Making Christmas Decor Budget Friendly

Whether you are planning a wedding, hosting a party, or just decorating your home, creating decor for the Christmas season can be overwhelming for some, and break the budget for others. Most don't want it to be too "kitschy" but you still want it to stand out from your regular decor so that it looks special. So how do you keep it looking fresh year after year without spending a fortune?

These magnolias and ornaments have been on my trees for years...but they still look fresh!

The basics of my decor don't change much from year to year, making it easier on my budget. The trees are the same (yes, I'm now 100% artificial...and LOVE it!!) and I recycle artificial garlands, ornaments and some beloved decor every Christmas. This helps keep the cost down from year to year.

Try adding a few shimmery gold fabric pieces to your tree to fill in the gaps...just not too structured!

In addition, I keep my basic color palate neutral. I suggest sticking to hues found in nature: greens, golds, whites, browns. These can find their way into your trees, on your tabletop, around your banisters, and in your homes' nooks and crannies. Evergreen wreaths and garlands are common this time of year, so use those as a foundation to work up from (whether fresh or artificial).

Decor doesn't have to be complicated to be pretty!

Then, if you want, choose something new to make that year special. A new addition to my decor this year was skinny velvet gold ribbon that I used throughout my house to tie everything together (pun intended!). This is a small detail that could be changed every year (think red ribbon, maybe??) to alter the look without investing in entirely new decor. It also brings a consistent element throughout my house.

A simple velvet ribbon makes a big impact!

If you are shopping and find a treasure, work around that! I was at Hobby Lobby and found a seriously cute tree for $6 (can't beat that!). So, I decided to do my dining room table design without flowers and use that little tree as my centerpiece. I put it in the middle and worked out from there, adding a couple of smaller trees I already had, a velvet garland I made from stretch velvet, Styrofoam balls and ribbon (another new addition and very fun craft), a string of lights, and lots of my candles. I love how it turned out and don't miss the flowers at all!

Velvet is IT this season!

Don't be afraid to experiment and change things around. A few weeks later, I still move things around occasionally. Sometimes I add a ribbon, sometimes I take something away completely (I don't like clutter). My decor has to make me happy or it doesn't get to stay.

So find your happy and do a little creating. And on the 26th, shop the sales for next year!