Moody Christmas Decor DIY Ideas: Easy and Budget Friendly

trendy moody Christmas decor

Trends come and go and I’m all for jumping into the current trends! Are you? I like to add my own twist to my diy projects and decorating along with looking at the latest trends.

Moody Christmas decor includes dark, rich colors, well defined textures and dramatic lighting. It’s especially beautiful in dark painted rooms.

Textures can include velvet ribbon and silk ribbon both in deep dark colors like burgundy, navy blue and forest green. More textures can be added with natural elements like a real tree, dried orange slices and real greenery clippings from your yard for garlands and wreaths.

We’ll chat about additonal ideas you could incorporate into your Christmas decor to create a moody look later in this post.

moody Christmas decor DIY project

I found inspiration to let my creativity expand this Christmas season when I saw the gorgeous Santa on the Rooftop decoupage paper! I knew I could use it in our home for the holiday season!

Let’s make over this thrift store frame and turn it into a moody Christmas decor piece you could use in your living room, dining room or entryway! 

supplies

• thrifted frame to fit decoupage design
• decoupage paper (I used Dixie Belle Santa on the Rooftop)
• paint to match the decoupage paper (I used Smoky Mountains & others)
• clear top coat
• paintbrushes
• saran wrap
• craft wire for hanger
• black paint & gold gilding wax

step one: prepare the frame

I’ve had my frame for some time now. I purchased it while out thrifting for under $8. It’s had one other makeover and I’m sure I will give it another redo one of theses days!

The frame is oval and I gave it a vintage brass look by painting it with black chalk paint. Then I used gilding wax on the high places. This is an easy way to create a moody frame!

step two: paint the interior board

As I mentioned in my post “Upcycle Thrift Store Finds for Home Decor,” my hubby cut a new piece of luan wood to replace the cardboard art that came with this thrifted frame.

After removing it from the frame, I painted it in a color to match the moody inspired decoupage paper I chose.

step three: apply moody style decoupage paper

The decoupage paper I choose is a rectangle design so I knew it would work well in my oval shaped frame.

Carefully, I tore away the edges to create a softer edge. This torn edge will make it easy to blend it into the painted back board.

Applying decoupage paper is easy and fun! Cover the surface with a coat of clear top coat, lay the decoupage paper down onto the wet surface and then smooth it out with crumpled plastic wrap!

Once it is dry, apply a clear top coat over the whole surface to seal it!

step four: blend the artwork

Now it’s time to get a little artsy! I used a couple of different paint colors for this step. All of the colors are in the decoupage paper and I had them on hand from previous projects. If you need to get colors to match your decoupage paper, take the paper to the craft store and get small bottles of craft paint to match!

I put a bit of each paint color on a paper plate, grabbed several paintbrushes and dabbed the paint over the area where the paper meets the painted back board. I alternated colors as I moved around the paper until I created the look I wanted.

For the finishing touch, I used the same dabbing technique with brown paint just around the edge of the back board. This created a vinette and helps to bring the focus to the moody Christmas design of this decoupage paper!

step five: reassemble the frame

Small metal glazing points are perfect for holding the back board in place on the back side of the frame. I used pliers and pressed them into the wood frame going all the way around the frame on the back of the piece.

I also added a wire with a couple of screws for hanging the moody thrifted frame!

more cheap Christmas decoration ideas

The trick to acheiving a moody feel to your home is to use dark colors, natural elements, dramatic lighting and rich textures. Let’s take a look how you can add these touches to your home in an inexpensive way!

garlands and wreaths

Many of us still enjoy white Christmas decor. I know I do! Keep in mind changing to a different Christmas decor theme doesn’t have to happen overnight!

Use the same garlands and wreaths you already have and change out the extra decor pieces on the them! For instance, if you have bright gold bells on a wreath, simple remove them and spray paint them in dark, rich colors! Put them back on the wreath for an instant change!

Switch the bows to dark toned ribbons for big impact! Tie a bow and leave long trailing tails on the bow instead of cutting them short. Using soft ribbon like velvet or satin that are not wire edged will create a beautiful drappy look that goes perfectly in the moody style.

make your own diy Christmas ornaments

Do you enjoy making your own ornaments? This the perfect way to incorporate the moody look to your decor! 

Make velvet ornaments by wrapping velvet ribbon around thrift store ornaments. You can also paint glass ornaments in dark colors. Pour paint into a craft store clear ornament and swirl it around to cover the inside of the ornament. Turn it upside down and allow the excess to drip out. So easy!

Metallics add a nice touch to a moody Christmas look. Last year, I found paintable ceramic ornaments at my local Michaels store and painted them in gorgeous metallic colors. The velvet ribbon added to the moody aesthetic feel.

decorate your mantel with moody decor

A fireplace mantle is a beautiful place to add a touch of the moody vibe to your own holiday decor. Thick garlands can be made or purchased on sale then hung on the mantel. Sprinkle in vintage brass candlesticks with taper candles to create dramatic moody lighting.

Use dark ribbon throughout the garland. Black satin ribbon would be gorgeous!

use natural elements in your decor

Head out to your own yard (or a friendly neighbors yard, but ask first!) and forage natural elements like cypress branches, magnolia branches and blue juniper stems. You can make garlands and wreaths for next to nothing!

Dried orange slices sprinkled throughout your decor are a great addition too! Include other dried citrus like grapefruit, lemons and blood oranges!

Make a simple tree garland by stringing fresh cranberries on heavy cord to add a beautiful natural red color.

Grab a couple of oranges and whole cloves to create pomanders. You can create different patterns! Add them to a beautiful ironstone bowl with sprigs of fresh pine for a natural centerpiece!

use of dark colors and textures

Sew your own pillows and pillow covers using thrift store pillows. Use thrifted sweaters in dark colors to make the pillows look new! Find sweaters with lots of texture in the men’s department of your local thrift store.

Hand stitch a sweater snowman using thrift store sweaters. Grab dark colored sweaters to make a shawl, scarf or hat so that your snowman is dressed moody! How cute would that be?

creating a cozy ambiance with candles and lighting

Battery powered candles are a must for a moody aesthetic! You will be surprised how a pack of six of these candles will add drama to any room. The best part, most of these candles come with a timer! Candles look beautiful on a mantel, in a table setting or on a vintage buffet.

create a moody Christmas tree

Ater decorating your Christmas tree with dark and moody ornaments and plently of lights, add gifts wrapped in dark wrapping paper under the tree. Use wide satin and velvet ribbon for the bows. The packages will add to the moody feel!

Tie long, drappy ribbons on the tree instead of icicles. Choose gold, burgundy, navy and even black ribbon in velvet or satin.

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