15 Creative DIY Christmas Décor Ideas That Save You Money

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The holiday season is around the corner and with that many of us are ready to deck the halls and make our homes into winter wonderlands. The fact is, store bought decorations can stress your wallet more than Santa’s sleigh after Christmas Eve. And that’s where DIY magic comes in. You can create stunning holiday pieces on a budget and really make your holiday décor a little more personal.

The best thing about DIY decorations is that it’s fun for everyone. Whether you’re throwing a craft night with your friends, looking for ways to keep the kids busy on a cold afternoon, or just treating yourself to some ‘me time’, these ideas will help create memories as well as some beautify décor. So, let’s get into some easy and magical ways to make your house glow on the festive season without burning a hole in your pocket.

Old Sweater Homemade Ornaments

Woman Holding Pile of Knitted Sweaters — Photo credit: Arina Krasnikova/Pexels

If you are bidding farewell to a sweater in your closet that has seen better days, don’t toss it yet! Make festive shapes like stars, hearts or trees, sew them together and stuff with cotton or scrap fabric. Rustic and cozy, hang them on your tree. You can wrap your Christmas tree in a warm hug!

Mason Jar Snow Globes

Do you have a couple of mason jars lying about? Use fake snow, small figurines and a little sprinkling of glitter to make your own DIY snow globe. They are also nice gifts for friends and family, or as charming table centerpieces. It’s also been proven that Americans appreciate handmade gifts more than store bought ones, with 42% of Americans surveyed by Statista saying they prefer handmade gifts. This project could put you in the holiday MVP.

Garland From Dried Orange Slices

Thinly slice oranges for a decoration that smells as good as it looks, dry them in the oven, then string them together with twine. It looks absolutely beautiful and the natural orange hue against evergreen branches or white walls will give an elegant, earthy charm to your home.

Paper Snowflakes With a Twist

Don’t you remember making paper snowflakes in elementary school? Use patterned scrapbook paper or metallic foil to give the classic craft a grown up spin. They’re also cheap, customizable, and can be taped to windows or strung across your ceiling for a magical winter vibe.

Upcycled Wine Bottle Candles

Photo Credit: Ludovic Farine/Shutterstock

You also can turn empty wine bottles into stunning candle holders. Sprinkle some glitter onto the wet paint, paint them white, and then cover with long taper candles. This is a simple project but can add a little elegance to your mantle or dinner table.

Pinecone Fire Starters

Nature gives us pinecones and we DIYers take them and run. Melt some wax (adding a little holiday scented oil for extra cheer), dip them in the wax and let it harden. These are great fire starters or just a fragrant decoration to pile into a bowl next to your fireplace.

Festive Pillow Covers

15 Classic Decor Items You’d Spot in a Boomer’s Living Room — Image Credit: Mathias Reding/Pexels

Instead of buying new holiday pillows, either make some or glue or sew festive fabric over your old pillows. This is a quick and inexpensive swap to bring holiday cheer into your living room. Bonus: After the season is over, you can just take off the cover and you’re back to your everyday look.

Clothespin Reindeer

Photo Credit: Elena Schweitzer/Shutterstock

With a little paint and some googly eyes, clothespins can turn into cute little reindeer. Glue two pins together into a reindeer shape, add a red pom pom for the nose and you’re done! These are great tree ornaments or place card holders for holiday dinner.

DIY Advent Calendar

Photo Credit: Tatyana Soares/Shutterstock

Make a personal advent calendar using small envelopes or paper bags. Fill each one with candy, notes handwritten, or small trinkets. You can hang them on the wall with clothespins and twine to make a festive, interactive decoration.

Christmas Card Collage

Photo Credit: Levgenii Meyer/Shutterstock

Don’t let those beautiful holiday cards you receive go to waste. Lay those out on a blank wall or a large piece of cardboard in the shape of a Christmas tree. Decorating your space with this is a very heartfelt way of showing the season’s greetings.

Rustic Wooden Signs

This is the project for you if you’ve got a scrap piece of wood and a steady hand. For a farmhouse style DIY decor, paint holiday themed quotes or designs on the wood. With a coat of sealant added, these signs can be outside to greet guests.

Jar Lid Wreaths

Christmas Wreath — Photo Credit: David Bartus/Pexels

You can make the cutest mini wreaths using metal jar lids. Put ribbon around them, attach a little bow, and drape them on your tree or around the house. These are cheap, they’re charming, and they’re incredibly easy to make.

Hand-Stamped Gift Wrap

Skip the fancy wrapping paper and buy plain brown paper, stamping or stenciling it yourself. Or you can do festive shapes using cookie cutters dipped in paint. This not only saves the money but it also adds a touch of heart to your gifts.

Light-Up Tomato Cages

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Take an old tomato cage and flip it upside down, wrap string lights around it and voila, you have a glowing miniature Christmas tree! It is perfect for porches, patios, or the entryways.

Faux Fur Stockings

Sew your own luxurious looking stockings with some inexpensive faux fur fabric. Not only do they add elegance to your mantle, but they cost only a fraction of the price of the store bought ones. As Interior designer Nate Berkus would say, the simplest things can be the most beautiful.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.