8 gorgeous last-minute Christmas decorations to buy from Irish shops (for under €35)

Some cheerful Christmas decorations to buy in Ireland that’ll brighten up your home just in time for the festive season. 

Some of us have loved the slow sneak towards Christmas that the pandemic has afforded us. Others have felt the year-end ramp up to extraordinary speeds and desperately wish there were more than seven days between now and Christmas.

I definitely fall into the latter category this year. Normally so smugly organised, I have bought precisely zero gifts yet. Absolutely nothing. I wandered into town on my lunch break for my very first perusal for gifts today and left, an hour later, empty-handed, soaking wet and close to tears. Okay, in tears.

So rather than focus on my dearth of Christmas gifts, I’m instead going to spend this weekend decorating properly for the holiday. For anyone else thinking of doing the same, only to find the Christmas lights aren’t working, every decoration has been suspiciously chewed or the attic has somehow gobbled up a box of decorations you know you put up last year, worry not.

Here are eight Christmas decorations, from tree ornaments and lights to hanging festive designs and wrapping paper, that you can pick right now and get change back from €50.

Ferm Living Gift Wrapping book, €17.50, Industry & Co

Nothing makes a bare, unlit tree feel festive than a few beautifully wrapped presents. I may be terrible at buying gifts but am a talented wrapper and so I took to wrapping a few boxes of Roses to sit under there for now. This book from Industry & Co has pages and pages of double-sided wrapping paper so you can spice up your wrapped gifts, even if what’s inside is a less than exciting.

Hand-painted papier maché baubles, €29.95 for six, The Wilds

Put down that tube of glittery baubles in the supermarket. First of all, you’ll never be able to get all the glitter out of the carpet if you hoover from year to the end and secondly, stop throwing cheap shiny things at the tree. Invest in a few quality decorations that you’ll carefully put away each year. That way, you can slowly build up a decoration collection someone will want to inherit it’s so beautiful.

Bloomingville star garland, £35, Maven

This four-metre garland can be cut to fit into a dull-looking corner, slung across a mantle piece or festoon a tree.

Paper snowflakes, from €7.65, Nordic Elements

Window displays are probably the best part of the Christmas period – once someone starts on the street, suddenly electric candelabras begin appearing on windowsills, gaudy and yet somehow comforting. If you haven’t got a plug nearby or don’t fancy the fire hazard, some paper snowflakes will equally draw the eye and can be easily folded up and tucked away for next year.

Confetti lights, €35, Article

If all decorations seem a little too red-and-green-all-over for you, why not lighten things up with these fun confetti lights? Coming with a battery pack, they’re ideal for hanging above a doorframe to get the party started on arrival (socially distant of course!).

Black mistletoe hanging ornament, €16, April and the Bear

The real thing is difficult to come by and tends to lose its berries quickly once it’s been cut, so why not opt for some brass mistletoe instead. Hang above a door or tie off with a few sprigs of fir and eucalyptus for a twinkling outdoor wreath.

Snow Twas the night before Christmas decoration, €33, My Shop… Granny Likes It

I loved this decoration so much I bought it for myself. Quietly capturing the fun and warmth of festivities through the iconic Christmas poem, it’s made using a laser by Snow in Dublin and can be hung from a hook with its festive red ribbon or framed to keep forever.

Jolly & Bright tumblers, €19.95 for four, Meadows & Byrne

And finally, no festive home is complete without a cocktail or two. These tumblers can be used for alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks from wine to Club Orange a and the design is subtle enough that it’s not shouting about Christmas as you get happily merry.

Featured image: Lights 4 Fun

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