Decorating your home for the holidays does not have to cost a small fortune. Whether you have a small apartment or huge house, here are some ways you can bring the warm, cozy feeling of holiday cheer to your home without spending too much money, which you'd rather have for gifts for your friends and family.
Natural Greenery
You can create a simple mantel decoration, table centerpiece or windowsill swag using nature's gifts. Grab a large basket and take a walk around your neighborhood or a nearby park. Look for trees or bushes with berries (like holly, nandina and other plant varieties) and collect branches.
Find different varieties of pine trees and other evergreens and cut branches in different sizes. It's easy to arrange greens around a large candlestick, in a vase, or amongst a collection of Christmas items like angels or Santas. Bringing the outdoors inside in the form of evergreens is not only free but will make your home smell lovely for the holiday season!
White or Colored Light Collections and Cards Displays
Another way to decorate without spending is by creating a lovely feature area to include special Christmas cards you've gotten over the years or a collection of figurines you might have saved throughout the years. Choose an area of focus – whether it is a dining room table, mantel, bay window or other spot, and arrange your cards or collectibles, with fresh greens and/or candles around them. You could also hang Christmas cards on a clothesline, around a mirror, or on a special shelf.
Make Your Own
Another great way to decorate without spending is to create some of your own Christmas decorations. Visit a nearby craft store and see what decoration materials are on sale – often you can cross-stitch a small piece, make your own candles, buy a small tree to decorate, create your own wreath or find other inexpensive craft kits.
One final tip for decorating inexpensively is to shop after Christmas! Decorations go on sale for up to 75% off after the holidays, and this is a great time to stock up on lights, faux greenery, ornaments and other holiday decor (as well as holiday cards, wrapping paper, etc.) – freeing up more cash for next year's gift buying!
Enjoy your holiday season knowing all the best gifts are free.
Mary McCarthy - Mary T. McCarthy is the blogger at pajamasandcoffee.com and Editor of Chesapeake Family magazine.
