Decking the halls is one of the most enjoyable experiences of the holiday season, but it can also be stressful if you’re decorating for Christmas on a budget. You could easily spend hundreds of dollars on pre-lit faux evergreen trees and trimmings, hand-blown glass ornaments, and lawn inflatables of monumental proportions — if you had the money.
If you’re like most people, however, you need to stretch your holiday budget to cover more than just décor. You also have to pay for gifts, food, libations, travel, and entertainment, so it’s vital to score some inexpensive holiday decorations. Here are five ways you can decorate for Christmas on a budget while still keeping the season bright throughout the house.
Need new ornaments? Sometimes the old, nostalgic touches are the best. Call up your parents and grandparents and ask if they’ll loan you some of your favorite ornaments you remember from childhood. Chances are family members of more frugal generations still have all the ornaments you loved, and they’re still in good shape. Borrow the ornaments and savor their beauty — and the beautiful memories they evoke. If you don’t have any to borrow, try making your own! It will make for some fun memories, too.
Take a hike in the woods and harvest nature’s bounty to decorate your home. You can clip evergreen boughs to adorn the mantel or grace the doorway. You can create a fragrant and timely centerpiece using a glass bowl or mason jar and pinecones mixed with colorful potpourri. You may even luck out and find some holly with berries — the iconic holiday emblem.
Wreaths can be pricey, especially if you buy real ones that are already trimmed or designer options from home-decor stores. Since the door wreath is one of the most visible signs of your holiday spirit, you want an awesome one, even if you didn’t spend a bundle on it. You can pick up a plain, unadorned fake wreath at a craft store and dress it up with holiday items you already have, such as old (but still pretty) tree ornaments or pinecones. Or, go a different route and make a wreath out of holiday bows or other non-traditional items. Pinterest is a great source of inspiration for DIY craft projects for the holidays.
Is glitzy garland beyond your budget? Gather up all those leftover scraps of holiday wrapping paper (you know you have them) and use them to create a colorful paper chain to trim the tree.
Nothing says “holiday” like twinkling lights, and it’s easy to find cheap holiday light strands anywhere — from discount retailers to dollar stores and even pharmacies. Stock up on these relatively cheap holiday decorations and use them anywhere you want to add some sparkle and cheer.
Whether you do all your holiday decoration shopping at discount stores or you make your own decorations, with some creativity it’s easy to decorate for Christmas on a budget.