Viral Christmas Ideas 2026: 5 Clever Instagram Hacks for Your New Build
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Cover photo: Veronika Jorjobert on Unsplash.
Every December my Instagram feed fills up with clever little Christmas hacks, and this year I've saved more than ever! I've picked my five favourites that work really well in a new build, where you've usually got plain walls, open-plan spaces and no wish to start drilling holes. For each one I've popped in the original reel (all credit to the brilliant creators), my own simple how-to, and where to buy the bits in the UK.
1. A Festive Curtain on a Tension Rod Across a Doorway
This one made me laugh because it's so simple. A matt black tension rod (yes, the shower kind) pushed into an open archway or doorway, with a festive curtain or fabric panel hung from it. It instantly makes a hallway or the gap into an open-plan lounge feel cosy and Christmassy, and there's no drilling at all.
Credit: this idea comes from @ourpnw_home on Instagram. Have a watch of the reel below and do give them a follow.
Video: @ourpnw_home on Instagram, embedded from the original reel.
How to do it
Measure the inside width of your doorway or arch, wall to wall, at the height you want the rod.
Pick a tension rod whose range covers that width, ideally with your measurement sitting in the middle of the range so it grips firmly.
Thread on your curtain or fabric panel (a shower curtain, a tablecloth with clip rings or a length of festive fabric all work).
Twist the rod to lengthen it until it's snug between the two sides, then push it into place so it's level.
Tie the curtain back to one side with ribbon or a bit of garland so you can still walk through easily.
Tip: On painted plaster, pop a small felt pad on each end of the rod so it doesn't mark the walls, and don't hang anything heavy from it.
Shop the look · UK stores
Dunelm Extendable Net Curtain and Voile Tension Rod, Matt Black (£2.50 to £6) – A bargain black tension rod in a few lengths. Check your doorway width against the sizes before you order. Shop here
OHS Extendable Tension Rod, Black, 120 to 220cm (£8.49) – A longer black rod that's great for wider archways and openings into open-plan spaces. Shop here
Dress the rod · UK stores
Once your rod is up, make it properly festive: drape a garland along the rod, then hang baubles and velvet bows from it so they dangle in the doorway.
The Range Colorado Christmas Garland with Warm White Battery Lights, 180cm (from £29.99) – A full, pre-lit garland that looks lovely draped along the rod. It's sold by a marketplace seller on The Range site. Shop here
The Range Draping Pinecone Garland, 180cm (£7.99) – The budget option, and nice and light for a tension rod. Shop here
Dunelm Pack of 30 Shatterproof Heritage Burgundy & Gold Baubles (£8) – Rich burgundy and gold, and shatterproof, so no tears if one gets knocked in the doorway. Shop here
Dunelm Pack of 30 Mixed Size Shatterproof Baubles (£8) – A mix of sizes for hanging at different heights along the rod. Shop here
John Lewis Velvet Bows, Set of 4, Red (£15) – Ready-made red velvet bows to tie at each end of the rod or in between the baubles. Shop here
The Range Christmas Bauble Hooks, Set of 200 – Little wire hooks for hanging your baubles from the garland or rod. Shop here
2. A Nearly Invisible Wreath Hanger for Your Front Door
If you've got a composite front door (like most new builds), you'll know the struggle of hanging a wreath without a chunky hook that stops the door closing properly. This ZipnHang hanger is a slim strap that loops over the top of the door, and you adjust the length so the wreath sits exactly where you want it.
Credit: this idea comes from @tiffany_williamson on Instagram. Have a watch of the reel below and do give them a follow.
Video: @tiffany_williamson on Instagram, embedded from the original reel.
How to do it
Open the door and hook the top of the hanger over the top edge of the door.
Close the door gently to check it still shuts properly with the strap in place.
Hang your wreath on the hook at the bottom of the strap.
Adjust the strap length until the wreath sits at eye level, roughly in the middle of the door.
Give it a little tug to check it's secure, then step back and admire it!
Tip: Wreaths on a front door take a battering in the wind. Pop a small removable adhesive pad behind the bottom of the wreath to stop it banging against the door.
