How to Decorate for Holidays on a Budget

I love sharing my holiday decorations here on the blog. Halloween/Fall and Christmas are really the only times of year when I add extra decorations around the house. In my honest opinion, I feel like our house is a little plain for most of the year. But, when it comes to the holidays my whole aim is to create the most festive and coziest atmosphere possible.

My collection of decorations has grown exponentially over the years and while everything brings me joy, I am shocked at how much I have spent on decorations. You by no means need to spend a fortune to make your house feel special. Over the years I have picked up some tips and tricks on how to decorate for the holidays on a budget and today I am sharing them with you! Here is how I make our house feel festive and cozy without breaking the bank.

How to Decorate for the Holidays on a Budget

Sales

I am not a fan of paying full price for decorations. More times than not, I wait to buy things on sale. Michael’s and Joanns have super sales in mid-October and then also after Halloween. I mention these places in particular because I always love their selection of decorations. They also usually have a ton of craft supplies for DIY projects that are discounted as well this time of year. So, if I buy a piece of decor that is already made, I will pick it up in a sale to save some $$$.

DIY

I have really gotten into making my own decorations in the last few years! It’s fun to get creative and it is a lot cheaper than buying decor that is already made. I got a ton of my DIY supplies from the Dollar Tree this year. They have such a fun selection of things around the holidays that are easy to DIY. And it’s so cheap too! I got this haunted house cutout from there and the spiders for this project! I got paint at Joann’s that was on sale 10 for only $5 along with discounted floral picks. The possibilities are endless when you decide to make your own decor!

Thrifting or Discount Stores

You can find some real treasures at thrift stores and even discount stores like Dollar Tree this time of year. You can get great one-of-a-kind pieces to either upcycle or keep as is from the Thrift store. The Dollar Tree has a large variety of decorations and pieces that are easy to update or make into something else. The Dollar Tree also has a great craft section to explore for some crafting supplies. They have paint, peel-and-stick vinyl, unfinished wood pieces, beads, and even fabric squares! It is a great resource if you want to get into crafting!

Upcycling/Recycling

This is quickly becoming my favorite way to create decorations. You can either thrift something or use something that you already own to make it even more cost-effective. I got a wreath for only $3.99 that was decorated for Christmas from Value Village. I was able to save most of the floral picks to use for Christmas decorations and did a wreath Halloween makeover! This birdhouse is a Springtime purchase and I gave it a spooky season makeover! This old cinnamon broom from Trader Joe’s makes a great witch’s broom! Aluminum cans make terrific luminaries! And toilet paper rolls can make spooky eyes for your bushes! I used pieces of thin plywood I have lying around and turned them into this cute ghost sign!

I love to think out of the box when it comes to upcycling/recycling items for my decor!

Giving life to items that would normally end up in the landfill is a great way to help the environment and also allows you to save some $$$!

Natural Elements

I always love using natural elements in my decorating for the holidays. I used greenery that I was able to source for free from my dad and his neighbor’s yard to create beautiful pieces for Christmas a few years ago. During the Fall and Halloween, I like to include pumpkins of all shapes and sizes! It’s easy to get carried away with the pumpkins and if you don’t watch it you can end up spending a lot of money. My advice is to get your carving pumpkins from a discount grocery store like Winco or Grocery Outlet. Then for the smaller pumpkins and oddball ones, a nursery garden center is a great place to go! Next year I am hoping to grow my own for decorations!

Collect leaves on your walks or leafy branches from your yard for arranging. There are so many ways to include natural elements in your decor that won’t cost you anything!

Items that are already around your house or in your decorations

Do you have any fun vases you can use to create festive arrangements? Is there anything that can be spruced up a bit to work for your decorations? Using items you already have around your house is a great way to reduce costs! I am also a firm believer that you don’t need new decorations every year. Make sure you are using what you already have but in different ways to keep things fresh!

My Favorite Places to Buy Decor

Michaels (For decor & craft supplies)
Joanns (For decor and craft supplies)
Home Goods (For one-of-a-kind pieces)
Thrift Stores (For one-of-a-kind pieces and items to upcycle)
Dollar Tree (For craft supplies)
Target (For decor, I love the dollar spot for cheap and cute decorations)

How to Decorate for Holidays on a Budget