You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to make your house look pretty during the holidays. You’ve probably already got some things tucked away that you can repurpose and turn into pretty decorations. Other items can be picked up cheaply. All it takes is a little imagination and to create attractive Christmas decor on a budget.
Pine Cones
If you live where you can collect pine cones outside then you’ve got free decorations that others end up buying in the stores. Take a sack or basket when you visit someplace that has pine cones laying around and you’ll be set to create a variety of decorations.
One of the easiest ways you can use pine cones to decorate is to add them to a bowl or basket that you put on your dining table or fireplace hearth. This creates a festive touch that won’t wilt and looks nice all during the fall and winter season.
To make a pine cone wreath all you need is a wire frame (you should be able to find these at any arts and crafts store such as Michael’s) and some hot glue. Add a pretty ribbon bow and you can display these indoors or outdoors. You can even decorate with some fresh or artificial greenery (go with fresh if you can get it because it smells so good!).
To either your wreath or centerpiece you can also add some fresh cranberries for a splash of color. Adding a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil or potpourri oil will also add a wonderful smell to your home.
You can also choose to spray paint them if you like. They’re pretty sprayed with a silver or gold glitter spray, or in a solid color that compliments your holiday decor. The nice thing is that you can reuse the pine cones year after year.
Candles
Candles are a great way to decorate and you can create a variety of looks depending on what kind and color you choose.
Taper candles aren’t very expensive and look pretty displayed on a tray or in the middle of your dining table.
Votive candles can be grouped together to add impact and ambiance. You can add a touch of ribbon to the glass votive holder to add some pretty color and sparkle. The nice thing is if you have clear votive holders, you can change out the ribbons so that they can be used for other holidays and occasions.
Jar candles are one of my favorites. I like that you get lots of burning time for the price and that you don’t have to worry as much about them getting knocked over and causing a fire. Of course, you still need to keep them away from children, but I find that jar candles are much sturdier when I want something to burn for a longer period of time.
Ribbons & Bows
My mother used to decorate the house by placing gold ribbon bows all around. She’d make different sizes of bows depending on where she wanted to put them.
She’d buy narrow gold ribbon and make bows to go on lamp finials and cabinet pulls. And she’s buy wider width ribbon to make bows to put on door handles, drape in the dining room light fixture, and wire up outside (water-resistant ribbon, of course).
She’d tie her bows up with a thin to medium craft wire and when the season was over she’d put all of the bows together in a box to store for the next year. Her bows lasted a long time because she was careful not to smush them during packing and storing.
I’ve seen people make large bows and attach them to dining chairs, the banister on a staircase…the only limit is your imagination.
Old Christmas Cards
Old Christmas cards make great decorations. All you have to do is cut the front off of the card and store them from year to year as your collection grows.
Old cards make a nice collage or are pretty attached to ribbon and hung around doorways or in windows. There are even wire wreath frames that you can use to display your cards making a totally unique wreath that no one else will have. Plus, you get to enjoy the cards over and over again.
Candy Canes
Candy canes are pretty grouped together and displayed in a small vase or jar. They’re also a good item to hang over the door pulls in your kitchen to make it look more festive. You’ll want to leave the candy canes in the wrapper, of course. Then when it’s nearing the end of the holiday they can be eaten or crushed to decorate cookies or melt in hot chocolate or coffee for added holiday flavor.
Inexpensive Christmas Balls
If you’ve got some Christmas tree balls that you’re not using on the tree, you might consider putting them into a bowl and displaying them. I’ve got a couple of pretty glass bowls that I will with Christmas balls and place around to make the house look pretty.
And since you can purchase holiday ornaments pretty cheaply at your local big box store, this is an inexpensive way to add some decoration to your home without having to spend lots of money.
I like to select a couple of colors of ornaments to group together for a pretty look. And the nice thing is that you can pick colors that compliment your home’s normal decoration scheme if you prefer instead of going for traditional red and green. A couple of years ago I found a great deal on pretty blue and turquoise ornaments which fits perfectly with the colors in my house.
Enjoy the holidays!
The holidays aren’t about spending lots of money. They’re about spending time with people we care for. A pretty house is festive, but nothing says it can’t be done on a budget.
More for a frenzy-free holiday:
I’m a retired educator, mom of three adult children, cancer warrior, sandwich generation member, and lover of life!
I help older women create & live a life they love through radical self acceptance, unapologetic goal pursuit, and relishing the joys of home.
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