Shop the look · UK stores
ZipnHang Adjustable Wreath Hanger (about £38 to £42) – The viral nearly invisible hanger. It's an import on Amazon UK, so check the price and delivery date before you order. Shop here
Dunelm Black Metal Christmas Wreath Hanger (£3) – A classic over-door hanger if you'd rather spend less. Not adjustable, but it does the job brilliantly. Shop here
3. Clamp-On Mantel Hooks for Stockings and Garland
Lots of new builds have a media wall or a shelf instead of a proper fireplace, and stocking holders always seem to topple off. These adjustable hooks clamp onto the edge of a mantel or shelf, so your stockings and garland stay put with no screws or sticky hooks.
Credit: this idea comes from @everythingenvy on Instagram. Have a watch of the reel below and do give them a follow.
Video: @everythingenvy on Instagram, embedded from the original reel.
How to do it
Measure the depth of your mantel or shelf so you know the hooks will fit.
Open each clamp a little wider than the shelf, slide it on and tighten it until it's firm.
Space the hooks evenly along the front (about 25 to 35cm apart works for most stockings).
Drape your garland across the top hooks first, letting it swag a little in between.
Hang your stockings from the lower hooks and fluff the garland over the clamps to hide them.
Tip: Put a scrap of felt between the clamp and the shelf to protect painted or wood finishes.
Shop the look · UK stores
Leikedun Adjustable Mantel Stocking Hooks, 4 Pack (£5.99) – Simple clamp-on hooks that fit a range of shelf depths. Great value for a family's worth of stockings. Shop here
2-in-1 Fireplace Garland and Stocking Hangers, 4 Pack (£8.99) – These have a hook for the garland on top and one for a stocking underneath, which is exactly the look in the reel. Shop here
4. Pull Apart a Frosted Berry Garland to Fill Out Your Tree
This is my favourite trick for making a cheap garland or a slightly sparse tree look expensive, and it's cleverer than it looks. Instead of buying lots of separate berry picks, you buy one full berry garland and pull it apart into little sprigs. You get loads more berries for your money, and suddenly everything looks fuller and a bit more luxe.
Credit: this idea comes from @hollieglp on Instagram. Have a watch of the reel below and do give them a follow.
Video: @hollieglp on Instagram, embedded from the original reel.
How to do it
Buy a full berry garland. A frosted one gives that lovely snow-kissed look, and one 150 to 180cm garland goes a surprisingly long way.
Pull or snip it apart into sprigs. Most garlands are built from short bunches wired onto a central stem, so you can twist them off by hand or snip them free with wire cutters.
Fluff out your tree or garland so you can see where the gaps are.
Tuck the sprigs into the gaps at an angle so the stems hide among the branches, grouping two or three together rather than spacing them evenly.
Step back, fill any bare patches, then add your lights last.
Got sprigs left over? Wire them onto a wreath frame for a matching front door wreath (more on that below).
Tip: Pick one colour (red works so well with green) and repeat it on the tree, the mantel and the front door, so the whole house feels pulled together.
Shop the look · UK stores
The Range 1.6m Glitter Leaves Garland (£1.99) – Sparkly leaves for a bit of glitz between the berries. It comes in assorted styles, so you can't choose which one you'll get. Shop here
The Range Glittered Pinecone Garland, 180cm (£2.99) – Glittery pine cones in silver or gold (you can't choose which you'll get), and a total bargain. Shop here
The Range Holly with Berries Garland, 150cm (£7.99) – Classic holly and red berries that snip into neat little bunches. Shop here
The Range Poinsettia Garland, 170cm (£7.99) – Bright red poinsettia flowers that pull apart into big, bold blooms. Great for wreaths too. Shop here
The Range Shiny Bauble Garland, 180cm (£7.99) – Little silver baubles that you can snip off and tuck in for extra sparkle. Good for wreaths too. Shop here
The Range Xmas Berry Garland, 180cm (£8.99) – Silver leaves and white mistletoe-style berries, if you fancy a softer Scandi look. Shop here
The Range Iced Berry Garland, 150cm (£9.99) – Frosted red berries with a lovely wintry shimmer, and a real bargain for how many sprigs you get out of it. Shop here
The Range Eucalyptus and Pinecone Garland, 150cm (£9.99) – Green eucalyptus and rustic pine cones for filling the gaps between your berries. Shop here
John Lewis Pinecones & Berries Eucalyptus Garland, L180cm (£25) – Cool green eucalyptus with red berries and real mini pine cones. Lovely for adding softer greenery sprigs in between the berries. Shop here
Dunelm 180cm Artificial Frosted Berry and Cone Garland (£30) – Snow-dusted foliage with red berries and pine cones, so you get berries, cones and greenery sprigs all from one garland. Shop here
John Lewis Red Berry Garland, L180cm (£35) – A wire twig garland packed with hundreds of berries in bright and deep reds. It isn't frosted, but it's practically all berries, so it's perfect for pulling apart. Shop here
Dunelm 152cm Artificial Red Berry Garland (£35) – A simple mixed red berry garland that snips into neat little clusters. Shop here
Make a wreath with the leftovers
Pulled-apart sprigs are brilliant for wreath making too. Wire them onto a frame with a bit of greenery and you've got a front door wreath that matches your tree. If you'd like everything in one box, the Triangle Nursery DIY Christmas Wreath Kit, Traditional (£22.76 ex VAT, plain link, not affiliate) comes with a 12in frame, and you can add your berry sprigs on top. I've shared my step-by-step in how to make your own Christmas wreath.
