’Tis the season to be festive: Christmas decor ideas for the budget-conscious

Is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas around you? Maybe bells are ringing, and people are singing. But is your home ready with its outdoor Christmas decor? If not, it’s time you start decorating and creating the perfect Christmas setup.

Don’t worry about costs; getting crafty and creative will save you some cash. After going through the easy-to-follow tips in this guide, you’ll have a beautiful outdoor Christmas display. 

Budget-friendly outdoor Christmas decoration ideas

1. Use natural materials

Since you’re decorating the outside of your house, you might as well look outdoors for your embellishments. Nature has a lot in store because you can use many items to achieve the Christmas feels at home. Find pinecones, holly, evergreen branches, and twigs. These are matchless for whatever Christmas decorations and projects you have in mind.

If you live near the beach or would like to put a twist on your traditional Christmas decoration, pick up some stones, pebbles, shells, and other things you might find by the shore. You can use them to add a beautiful summer vibe or achieve a Christmas by the Sea theme.

2. Go DIY

Cut down on costs while maximising style using DIY outdoor Christmas decorations. Unleash your art skills with natural materials like foliage, pine, moss, and other greenery for the perfect Christmas wreaths and garlands. Throw in some eucalyptus leaves, and viola! Your decorations now have a mood-boosting scent.

Another tip for DIY crafts is to get the kids involved. If you have nieces, nephews, or children of your own staying over for Christmas, tap into their creativity. It can be an excellent opportunity to bond with them while making decorating easy as pie. Get artsy with the family and create various ornaments.

You can go as simple as using paper and colouring materials to exploring with homemade salt dough and cinnamon-scented decorations. The possibilities are endless with your Christmas spirit on.

3. Recycle old decorations

One more simple and budget-friendly idea you can try this year is to reuse old decorating materials. Check out your storage room or garage because you might have some items you can use for your outdoor Christmas display. Consider checking out a thrift store for decorations, too! You can surely get your hands on some great Christmas finds there.

Don’t let old Christmas decorations scare you. Although they’re aged, you can freshen them up to be like new again. For example, you can refurbish old, washed-out Christmas balls by gluing broken CD pieces or glitter to make them bright and sparkly again.

Retouch faded colours, repair broken parts, and add beads or other craft materials. But more importantly, have fun and express your style.

4. Switch to better lights

When it comes to outdoor lighted Christmas decorations, LED lights are a great option. They’re more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and long-lasting than incandescent bulbs. They also consume 90% less energy and emit less heat, making them a better and safer alternative.

Consider solar-powered ones if you’re eyeing sustainability for your outdoor Christmas light decorations. Buy them while on sale for a more affordable price. They’re worth getting since they run on renewable energy, which makes it cheaper for you in the long run. Plus, they’re easier to install and maintain compared to wired lights.

5. Borrow Christmas decorations from friends or family

The yuletide season is the perfect time to connect with your loved ones. If you’re spending time with them for the holidays this year, you could ask if they can lend you materials for decoration. Better yet, you can work on the outdoor Christmas arrangement together. With the team effort, everyone, including your wallet, is happy.

How to decorate outdoors for Christmas on a budget

With the cheap outdoor Christmas decorations and materials discussed above, you might now wonder what to do with them. Here are clever but easy ways for you to make your house holiday-ready:

Create a festive front porch

The porch is much like the face of your home. Being at the front, it’s a great spot to personalise as it represents you. Place stockings and garlands for a warm, welcoming touch for outdoor Christmas wall decorations. Hang a wreath by the door and add bells to your decoration for a joyful vibe. String lights are also perfect for brightening up the area at night.

Colour can be your best friend during the holidays. Dare to experiment with plants, shrubs, and other greenery. Relocate some planters and make them your outdoor Christmas window decorations. Decorate them with holly berries, bright ribbons, and ornaments for vibrant, lively hues. 

Light up your yard

LED lights, luminaries, and other Christmas solar decorations should be nonnegotiable for you every year. They’re not only ideal for illuminating your place, but they also add colour, life, and warmth. You can hang them on trees and have them around the yard, patio, or your entire house. The right lights will look like professional outdoor Christmas decorations, so choose wisely.

Transform your garden

If you have a garden, you can go all out and turn it into a winter wonderland. No snow? No problem. You can get fake snow. Snow sprays, white cloths, dry plastic snow, and many other options are on the market. Choose one suitable to your budget.

Don’t forget to add acrylic outdoor Christmas decorations. They come in your favourite festive characters, such as happy snowmen, Santa Claus, reindeer, and elves. You can even set up an outdoor Christmas train decoration. All ages will enjoy hanging out in your version of a snowy paradise.

Make a cosy outdoor space for winter gatherings

On the contrary to a winter wonderland, create a warm and homey area for loved ones and guests. You can pick a spot in your house surrounded by trees or on your patio. Wherever it may be, remember to have comfortable seating and store up on blankets and pillows. Candles and a little bonfire area would also be lovely, especially if you have cold winters.

Tips for staying on budget this Christmas

Here are some easy pointers to ensure you reduce your Christmas decoration expenses.

• Plan - List what you need to be on track with everything. This will also prevent unnecessary costs.

• Look for the best deals - Shops usually have discounts, sales, and promo packages during Christmas. Watch out for these budget-friendly bargains when shopping for outdoor Christmas decorations. Be sure to bring coupons if you have any to get bigger rebates.

• Use coupons and promo codes online - Virtual shopping provides an easy and convenient to browse desired items. But don’t forget to enjoy budget hacks with coupons, vouchers, and promo codes. You can score free shipping and cashback, saving you more money.

A bright and blissful home this Christmas

Whether you go small with your outdoor Christmas decor or build an entire winter wonderland, remember to have fun. Invite family and friends for a more festive time. Now that you know the ropes with decorating, it’s time to get to work. Need a little more push or help with your Christmas projects in mind? Find an experienced Christmas home decorator from Airtasker today!