture frame you pick up at the Dollar Store and then you just string lights across it, where you will hang your cards. Pick up some tiny little clothespins for the hanging, and not only do you have somewhere to display cards when you get them, you’ve also got a nice decoration.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: reasonstoskipthehousework

Snow Globe Terrariums

Create wintry scenes inside large jars and add your string of lights for extra sparkle. These terrariums are wonderful and allow you to be as creative as you want. Forget about spending a fortune on those expensive village decorations. You can create your own winter wonderland in giant jars and have all the snow and wintry excitement you want.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: pinkpistachio

Burlap Tablescape

Dress up your dining room table even before that family Christmas dinner with this burlap runner. The lights give it so much character and when you turn off the house lights, the table really stands out. Add a great centerpiece to really show it off. You’ll need a burlap runner which you can pick up at any craft store, and a string of clear lights.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: interiorsbykenz

Wine Bottle Lights

Take those empty wine or juice bottles and turn them into the ultimate Christmas decoration with a few strings of lights. These require a bit more work than some of these projects, but will definitely be worth it. You’ll need to drill a few holes and then just add your lights. This is a great way to get rid of those old wine bottles and put them to good use.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: designmom

Christmas Shadow Box

Create this enchanted forest shadow box easily and add lights to give it a great Christmas look. You’ll need the shadow box, which is really easy to make if you don’t already have one on hand. Add a few trees, some fake snow, and the lights and you’ve got the epitome of a Christmas forest. Or, make it whimsical and create a Santa’s village type look – it’s all up to you.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: popsugar

Lighted PVC Candy Canes

Create these lighted candy canes with some clear lights and PVC pipe. You can use these to line your walkway, driveway, or just have them sitting around the porch. They’re relatively easy to make and will last you for years! The holes that you drill into the sides allow the lights to shine through, giving these candy canes a really festive look.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: diyshowoff

Mason Jar Welcome Light

Add this gorgeous and rustic mason jar welcome light to your porch for the ultimate Christmas decoration. Add in some red ribbon and even a few small ornaments to really make it fantastic. The jars hold small strings of clear lights and you can fill them with other Christmas decorations like ribbon, tiny ornaments, or greenery. String them all together and they make a great welcome light.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: allthingsheartandhome

Ping Pong Ball Lights

Drill a hole into ping pong balls and add your fairy or string lights to create this really neat string of ornamental balls. You can use clear or colored lights, whatever suits your fancy, and when you’re done, you have a vintage looking string of ball lights that is perfect for decorating the porch, the tree, or anywhere else you want to hang them.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: instructables

Wooden Tree with Lights

Give your decorating a great rustic look with these wooden Christmas trees. Add lights to really make them light up a room. You’ll need wood, that can be left over from other projects, some green paint, and a few strings of clear lights. These are perfect for decorating the porch or you can make smaller versions and have them for the mantel or countertop.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: thediydreamer

Lighted Pallet Tree

Use those old pallets to create this adorable lit up Christmas tree for decorating the porch or yard. You actually use the lights to outline the tree and then add decorations such as bulbs and ribbons. This is one of the easiest projects on the list, and one of my favorites. It’s beautiful and so flexible. Use whatever colors you want to match your existing décor.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: redheadcandecorate

DIY Candy Lights

Cellophane in different colors, combined with clear fairy lights, will give you what you need to create these adorable candy lights. You can use these to dress up any room or any porch. You just choose the colors of cellophane that you want and the rest is easy. You can find cellophane rolls at most craft stores and this is a great way to use up those extra strings of lights, and give your home a Hard Candy Christmas look.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: ohhappyday

Glass Reindeer Centerpiece

Give your Christmas dinner table, or even the mantel, a great Holiday look with this reindeer centerpiece. A tall, clear glass, some “snow” and antlers are all you need. Then add lights to give it a great glow at night. This is probably the easiest of all the Christmas lights projects and one of the absolute most adorable ones, too.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit: everydaydishes