Decorating on a budget for Christmas

1. Set your budget and theme: Decide how much you’re willing to spend and choose a theme or colour scheme. This keeps you focused and helps avoid overspending.

2. Plan potential places and shops: Decide where you can get the Christmas theme you are looking for, whether this is in local discount shops, online or in charity shops – don’t be afraid to shop around before committing to buying, as you might find something cheaper elsewhere.

3. Tap into your networks: Do you have that friend or loved one who can literally create something out of nothing? Get them on board for some extra fun. Or ask around to see if anyone is getting rid of any extra or unwanted decorations ahead of Christmas.

4. Keep the joy: It’s Christmas after all – keep the festive fun going and remember to take a step back and revisit the budget if you’re getting carried away – simple is still beautiful.

5. Make your home uniquely yours: Decorating on a budget for Christmas is all about expressing yourself in your own special way, so don’t be afraid to involve the entire family. Don’t feel like you need to match up to others’ standards of decoration. With the world at our fingertips online, it can be easy to compare, so focus on what little items get you and your family in the Christmas spirit.

Charity shops are a treasure trove of incredible preloved items that will elevate your home decor without breaking the bank. Going in with an idea of what you are hoping to create in your home means you know what you are looking for and able to stay on task, and most importantly within budget. Baubles in charity shops can be low cost and you can get little toys or random items and turn them into unique Christmas ornaments. Visiting charity shops will mean you staying within budget, sourcing one-of-a-kind pieces and giving back to wonderful causes, so it’s a double win, and means that your decor will stand out from the crowd. 

We want home decor to be as budget-friendly and efficient as possible. Staying in and looking at what you have at home to repurpose, could also result in you having unique items that could serve as Christmas pieces that will add a distinctive feel for your home. 

Have you thought about repurposing any of these items you may have laying around at home?

• Empty candle jars or tins as candy cane holders

• Old vases or plant pots as festive centrepieces

• Stacks of old books arranged as a Christmas tree

• Cardboard boxes for faux presents or ornaments

• Old jewellery like broken necklaces as unique tree ornaments

Anything that you buy in the charity shop or find at home, make it uniquely yours this Christmas. Use glitter, paint, and other craft materials to personalise your decorations. This is a great activity to involve the kids in, too. Decorating on a budget for Christmas can be an activity that involves the whole family for more festive fun!

If real snow isn’t in the forecast, add artificial snow for a cosy winter look. Use broken bits of packing foam or polystyrene to create a snowy effect to sprinkle over your Christmas tree or indoor plants.

Love it or hate it, nothing screams Christmas more than tinsel. Besides wrapping it around the tree, use tinsel for garlands, table runners, or wrapped around fairy lights in kids’ rooms or around the living room for those sneaky night time trips where family members try to work out what’s inside the gift boxes.

If you’re a nature lover, Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the tree, holly, cherries, wreaths and various plants. Bring nature elements indoors this Christmas season by gathering leafy foliage and holly and grab some cheap fruits like oranges which you can dry in the oven to create fragrant, natural decorations. Just be sure any items you collect are non-toxic and that you’re allowed to take them!

Decorating on a budget for Christmas doesn’t mean skimping on the holiday spirit. Involve the whole family to make it a new tradition to make unique decorations that feel personal and festive. For more inspiration, check out our other budget-friendly Christmas blogs!