Decorating for the holidays can become expensive, but these budget tips will help keep the cost down.
If you enjoy decorating for the holidays, but would rather not spend a fortune doing it, here are some ideas to help you to create a fun, festive look without breaking the bank:
-Purchase decorations and novelty fabrics during the off-season. Many stores have sales just after a holiday, and you can often buy these items for 50% or more off the regular price.
-Recycle or revamp holiday items that you already have. For example, if you are bored with your red and green Christmas decorations, paint or dye red items burgundy and green items a deep, rich hunter green or gold. If you have a collection of holiday sweaters that you do not wear, transform them into adorable pillows. Lay the sweater out flat. Cut two squares or rectangles from the body of the sweater. Double hem the edges to avoid fraying then place the pieces together with the "good" sides facing each other. Sew the top and both sides and turn it right side out. Stuff the pillow with the arms of the sweater and any other remaining scraps (you may need to add a bit of fiber fill or scraps from other projects to make the pillow fluffy enough). Sew the bottom edge closed.
-Create things from other items around the house. That plain candlestick that gathers dust on your shelf can be turned into a festive Thanksgiving candlestick with a touch of gold paint and the addition of a few brightly colored artificial leaves. An unused vase can be treated in a similar way. Paint an old table runner with fabric paints and turn it into a beautiful holiday accessory or dye that lace tablecloth that has yellowed with age. A pretty pastel color will hide the yellowing and give you a great Easter tablecloth.
-Make pillow covers for each holiday. Make them easy to put on as well as easy to remove and cover your existing throw pillows with them as each holiday approaches. You can create pillow shams for your child's bedroom the same way, and add an inexpensive coordinating blanket over the comforter or bedspread, or create a duvet cover from holiday sheets.
-Use your children's artwork. Frame your children's holiday creations in brightly colored picture frames, which you can paint if needed. You can change them out each year as your children create new ones, or you can keep special favorites to display every year. Turn those paper snowflakes into ornaments by gluing them to a felt, fabric, or craft foam backing and adding a hook.
-Take your everyday artwork off the wall and wrap your pictures in beautiful holiday wrapping paper or a shiny foil. Add bows, ribbons, silk flowers, candy canes, or other tiny trinkets to create a beautiful wall hanging. If your artwork is precious to you, you may prefer to take it down and stash it safely away, vying for heavy cardboard, foam core, or craft wood to wrap up like a fanciful package instead.
-Use lots of candles. Candles are beautiful, yet very inexpensive, and they are perfect for setting a relaxing mood. Use several different sizes, shapes and varieties, such as tapers, votives and pillar candles and spread them around the house. You can make great candle displays by placing several different candles on top of a holiday platter and adding bits of greenery. Add colored eggs for Easter, candy canes or cinnamon sticks for Christmas, faux fruits and vegetables for Thanksgiving, champagne glass party favors for New Year's Eve, etc. If you use scented candles, it is best to use those that all have the same scent.
-Food can also be used to create a festive, inviting atmosphere. Fill a large bowl with succulent fruits and nuts and use it as a centerpiece. You can also cut small shapes and designs into the peels of lemons, limes, and oranges to create a lovely display as well as to fill the room with the refreshing scent of citrus. Adding cloves to the fruit will help it stay fresher longer. You can also fill Grandma's crystal candy dish with luscious homemade chocolates or chocolate covered cherries.