5. Kitchen Cabinets Wrapped Like Presents
I spotted this idea on Instagram and I haven't stopped thinking about it! White kitchen cabinets wrapped up like Christmas presents, with big red velvet bows and a pine garland draped along the top. It's a fun, cheap way to make a plain new-build kitchen feel really festive, and it all comes off again in January.
Credit: this idea comes from @malloryleerichardson on Instagram. Have a watch of the reel below and do give them a follow.
Video: @malloryleerichardson on Instagram, embedded from the original reel.
How to do it
Measure your door. Run a tape measure down the front of the door and round the edges you can reach, then do the same across it. Add about 10cm so you've got a little overlap to fix in place.
Fix the first strip. Run the ribbon top to bottom down the middle of the door (or across it, whichever looks best with your handles). Tuck the ends round the edges and fix them on the inside with removable tape or a small removable adhesive hook.
Add the cross strip. Do the same in the other direction so the two strips cross where you want the bow to sit, just like a wrapped present.
Tie the bow. Cut about 2.3m (90in) of 38mm (1.5in) ribbon for each bow. Make two big loops, cross them over, tie them in the middle like a shoelace, then pull the loops and tails until they look even.
Attach the bow. Thread a short piece of ribbon or a twist tie through the knot at the back and tie it to the crossed strips, or pop it on a removable hook. Snip the tails on an angle (or into a V) so they don't fray.
Tip: Stick to removable adhesive hooks or removable tape on the inside edge of the door, and avoid drawing pins or strong double-sided tape, which can mark the finish. For the garland, lay it along the top of the wall units, hold it with a few removable hooks and let it drape a little over the front so it frames the bows.
Shop the look · UK stores
John Lewis Velvet Ribbon 3m, Red, 38mm (£5.50) – A rich red velvet ribbon in the perfect chunky width for a statement bow. Each bow takes about 2.3m, so allow roughly one 3m reel per cabinet bow, plus extra for the strips. Shop here
John Lewis Plain Pine Garland 180cm (£30) – A simple, realistic pine garland that's just the right length for a run of wall units. It's unlit, so add fairy lights if you like. Shop here
Dunelm 9ft Pre-lit Frosted Pine Garland (£65) – For a longer run of cabinets. It's already lit and has a lovely frosted finish, so there's no fiddling with extra lights. Shop here
Extra: Make Your Own Real Garland or Wreath
If you fancy getting crafty, Triangle Nursery sells DIY kits with real foliage, which would look gorgeous with any of the ideas above. These are plain links (not affiliate). Prices on their site are shown without VAT, so expect to pay a bit more at checkout.
Triangle Nursery DIY Christmas Garland Kit, Spruce, about 2m (£32.16 ex VAT) – Real spruce for draping across a mantel or the top of your kitchen units. Shop here
Triangle Nursery DIY Christmas Wreath Kit, Traditional (12in frame) (£22.76 ex VAT) – Everything you need to make a classic wreath for your front door (and then hang it with idea 2!). Shop here
More Christmas Ideas for Your New Build
Looking for more festive inspiration? Have a read of my Christmas tree ideas for new builds.
Which of these viral ideas are you going to try first? Leave a comment below and share with a friend!
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