By Felicia Czochanski Bisaro
‘Tis the season for all things merry, bright and festive. Gone are the fall leaves, and in their place, we have snow days and cozy nights to cuddle up with a cup of hot chocolate on the couch. As our seasonal activities shift, our décor should shift, too. Whether you prefer DIY décor or shopping for home goods you can buy and place in your home; holiday decorating has never been easier when you take a quick trip to Goodwill.
To me, the holiday season is all about giving to others and reflecting on the past year. I love taking the extra step to bring someone else joy. Whether it’s a personalized present, a kind card, a special meal cooked or décor that is sure to make guests smile, it makes me happy to know something I am doing can benefit others and show them they’re loved.
As this is the first holiday season in my new home, this feeling is stronger than ever and also a bit overwhelming. When I wasn’t sure where to start, I browsed for inspiration at Goodwill while on a trip to Boston and found myself wishing I’d brought a bigger suitcase so I could head home with more gems!
You might remember from an earlier blog that I found my fall wreath at Goodwill. I scored again on the wreath front at this Goodwill in South Boston, where I found these two wreaths in great condition. Since I could not fit them in my bag, I left them for the next lucky shopper.
These wreaths did make me start to think though. How easy would it be to create your own wreath out of secondhand treasures found at Goodwill? If you weren’t a fan of the ornaments on a thrifted wreath, this could be a fun DIY for just a fraction of what it would cost to purchase it new in a retail store. Especially during the holidays, it feels great to know that shopping at Goodwill is not only more sustainable and affordable but it’s also a way to put money back into your community. Through purchases made at its stores, Goodwill is able to fund jobs and job training for those in need of support, looking to advance their career or wanting to learn a new skill.
As I continued to walk through the home section, I found all the accessories you’d need to DIY and reconstruct your own wreath. First, I found assorted ornaments. To add depth to the shape, using ornaments of different shapes is great to switch it up a bit, while still using your shape more consistently around the wreath. Then, I went to the holiday lights. Knowing how expensive they can be when they’re new, it’s great to find them here for just a few bucks. Just make sure you try plugging them into an outlet before you check out.
Mixing these secondhand finds with special memories of your own, like homemade ornaments or even family photos, can help personalize a holiday wreath to kick off the holiday season. As you start to think about holiday decorating, don’t forget to stop by your local Goodwill store for inspiration and décor. You never know what you might find!
Find the Goodwill store nearest to you to shop for your perfect holiday decoration.
