5 Ways to Decorate Your Holiday Home on a Budget

It’s no secret that we all tend to spend a little extra during the holiday season. Between presents, parties, and pastries, we often find ourselves digging a little deeper into our pockets than we planned.

But there’s one area where we don’t need to break the bank: decorating! Here are five great ways to bring some holiday happiness to your home, both inside and out, while staying on budget.

Hanging Around

You probably already have plenty of ornaments from years past, and if you don’t, you can buy boxes of inexpensive ones at the dollar store. Think beyond the tree: use ribbons to hang them any place you see a space, from kitchen corners to light fixtures. You can also fill empty glass vases with festive ornaments to decorate tabletops and shelves. Or place clusters of them throughout the house next to books, picture frames, and other ordinary items for some extra merry.

Backyard Bounty

Did you know free festive finery may be right under your nose? Head outdoors and collect several pinecones, then wash them with warm water. Let them dry and roll each one in craft glue followed by glitter. Attach ribbons of various lengths to them with hot glue, then hang them from your tree, mantel, or light fixtures.

You can also use wire to form backyard sticks and glue to create star shapes, then wrap them with holiday string lights, and hang from doors or windows.

And don’t forget the greenery! Whether it’s trimmings from your tree, backyard holly bushes, or faux pine branches from the store, you can lay them along mantels and bookcases, fill vases with them, or create your own “mistletoe” bouquets to hang for a little romance. Slide old seasonal pictures (like baby’s first visit with Santa) into the frames you already use, fluff some greenery around them, and you’ve got a lovely holiday vignette (that also smells great!)

Light the Way

A lovely touch for your outdoor porch or walkway is homemade ice lanterns. Fill a plastic food storage container with water, and place a soup can or pillar candle (heavy, rounded items that won’t float) in the center. You can also add berries and evergreen sprigs to the water. Let them freeze until solid, then run warm water over the soup can and the outside of the container to unmold your lanterns. Set them outside and insert tea lights in the center to light walkways or porches.

Wrap It Up

Chances are, you have empty boxes in the attic, or you’ll soon have them as holiday gift orders arrive in the mail. Wrap them up as fake presents with pretty paper and ribbon, then display them around the house. Another trick for wrapping paper is to use those odd, leftover scraps to give everyday items a holiday makeover. Simply cut the scraps to size and use them to line serving platters and containers for a little pop of color. For even more fun, forget matching the paper—mix and match the patterns. Dancing snowmen here, candy canes there. You’re not only decorating for free, but you’re also giving a second life to those pieces of paper that don’t quite fit around a gift.

Cozy Throws

One of the easiest ways to add instant holiday cheer to a room is by swapping out your pillows and throw blankets. Best of all, you can keep it simple—just a few touches here and there go a long way. Add some plaid pillows to a guest room bed or to the chairs at your kitchen table. A chunky, cozy holiday-themed blanket will make the whole family want to snuggle on the great room sofa for those Hallmark movies. Or choose a more neutral winter color and you can keep it out all season long.

So there you go! Some easy tips to brighten your home on a budget. We hope these ideas are helpful and that your holidays are wonderful!