5 DIY Christmas Decorations that are Cheap to Make

The holiday season is upon us, and you may be feeling the Christmas spirit, but the cost is stressing you out.  There’s a way you can save money on decor with diy Christmas decorations.

christmas decor

I’ve spent so many years living frugally and not having a lot of money for holidays.  This has forced me to tap into my creativity to decorate our home.  The truth is, there are plenty of ideas when it comes to homemade Christmas decorations.  

You don’t need a whole lot of money to enjoy this festive season with beautiful decor.   And I promise you, this won’t look like those crafts you made for your mom in elementary school for Christmas.  You know the ones I’m talking about.  

The ones you brought home to her for her to display around the house or the diy Christmas ornaments you made that she displayed on the Christmas tree. 

While those are nice, (at least, I’m sure your mom said they were) the homemade Christmas decor we are going to talk about today are a tad, shall we say, classier than those school projects.

So let’s talk about some DIY projects that are easy to do and can save you a ton of money.

5 DIY Christmas Decorations you can Make

​Dried Orange Slices

Dried orange slice garland

Dried orange slices are SO pretty and give a rustic feel for Christmas.  They are so easy to make and you can use them as homemade Christmas ornaments or make them into a garland that you can hang either around your Christmas tree, or in other places in your house, like a railing, mantel, or window.

 All you need to do is slice the oranges thinly and dry them out using a dehydrator or oven  Find the full instructions here.

Salt Dough Ornaments

Salt dough ornaments

I love these!  We’ve made salt dough ornaments for our Christmas tree in gingerbread men shapes, or stars.  They only require a few ingredients and look so beautiful, again giving that rustic Christmas look.  

It’s a super easy craft that you can involve the whole family in.  Young children love to make these as it’s just like making cookies *though, you’ll want to be sure they don’t try and eat the dough – it has a dangerously high level of salt.)  Again, these easy decorations will require an oven to cure them.  Here’s a recipe for you!

Christmas Planter

Christmas planter

I don’t know if you’ve noticed the price of Christmas planters recently, but they are NOT cheap. Which is crazy to me because they are so easy to make with mostly free items.  

I used an old bucket I had lying around for the base, and bought a red ribbon from the dollar store, but the rest of the stuff I used I gathered on a walk in the woods.  Fresh greenery, dirt, a chunk of a birch tree, and that’s really all you need.  

It’s a fun way to make your own Christmas decorations because you can take the kids on a nature walk AND collect what you need.  

A planter is perfect to add as part of your Christmas porch decorations.  Check out this tutorial.

Popcorn Garland

popcorn cranberry garland

You don’t need a tree with fancy decorations for it to be beautiful.  Actually, I find Christmas trees even prettier when it’s covered it’s own diy Christmas decorations.  

Add to your Christmas crafts some popcorn garland and you won’t be disappointed.  All you need to do is use a sewing needle and some thin fishing line.  Make a big bowl of popcorn and take the needle and string it through the popcorn piece by piece. 

I like to add cranberries in the garland for an added touch.  I’ll usually add between 10-15 pieces of popcorn, and then a cranberry, and repeat for as long as you need it.  

Christmas Wreath

christmas diy wreath

There are so many ways to make diy Christmas wreaths and one search across the internet will give you lots of options.  I like to make a wreath with some fresh greenery and grapevine branches like the one I share about in this post.  

I love the look of these kinds of wreaths in the snow – it makes your front porch look like a winter wonderland!  You can hang a wreath indoors, but you can also add it to your outdoor decorations.

 

Other Holiday Decor Ideas

Decorate with various lights

Whether it’s Christmas lights, fairy lights, or candles, a soft glow has a way of putting anyone in the holiday spirit.  Use different sizes of lights or candles on your holiday table or in other areas around your home.  

We use string lights in multiple places at Christmas – on window ledges, around the tree, or even hanging along the ceiling.

Use food items for some Christmas cheer

I love to buy the boxes of clementines (or as we like to call them, Christmas oranges) and place them sporadically along or greenery garlands.  

The kids eat them as they feel hungry, and then I replace them again with a new box!  Even placing a bowl of oranges on the table as a centerpiece adds to the look of Christmas.  

Candy canes are another item that can be used as decor like colorful ornaments on your tree.  I’ve even seen people use candy canes to make homemade ornaments by making them into things like reindeer or hearts.  

Cinnamon sticks are another great item that will give your home a unique look for Christmas.  Food is just one of the creative ways you can tap into your decor style without breaking the bank.

Go for a nature walk and bring home items to decorate with

​A great way to decorate your home is with fresh greenery, pine cones, and pieces of wood.  Toss some pinecones in a wide glass vase with some of the Christmas oranges and it’ll look SO pretty on your dining room table.

​Add scents to the Christmas ambiance

christmas candle

Sure, you can’t SEE a scent, but certain smells make the decor seem to feel more Christmasy.  Use some Christmas scented essential oils in diffuser.  I like scents like cinnamon, orange, fir, ginger, and cloves to give off a scent of holiday cheer.  

Scented candles are another option.  Or, if you are REALLY in the mood for your home to feel like Christmas, consider baking.  NOTHING smells better than fresh gingerbread cookies baking in the oven.

Print off some printables

The internet is a treasure trove of printables you can use for Christmas time.  Some do cost a bit of money, but others are free.  Print off the printable, put it in a frame and hang it on your wall.  There’s many printables with Christmas sayings that are perfect to display around your home.

Christmas Decoration Ideas that don’t cost a fortune

Let’s be real – Christmas is expensive enough so if there’s a way you can save some money while still making your home look beautiful, of course you should jump on the chance!  It’s amazing what you can make with items lying around your home or outside.  

Scrap wood, pvc pipe, old jars – everyday items like this are useful and can be repurposed whether its for Christmas or for other holidays during the year.

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