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32 Budget-Friendly Christmas Decorating Ideas

These quick and easy Christmas decorating ideas are festive, fun, and inexpensive!

By Cynthia Dermody with additional reporting by Rachel Hofstetter from Reader's Digest
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Photo by Damon Beres
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Reader's Digest Magazine Christmas Trees

By folding your Reader's Digest magazine page over page, you can turn it into a cute Christmas magazine craft. Trim with leftover tinsel and ornaments, or spray gold or silver. Get the directions here »

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Pretty Pinecones

Dip pinecones in gold paint (either partially or all of the way) or use a mixture of water, glue, and glitter for a sparkling effect. Place on side tables or use to fill baskets and bowls.

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Christmas "Spirits"

Stick candles in clean, empty wine bottles for a dramatic display of warm, holiday light.

Get the directions here >>

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Show Your Cards

Do you hang onto Christmas cards that are too pretty to throw out? Turn them into works of art. Attach a card front to matboard using Spray Mount, double-sided tape, or rubber cement. Trim to fit just a single card, or cover a large piece of matboard with multiple cards, and then decorate a doorway or tree.

Source: Mary Ellen Turner, vice president of seasonal merchandise for Party City

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Dream of Sugarplums

For a fast, sweet decoration, put out bowls of holiday candy in pretty, stemmed glassware.

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Paper Angels

All you need are paper plates or white cardstock, and you can make a full chorus of angelic little statues, a great decoration for a centerpiece or tree.

Get the directions here >>

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Tie It Up

Tie a bow around your throw pillows with holiday-colored ribbons, and they'll look just like Christmas gifts! Add a rhinestone pin for an extra decorating kick.


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Add Some Swagger

Make a hanging banner, or swag, out of Christmas cards in minutes: Drape cards over a long strand of twine or ribbon. Then tack the two ends to the front corners of your mantel, across a doorway, or down a long hallway.

Source: Jennifer and Kitty O'Neil, authors of Decorating with Funky Shui: How to Lighten Up, Loosen Up and Have Fun Decorating Your Home

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White Christmas

Spray paint artificial trees (big or small) with white paint for a clean, sophisticated decoration.

Get the directions here >>

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Take a Bow

Wrap bows around your dining room chairs (you can even tie on Christmas ornaments for extra sparkle). Secure on the underside with tape as needed.

Get the directions here >>

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Brighten Up

Fill vases (or washed, clean household bottles) with cranberries to add a cheery splash of Christmas red to any room. Nestle flowers, twigs, or greenery with water for more decoration.

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Branch Out

Plain dry branches from your yard—whether from green firs or bare deciduous trees—make excellent decorations when you spray with silver or gold paint. Hang, or tuck in a vase to decorate an entryway or dining room. Plus, add ornaments to the branches for an instant Christmas tree.

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Light the Tree

You can create a Christmas tree on any wall with a strand of lights and a few nails.

Get the directions here >>

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Let There be Light

Line a driveway, mantle, staircase, or the middle of your dining room table with homemade luminarias for a warm, Christmas decoration.

Get directions here >>

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Just Add Water

Take clear vases or bottles, fill them with water, and add holiday-colored food coloring—a few drops will do. Then line the bottles up in a row, or decorate with floating candles for a festive touch.

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Go Natural

Natural elements, like evergreen branches, pinecones, and berries turn simple candles into an eye-catching centerpiece. Display them together on a table or mantle; but use a protective holder, like a hurricane glass, to avoid catching fire.

Source: Kimberly Kennedy, author of The Art and Craft of Entertaining and lifestyle consultant for the National Candle Association

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Spray It

Spray paint the outsides of clean, empty bottles from wine, juice, or beer, then fill with flowers or branches. You can also create a line of the bottles on a long table for an elegant decoration.

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Turn the Lights Up

Take holiday-colored ribbon and pin or glue it around the bottom of your lamp shade. It's a simple way to add a splash of decorative color before a Christmas cocktail party.

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Jingle All the Way

Tie jingle bells to your door handles for a ring of jolly cheer whenever you come home. For extra holiday pizzaz, paint the bells Christmas colors.

Get the directions here >>

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Decorate the Door

Make your own holiday wreaths by bending greenery into a circle and tying together with whatever's on hand like fishing string, ribbon, or rope. Hang it on your door and decorate with extra ribbons, pinecones, or ornaments for a welcoming burst of Christmas cheer.

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Find a Canny Solution

Turn a clean, empty can into a sturdy "stocking" perfect for small gifts. Wrap with paper, or paint and decorate as you wish. If you want, you can drill a small hole near the can opening, then tie a string through and hang on the mantel.


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Make a Bow

Stack red, white, or green bath towels, then tie together with coordinating ribbon to create a "gift-wrapped" look for a guest bathroom or to decorate during a party.

Source: Connie Bandstra, author of Tasty Temptations


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Frame It

Turn holiday wrapping paper into instant artwork by sliding it into a frame. Or frame your favorite Christmas greeting cards and hang in a collection.

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Get Abstract

Fun for kids before Christmas: Cut up strips of red, green, silver and white construction paper or colored glossy papers. Loop one end to the other and glue to a blank canvas. Do this with dozens of strips and fill the entire canvas.

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Splash on Color

Take a blank canvas and spray-paint it a solid holiday color, then stencil or stamp snowflakes, stars, or other festive motifs to add some decoration and punch to a bare wall.


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Go Modern

Make holiday swirled glass bottles: Put a few drops of paint inside a clear bottle, shake it up, and watch the paint splatter into a modern art swirl. Let dry thoroughly before use.

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Tie a Tree Bow

Not sure how to decorate with ribbons to make perky bows on your holiday greenery? 


Get the directions here >>

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Line Up the Stockings

Create these cute stockings decorations with these simple felt templates, then string a row down banisters or ledges before Christmas Eve.

Get the full directions here >>

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Just Add A Candle

Instead of hanging all of your wreaths on the door, place some on the table to use as candle holders (just be careful that flames aren't close to the greens).

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Beyond the Christmas Tree

Hang ornaments all over the house—and outside—for extra flair. Strings of metal balls look especially nice on windowsills.

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Double the Fun

Repeat design elements—like this duo of hanging evergreen boughs—for a look that's sophisticated and classic.

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Photo by Steve Snodgrass/Flickr Commons
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Decorative Loops

Make festive paper chains with strips of wrapping paper—simply glue a loop together, and then string another paper strip through and repeat the process.

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Your Comments

  • The Miss

    awesomeeeeee

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  • http://twitter.com/PenthouseShots PenthouseShots

    There is a DVD called “The Christmas Lights DVD” that is great for playing at your home or office party. Very affordable. I love it!!

  • me

    If your mom or somebody’s got an old Christmas tree that’s in fairly good condition, use that until you can buy one.

  • me

    P.S. Be sure to get permission to use it.

  • http://www.dirtcheapdiscounts.com.au/ SD

    Great ideas to make Christmas a little more financially manageable.

  • Dianepherigo

    Another inexpensive idea is to purchase inexpensive gift bags and set them over your yard lights. They look beautiful. The shiny or waxy ones hold up best in damp weather :-)