These 12 Simple Christmas Decorating Tips will save you money by using what you have at home.
Yes, it’s still summer, but I’m taking full advantage of one more Christmas in July post. December will be here before you know it, but you can start planning your Christmas Decorating NOW by taking inventory of what you already have. If you need to buy a few things, the hunting is great out there with plenty of yard sales, estate sales and thrift shopping.
Christmas is my favorite holiday and I love to go all out with my decorating without spending a lot of money. Here are 12 simple Christmas Decorating Tips to get your wheels turning – I hope you enjoy them.
1. Deck your halls with cute shoes
This takes hanging the greens to a whole new level. Think outside of the box and use your favorite pair of shoes or boots to add a touch of whimsy to a wreath, tree, or hanging with the greens.
2. Use cookie cutters
Decorate a kitchen tree with cookie cutters or use them as eye candy in a jar, candy dish or bowl.
3. Give everyone a hat!
Be generous and give a hat to the coat tree, the newel post and the dining room chairs. Any winter hat will do – Santa hats or your favorite cap knitted by your dear, sweet Granny.
4. Hang something fun in unexpected places.
Add a surprise to any room – on doorknobs, coat hooks, or swinging from the chandeliers. Use glass bulbs, jingle bells, candy canes, garland, Christmas elves – anything fun and festive will do!
5. Use Candy Canes liberally!
Whether your decorating style is traditional, whimsical, or somewhere in between, Candy Canes are a staple to use in Christmas decorating – and they are cheap, (and free when you reuse them). Once the holidays are over, my candy canes go into a large empty popcorn tin (to keep bugs out) and stored in the basement. All of my Candy Canes are several years old but they look just as pretty and fresh as when they were new. I can tell you firsthand that old candy canes are still edible – but VERY chewy.
6. Red & White makes everything merry & bright!
I see these old lids everywhere when I’m out antiquing – and I can’t pass them up when they’re under $5. They add a bit of whimsy as a back splash at the kitchen sink. Adding a sprig of fresh greenery through the handle gives a nice red and green touch in the kitchen. Using ribbon everywhere adds an additional layer of fun.
7. Use flowers to dress up baskets and containers.
Whether your preference is real or faux, flowers make any container a show stopper. I’ve put them in the bathtub in the powder room, punch bowls in the dining room and in suitcases – let your imagination run wild. Faux Poinsettias are plentiful throughout the year at thrift shops and tag sales, so keep an eye out for them.
8. Spread words of good cheer.
These Scrabble tiles are plentiful at thrift shops and yard sales. I keep the tiles in a jar on a shelf and spell out messages to my family throughout the year.
spell out some Christmas words like NOEL, REJOICE, and PEACE.
9. Add greenery and bird nests to your porch decor.
Use old picnic baskets, plaid coolers and vintage thermos bottles filled with Christmas greenery on the porch to welcome guests. Be on the lookout for vacant bird nests to use in your decorating (I’ve been told that birds do not reuse nests).
10. Decorate with TOYS!
I love old toys- especially trucks because you can fill them with all sorts of fun things. At Christmastime I fill my trucks with greenery, ornaments, candy canes or miniature Christmas trees.
11. Use a favorite doll to star as baby Jesus!
Jesus is the year-round star of the show at our house. Using a doll to represent Him during the holidays helps to keep us focused on what’s most important.
12. Ornaments aren’t just for trees -show them off in new places.
Try putting your glass ornaments in places where folks least expect them – like a bird cage, candy dish, a punch bowl, or dangling from a chandelier.
Christmas decorating won’t break the bank when you use things you have, can borrow or buy second-hand.
I hope you’ve found this post useful and maybe you can use an idea or two in your Christmas decorating this year.
Check out my bowling ball post on how to transform bowling balls into giant lollipops in your outdoor Christmas decorating. If you like photos, you can see more of my Christmas posts HERE on Instagram.
If you have a fun tip you’d like to share, please tell me about it in the comments below. Please share the love and pass these tips on to anyone who might find them useful. Thanks for reading.
