Deck the Halls (on a Budget!): Easy Christmas Tree Decorating & Decor Ideas

Decorating your tree & home for Christmas doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive! I’ll share budget-friendly and creative ways to make your Christmas tree sparkle—whether it’s your first Christmas or your 34th!

Listen to the author read this article on the Harbour Breeze Home podcast with Rita Joy here:

Beautiful Christmas Decor – Even if the Budget is Tight

When I look back to our early Christmas days with our young family, the reality was – our budget was ALWAYS tight. My husband and I were very much on the same page of desiring not to overspend beyond our means, and yet I wanted to still have a cozy home for our family.

I always say that a tight budget and determination can bring out the most creative ideas in us. The truth is, we can create beautiful things out of the most humble things – that can cost nearly nothing but the time it takes us to make it.

For many years, my husband and I worked together to craft things to sell at local Christmas craft fairs. I researched and studied all year long looking for ideas that wouldn’t cost a lot to make – and those ideas gave ideas for our own Christmas decor, too.

The Academy Awards for the Most Memorable Budget Friendly Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

If this were an awards show featuring favorite budget friendly Christmas decor in our home, I’d definitely choose the most memorable to be the Carolyn Ingalls Christmas tree.

That year, our island was hit with a horrific storm with trees and power lines down everywhere. We were without power for days. As I was constantly heating up water on our wood stove to wash dishes – and even learned to bake a cake on it, too – I kept thinking that those days must have been slightly similar to what it was like for the Little House on the Prairie.

So, that year, I tried to think of things that might have been on Carolyn Ingalls’ tree. What did she sit in the evening in candlelight and create? I ended up making a ruffle tree garland out of cheap white cotten fabric, a burlap star tree topper made out of cardboard and a piece of burlap our local coffee roasters was throwing out, paper star ornaments out of old book pages, and fabric bird ornaments from fabric scraps. I loved that humble Christmas tree decor.

Other honorable mentions in my DIY Christmas decor would be:

• Coffee Filter Christmas Tree (What??!!)
• A ruffle wreath made with a pool noodle as its form.

More Budget Friendly Christmas Decor Ideas

To help you get your creative ideas going, I’ve put together some ideas for Christmas tree decorations and Christmas decor that doesn’t need to cost a lot, but can still help create a cozy atmosphere ready for celebration.

More Budget Friendly Christmas Decorating Ideas

Here are some more money saving ideas to help you deck your halls without spending a fortune.

• Use DIY christmas tree ornaments as gift toppers, too. Some examples are:Using this best easy gingerbread cookie recipe for ornaments, Dollar Store christmas craft decoration Snow Globe, & fabric christmas tree ornaments.
• Limit the amount of Christmas decor items you’re willing to store as a way to make Christmas decorating less overwhelming.
• Choose staples that are neutral that you can use over and over again for years (decades). Things I have that I’ve been using constantly are: faux garland, neutral Christmas tree balls (that are golden brown hues, gold, white, & red), mini lights, & sentimental decor from our families.
• Shop sales after Christmas one year and tuck it into your box for the following year. It will be like an early Christmas when you open up the box and see what you picked the previous year!
• Small items – like ribbon – are things that you can change out with your style and taste. Let go of items that you no longer find yourself using or loving. Example – aqua blue & white. I loved and used them for years, but decided to pass them on to someone else to make room for neutral colored items.
• Use ripped fabric scraps as bows for the trees.
• Rather than use many spools of ribbon for around the tree, use my ribbon trick! (Watch it here.)
• Dried hydrangeas from your garden can be tucked into the tree for decor. They can even be spray painted for a different look.
• If you’re a grandma, you might want to think of starting a tradition of giving your kids an ornament every year. Then, when they leave home, they have their own “starter set” or ornaments. Use those ornaments to decorate a little tree on their bedroom dresser.
• Use paper to make paper star ornaments.
• Incorporate printable wall art. I have a whole free printables library that you can sign up for below.
• Recycle gift bags year after year. It cuts back on waste and is so much easier than wrapping gifts!
• Use seasonal pillow covers to switch out your living room throw pillows for a new season. You can sew your own diy accent pillow covers or purchase them ready made.
• Make a macramae wreath.

What are your favorite Christmas tree decorating & decor ideas?

Do you have some fun ideas for Christmas tree decorating and decor that you like to use each year? Or a new idea that you’re trying out this year? If so, I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments section below.

Have fun cozying up your home for Christmas!

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