Budget-Friendly Christmas Decorating Ideas
Cheap Christmas Decorations 101
Holiday stress sucks Yes, it really does, and there's no polite way to say it. However, one thing that shouldn't stress you out is your decorations. This year, and every year going forward, you can deck your home and your halls without damaging your wallet or your credit score. Here are a few of my favorite budget-friendly projects for creating festive holiday decorations without spending a lot of money. Some of them don't cost a penny.
After you're done reading, here are a few other places to gather great ideas.
Resources:
Martha Stewart's Mini Christmas Tree Place Cards
Materials:
- Natural materials from your backyard
- Fabric scraps for stockings and table mats
- Origami paper for snowflakes and garlands
- Coffee filters for snowflakes
- Twine and yarn for bundling
- Spray paint for branches
Tools:
- Floral wire for bundling greens
- Wire cutters for cutting your floral wire
- Loppers for cutting boughs and branches
- A sewing machine for stitching projects
Instructions:
1. Create a Rustic SwagVerdant evergreen swags are perfect for decorating doors, windows, walls and more. They keep almost forever, and turn a lovely golden-yellow color as they age. Use any evergreens that you have on-hand, including hollies, firs, spruces, cedars, lavender and rosemary. I love cedar because it's plentiful here and the berries are beautiful and long-lasting. Simply clip a few branches the desired size and wrap them in a bundle using floral wire or a twist-tie. You can also wrap the bundle with twine or yarn and creating a hanging loop at the same time.
2. Paint Bare Branches
Fill a vase or urn with painted branches. Almost any kind of branches will do. Look for plants that are especially ornamental like corkscrew willows. Try white paint or a metallic. Pump up the look by adding glitter spray or another embellishment.
3. Make an Evergreen Tapestry
Weave a nature tapestry using the materials of the season. Go on a walk and gather sticks, lichens, moss, evergreen foliage, seed pods, rose hips and other natural materials. Take two nice-sized sticks and tie them together with strips of twine about a foot long. Keep the strands of twine about 2 inches apart and tie a loop to each end of the top stick so it can be hung. Then, begin weaving with sprigs of lavender, strips of lichen-covered bark and so on. Simply weave over-under, under-over in alternating rows. Start with the bottom row, and continue adding layers of varied materials until you reach the top stick. This is a nice alternative to a traditional wreath.
4. Pinecone ClustersPinecones are so much fun. They're great for making pinecone wreaths, ornaments or simply hanging in bundles. Wrap twine around the base of pinecones and tie a knot, keeping a generous 12-inch tail. Gather a bundle of these pinecones together, knot the ends, and hang. These are easy and such a great way to decorate while keeping that rustic, laid-back feel.
5. Evergreen Bouquets
Dress up end tables, night stands or the bathroom with a cute evergreen bouquet. The secret to the success of these little delights is that they keep for ages, so you won't have to worry about them looking sad when the big day rolls around. Use boxwood, evergreens or privet from your hedge!
6. Make Your Own Christmas Stockings
Christmas stockings are expensive, especially personalized ones! Why not make your own? Seasonal fabric is easy to find in thrift stores like Goodwill. You could also pick up a few pieces at a fabric store or use scraps that you have on hand. Try my pattern for making Christmas stocking using scraps. Then, you can add your own embellishments. See the main description for a link.
7. Make Your Own Christmas Stockings
Christmas stockings are expensive, especially personalized ones! Why not make your own? Seasonal fabric is easy to find in thrift stores like Goodwill. You could also pick up a few pieces at a fabric store or use scraps that you have on hand. Try my pattern for making Christmas stocking using scraps. Then, you can add your own embellishments. See the main description for a link.
8. Sew a Scrappy Holiday Table Mat
If you have leftover Christmas fabric or cute red and green scraps, turn it into a table mat. I started with a hexagon and sewed stripes around the edge in a spiraling fashion. Place your project on a piece of felt or batting and cut out. Then, cut a piece of backing fabric that is the same size. With the right sides of your project and backing together, sew around the edge, leaving a small 3-inch gap. Flip your project right-side out, stitch the opening closed and you have a nice candle mat or table topper.
9. Paper Snowflakes
Cutting paper snowflakes is one of the most enduring winter-time crafts. I like to use origami paper to make small flakes and bleached coffee filters, (the bucket style ones) to make large snowflakes. Fold your circle or square in half, thirds and half again if desired. This will give you more room to create intricate designs than an eight-sided flake. When they're done pin them on windows, on the wall or use a stiffer paper to create a snowstorm mobile. You can find many great snowflake templates and patterns online.
