Budget-friendly tips for gorgeous holiday decor in 2022

The scent of pine, hot chocolate, twinkle lights... are you ready for it? The Holidays are coming soon as so is all the festive and cosy home decor that comes with it. If you’re looking to save money this holiday season, there are plenty of ways to do so without skimping on the festive fun. Here are some great tips from Edmonton’s own By The DIY Mommy, Christina Dennis, for budget-friendly holiday decorating:

1. Use what you have. Take a look around your home and see what seasonal items you already have on hand that can be repurposed for holiday decor. Candles, vases, and even everyday items like mason jars can be transformed with a little bit of creativity.

DIY Idea: Have an old sweater with holes in it? You can repurpose it into an upcycled sweater Christmas star ornament. First, trace a star cookie cutter onto a sweater with a permanent marker. Cut two layers of sweater in the star shape, and then stitch around the star with a contrasting coloured yarn with a blanket stitch. Leave an opening at the end to stuff a little bit of polyester fiberfill inside, and then finish stitching the ornament shut. To finish the ornament, stitch a 9 inch length of yarn through one of the star points and tied it to create a hanger for the ornament.

2. Shop second hand. Second-hand stores are a great place to find unique holiday decorations at a fraction of the cost. You can also keep an eye out for garage sales and estate sales in your area for even more savings. Don’t forget that a simple coat of paint can completely transform a thrifted item into something that looks more current!

Decor Idea: Coloured glassware is a huge trend this year, and the thrift store is the perfect place to find it! Use one colour of thrifted glassware on your Holiday table (green is the perfect colour), or use a rainbow of colours for an eclectic look.

3. Make your own decorations. Get crafty and make your own holiday decorations! There are plenty of easy DIY projects that even the most inexperienced crafter can handle. Browse Pinterest for simple Christmas craft ideas, or search YouTube for detailed step-by-step videos to create your own unique Christmas decor.

DIY Idea: Create a beautiful, rustic wreath for your front door this Holiday season by starting with a large grapevine wreath base. Using a hot glue gun, attach pom-poms, faux greenery and bells of various sizes to the bottom half of the wreath. Finish the wreath by attach a large bow to the bottom, and enjoy your handiwork!

4. Use recycled paper to wrap gifts. You can easily find recycled paper at your local dollar store, or you can get even more creative and use old maps, magazines, or even newspapers to wrap your gifts. Saving brown packing paper from your mail and using it to wrap gifts can look beautiful if you add a topper like dried oranges or sprigs of greenery.

DIY Idea: Make dried orange slices to use as gift toppers or in a Holiday garland. Take an orange and slice it into ¼” thick slices. Place the slices in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. For even faster-drying slices, blot the orange slices with paper towels before placing them on the cookie sheet. Optional: sprinkle the slices with cinnamon or cloves to create more fragrant orange slices. Place the sheet on a middle rack of your oven at 175 F and bake the orange slices for 2-3 hours. Tip: Flip the orange slices every 30 minutes for the best results!

5. Use natural elements. Incorporate nature into your holiday decor for a unique and budget-friendly touch. Pinecones, branches, and leaves can all be used to create beautiful holiday displays. Not only do natural elements add texture and life to your home, but you can often find them for free!

Decor Idea: Use pine or spruce clippings from your local greenhouse (or your backyard!) in vases around your home. Not only will they make your home smell incredible, but they’ll look festive and beautiful. You can also create a simple DIY wreath from evergreen branches by gently bending an evergreen branch into a circular shape. Tie it together with jute twine and leave a long tail. Then, grab a handful of 4-6” long evergreen branches and tie them to the wreath base with the jute twine. Continue tying handfuls of trimmed branches to the wreath base, in the same direction, until you’ve filled the full wreath base.

This Holiday season, get thrifty and use some of these tips to create a beautiful home on a budget. From using what you have to shopping secondhand, there are many ways to save money and still make your home look fabulous. So get crafty, think outside the box, and enjoy creating your own unique holiday decorations. Your wallet (and the planet) will thank you!