CHEAP WAYS TO DECORATE FOR CHRISTMAS (GENIUS IDEAS!)

After you assess what you have in stock, start setting up. You’ll probably change and move things around a million times (hand raised!), but you’ll start to get a feel for how things will look and what you still need to add. Do you need a Christmas picture on a shelf? Or a Christmas tree to sit on the tabletop? Where are there blank space you need to fill with Christmas decor and what do you think you might want to put there?

For inspiration of what you want your home to look like, take a look at these rustic farmhouse Christmas decorating ideas! You’ll find a ton of ideas to inspire!

4| HIT UP DOLLAR TREE, WALMART, AND OTHER CHEAP STORES

I’ve found so much success going the cheap route first. I suggest Dollar Tree first because, obviously, it’s usually the cheapest (although Hobby Lobby will probably have better faux greens and flowers for 50% off, for $1 or $1.50, so I’d look there for that kind of stuff first).

Dollar Tree has been amazing for ornaments used for decor, jingle bells, picture frames, wrap, vases, tea lights, candles, candy canes, foam for floral arrangements, ribbon, etc. Start at Dollar Tree, then hit Walmart, Dollar General, Five Below (best prices on scented pine cones I’ve seen).

And there’s always my favorite – Target Dollar Spot. Oh my word, I’m there just about every week and usually pick up something!

On this porch alone, the 2 mini pine trees, the 2 sleds, the skis, the buffalo check buntings, and the mini-wreath are from the Target Dollar Spot (which is available online!). The red ornaments in the jar are from Dollar Tree. 

This sign was from Target – and it’s really 8 signs! Four boards, with a different image on each side! That is a killer price! The stems were from Hobby Lobby for $1.50 each.

5| DIY WHAT YOU CAN

I usually will go through Pinterest or walk through stores for inspiration (always taking pictures), then see if I can DIY it myself. You can DIY so many much more than decor than you think!  If you need some DIY inspiration, you can take a look here – these are some of my favorite rustic farmhouse Christmas DIY projects and many of them are super-easy.

And here are 21 projects I’ve done around my own house for Christmas – these are EASY, FAST, and CHEAP. Most can be done in one sitting, in less than a half hour.

And if you need other types or varieties of Christmas DIYs, here are DIY Christmas Wreaths – classy farmhouse wreaths that are beautiful and original and DIY Scandinavian Christmas Decorations, perfect for minimalists!

But after a while, your brain will just start generating ideas of what you can DIY.

I couldn’t afford that faux evergreen garland and wreaths, so I made my own!

Here are some stamped books that was a DIY project! So much better than paying for it! And the pail below it is also repurposed. It used to be bright, shiny sparkly red!

6| USE ORNAMENTS EVERYWHERE

Ornaments are some of the cheapest, easiest, prettiest decor to use if you are low on money. Dollar Tree has a bunch of sparkly ornaments in a package for a dollar. I use them as filler the most, but they also look amazing when you hang them from chandeliers, from windows, even in picture frames.

7| USE NATURAL OBJECTS

Christmas has a wintery, outdoor feeling to it, so things from nature are a natural fit! You get a lot of bang for the buck from pine cones, which you can dip in paint for a snowy, flocked look. Greens from Christmas tree scraps or pine, cypress, or juniper trees in your yard, the woods or parks also work fantastic! Cinnamon sticks are another natural element you can incorporate.  You can also gather up branches and logs to put in buckets or baskets, and those look great too.

I love that fancy, expensive evergreen garland, but it’s just as easy to use real evergreens! For free! Throw in some dried oranges and you have a beautiful display! I also used the cypress branches in the glass bottles, too! I also added some to the glass bowl (which is repurposed as well!).

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