5 Must-Have Items to Decorate for EVERY Season!

I’m all about simplicity these days, and one thing the KonMari decluttering approach drove home is that less is more– keep only what you use and love. Seasonal decorations are something people keep in storage through most of the year, wasting valuable space. As I wandered down the store aisles cluttered with thousands of pieces of holiday decor, I realized you can save SO much time, money, and space by paring it down to just five simple items you can decorate differently throughout the seasons. So instead of buying FIVE (or more) items for each of the FOUR seasons (that’s 20 items cluttering your storage space), you can buy just 5 items and use them for EVERY season! Which five items made the must-have list? Check them out below: five base decorations with a way to decorate it for spring, summer, fall, and the winter holidays!

PS- I’ve included handy shopping links under each category since I always get asked about sources! Also, each idea featured in the collage is listed right below it.

Mason Jars

This classic kitchen staple has made a comeback lately with good reason; you can use them in so many ways! Plus they come in various sizes from mini-masons to gigantic ones. Buy one and fill it with whatever is trending that time of year (my favorite is fairy lights right about now, of course!)

Spring: Spring Mason Jar Succulents from Mod Podge Rocks
Summer: Festive Summer Mason Jars from Oh My! Creative
Fall: Fall Mason Jar Centerpiece from View from the Fridge
Winter: Lighted Mason Jars from Making Lemonade

Shop the Look:

Ball Mason Jar with Lid, Pi...Shop on Amazon

Ball Mason, 12 Pack, Clear Shop on Amazon

Pakkon Wide Mouth Glass Mas...Shop on Amazon

Glass Domes/Cloches

Glass domes are everywhere lately and range from tall with wooden bases (this one even comes with a notch in the base for fairy lights!), bell shaped, freestanding, and low (cheese dome) style. They look great by themselves or with a trio. You can fill them with just about anything to represent that season and they’ll look stunning! Simply hold it upside down, fill, top with the base, and turn right side up… or, style on the base and top with the glass dome. Voila! Instant holiday style.

Spring: Spring Under a Glass from Cottage at the Crossroads
Summer: Seashell Cloche from So Much Better with Age
Fall: Halloween Cloche from Uncommon Designs
Winter: Glittered Pinecone Display from Making Lemonade

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Lights4fun, Inc. Glass Cloc...Shop on Amazon

MyGift Set of 3 Decorative ...Shop on Amazon

Norpro Glass Cheese Dome wi...Shop on Amazon

CYS EXCEL Dome Glass Cloche...Shop on Amazon

CYS EXCEL Glass Bell Dome C...Shop on Amazon

Chalkboards

All you need to change a chalkboard for the season is… wait for it… a piece of chalk. You can buy a framed chalkboard with your favorite style of frame, or paint a wall or canvas with chalkboard paint for the same look. You can even use chalkboard vinyl to get the look in under a minute. If you want to make it look fancy, a chalkboard lettering book is an awesome tool but it’s certainly not a must. I do recommend a chalk pen for a sharper look but again, regular chalk will work too. Just write from the heart and hang it up!

Spring: Spring Chalkboard with Rolled Paper Flowers from Creative Ramblings
Summer: Summer Anchor Chalkboard Art from Creative Ramblings for Kleinworth & Co.
Fall: Give Thanks Chalkboard Sign from My Pinterventures
Winter: Peace on Earth Chalkboard Sign from Creative Ramblings

Shop the Look:

Fancy-fix Halloween Gift Bl...Shop on Amazon

Crafty Croc 4 White Liquid ...Shop on Amazon

MyGift Shabby Chic Wall-Mou...Shop on Amazon

Krylon K05223000 Chalkboard...Shop on Amazon

The Complete Book of Chalk ...Shop on Amazon

Blank Canvas

You can almost always find blank wrapped canvases either on sale at the craft store or use your 40% off coupon to score one for cheap, but they’re also reasonably priced on Amazon if you have Prime shipping as well (and you don’t need to run around to find them!) I painted one with chalkboard paint so I can redo it each season, but here’s a few other ideas to seasonally switch up your wrapped canvas:

Spring: Spring Floral Canvas from Blooming Homestead for Capturing Joy
Summer: Stenciled Botanicals on Canvas from Crafts by Amanda
Fall: Metallic Fall Canvas from Creative Ramblings
Winter: Christmas Canvas from Making Lemonade

Trays

Last but certainly not least, BRING ON THE TRAYS. These versatile pieces can be styled, painted, decoupaged, stamped, you name it– needless to say, they are super simple to swap out what’s on them depending on the season or holiday. Here’s some ideas that all start with the same item– a plain wooden tray— and make transitioning seasons a snap.