DIY Christmas Decorations on a Budget: 12 Easy Ideas

You can decorate a whole house for Christmas for under $50. The trick is to reuse what you own, make a few things by hand, and bring in cheap natural materials like pine cones, cinnamon and oranges. Here are twelve ideas that look far more expensive than they are.

Start by shopping your own home

Before you buy anything, walk through every room and gather what you already have.

1. Collect mason jars, candle holders, bowls, trays and cake stands.
2. Pull out spare ribbon, twine, wrapping paper and fabric scraps.
3. Look for books with nice covers, old frames and glass vases.
4. Set a budget (for example, $40) and write it on a sticky note.
5. List only the missing items, such as a hot glue gun or a bag of cinnamon sticks.

12 low-cost ideas

1. Paper snowflakes. Fold, cut and tape them to windows or string them on fishing line. Our paper snowflakes guide shows easy patterns.
2. Popcorn garland. Thread plain popcorn on a needle and strong thread. See the popcorn garland activity.
3. Salt dough ornaments. Flour, salt and water make sturdy keepsakes. Try the salt dough ornaments.
4. Cinnamon ornaments. They smell great and cost pennies. See cinnamon applesauce ornaments.
5. Dried orange slices. Slice oranges 1/4 inch thick, pat dry, and bake at 200°F for 3 to 4 hours, flipping once, until dry and slightly translucent.
6. Pine cone crafts. Brush the tips with white paint for a snowy look. More ideas in pine cone Christmas crafts.
7. Mason jar luminaries. Wrap a jar in twine, then place a battery tea light inside.
8. Paper star garland. Cut stars from old book pages or sheet music and glue them over a length of string.
9. Twig tree. Tie 5 to 7 sticks of different lengths with twine, hang it on a wall and add tiny ornaments.
10. Fabric scrap bows. Cut strips of flannel or plaid, tie bows and clip them to chair backs or wreaths.
11. Framed art. Print free winter images or hand-lettered words and put them in frames you already own.
12. Evergreen jar bouquet. Trim cuttings from a tree or garland, put them in a jar of water and tuck in a few berries.

A simple weekend plan

If you want to get it all done without stress, split the work into three short sessions.

1. Friday evening (30 minutes). Gather supplies and put the orange slices in the oven. While they dry, cut paper snowflakes in front of a movie.
2. Saturday morning (1 hour). Make the twine-wrapped jars, tie fabric bows and string the star garland.
3. Saturday afternoon (1 hour). Place everything. Start with the windows, then the table, then shelves and the entry.
4. Sunday (optional). Make salt dough or cinnamon ornaments with the family and let them dry.

Make a little go a long way

• Group items in threes. Three jars of different heights look styled; one jar looks lonely.
• Stick to two or three colors. A tight palette makes cheap items look planned. See our color schemes guide.
• Add light. Warm white string lights on a shelf or window make everything look better.
• Use height. Stack books under a vase or use a cake stand to lift small pieces.
• Repeat materials. Use twine and kraft paper throughout the house so the look feels connected.

Safety notes

• Use battery candles near paper, twine, dried fruit and greenery. Real flames and dry decorations can ignite quickly.
• Keep the oven at 200°F or lower for drying fruit, and stay home while it runs.
• Hot glue guns burn skin. Use a low-temperature glue gun with kids and supervise closely.
• Keep small items and salt dough away from pets and toddlers.
• Check old string lights for frayed wires before plugging them in.

Where to save, where to spend

Spend a little on one thing you will notice, such as a good strand of warm white lights or a nice wired ribbon. Save on everything else. Natural materials are cheapest in the weeks before Christmas, and tree lots will often give away trimmed branches if you ask.

For more ways to stretch your holiday money, read how to host Christmas on a budget.

Quick Checklist

• Gather jars, trays, ribbon, twine and frames you already own
• Set a total budget and write it down
• Choose two or three colors
• Make paper snowflakes or star garland for windows
• Dry orange slices in a 200°F oven
• Collect pine cones and greenery
• Group decorations in odd numbers
• Add warm white lights
• Use battery candles near dry materials
• Check old light strands before use