31 Easy and Affordable Christmas Decoration Ideas
Besides shopping for presents, decorating your house for the holidays is probably at the top of your Christmas checklist, right? After all, decorating with cute and easy Christmas crafts for kids and adults is one of the best ways to get you and your family into the holiday spirit.
But don’t worry; you don’t have to splurge on Christmas decorations to make your home look beautiful this holiday season. Take a note from some of these Instagrams to see to bring your place from drab to fab in no time.
Here are 31 fun and affordable Christmas decor ideas to try in 2023.
Related: 35 Best Christmas Porch Decorations
Christmas Decorating Ideas
1. Go wreath-crazy
Nothing screams Christmas spirit quite like a wreath, which is why you should hang mini ones on the back of your barstools this December just like @sbkliving did.
Related: Christmas Trivia
2. Let a Christmas story inspire you
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If you’re looking for a unique piece of decor, do what @louflores_ did and make a DIY wreath to liven up your Christmas wall art that features a character from one of your favorite holiday stories, like How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It’s a fun statement piece that will make everyone who sees it smile. It can be as easy or as intricate as you'd like (like Lou's, whose wreath is expertly crafted).
Related: 'As an Interior Designer, Here’s Why I Always Choose a White Christmas Tree'
3. Change your room’s accent color
The bathroom may be one space you usually don’t think about decorating for Christmas, but @beyond_gray proves that doing so is an easy way to step up your decorating game this year. Just switching the color of your towels to red or green gives that space a holiday vibe.
Related: 100 Best National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Quotes!
4. Display ornaments
Looking for a cheap, yet chic way to decorate? All you need are some round ornaments! @Sweetlychicevents proves that they can transform more than just your tree if you place a dozen or so colorful ones in a bowl and set them on your coffee table.
5. Use flowers to decorate your tree
Embrace your girly side by adding fake flowers all over your Christmas tree! It’ll set your tree apart from all of your friends’ this winter. You can go all out like @peonyandhoney did, or you can just mix a few flowers in with your other ornaments.
Related: Best Christmas Tree Decor Ideas
6. Embrace berry branches
This Christmas, @gatheranddwell wants you to grab a vase and put berry branches in it. It’ll be the perfect centerpiece for your dining room table or a great room accent.
7. Make a giant advent calendar.
If you’re someone who is always counting down the days until December 25, then you should design your very own Christmas advent calendar using printer paper and red and green markers. You’ll can even turn this project by @ashtonsedita into a tradition you do every year!
8. Add some holiday throw pillows
To give your living room a little makeover, @to_mimishousewego suggests using throw pillows! Ones with Christmas-themed words or red and white prints will give your house all the feels!
9. Dress up your bed frame
Sure, you’ve probably thought about adding garland to your staircase, but what about your headboard? That’s what @whiteblossomhome did and it’s beyond gorgeous!
10. Make your fireplace pop
Cut off a few branches from your Christmas tree and display them on your mantle this winter. You can even weave a string of twinkle lights throughout the branches if you want to make your fireplace look extra magical, like @scscurlock did.
11. Wrap your wall.
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Yep, you heard us correctly. TikTok user @theclairenecessities had the genius idea of using actual wrapping paper as temporary wallpaper behind her TV. She used glue dots to hold her plaid Christmas wrapping paper in place and went to town. While it looks so well done and gives the vibes of actual wallpaper, it has the sheen and merry-ness of wrapping paper. Your wall is now such a gift!
12. Hang up a festive banner
This gingerbread man and candy cane banner that @countryheartdesigns made is Christmas goals! The best part is, it’ll look amazing in any room and doesn’t take too long to make.
13. Display some faux Christmas trees
There’s no rule about how many Christmas trees you can have in your house, so embrace them this season! Adding two or three skinny ones to either side of a seating area in your house will create an Instagram-worthy moment just like the one @withinthegrove made.
14. Set up a holiday coffee bar
Everyone in your house will feel extra cozy if you take the time to make a holiday coffee bar similar to the one @neverskipbrunch has! You can include red spoons, red and white strip straws and a Christmas-flavored coffee selection.
15. Make display gift boxes
DIY some Christmas boxes! The simple craft by @thriftydecorchick is something you and your family can do together while watching your favorite Christmas movie. Just don’t get them confused with the present under your tree!
16. Bring the snow indoors
Let it snow—inside! Hanging up some wooden snowflakes with twine will help you achieve a wintery farmhouse look says @greysonhome. For an even cheaper way to get this look, cut out large, paper snowflakes instead.
Related: Christmas Quotes
17. Think outside the box
Don’t let not having a fireplace keep you from hanging up stockings. Instead, copy what @mrsrollmn did and hang them at the end of your bed. It’ll not only look pretty, but it’ll be great to have everyone in your room opening them up on Christmas morning.
18. Show off your holiday trinkets
You’d be surprised what setting a few Christmas knickknacks and gold figurines you have stored away can do. Changing up the ones you put out each season, like @thebeatifulbarn does, is a cheap and easy way to change up your space.
19. Use a holiday-themed blanket as a tablecloth
If you’re planning on hosting Christmas dinner, you’re going to love this idea from @thehappyhousie. She used a plaid throw blanket as her tablecloth — and so can you! If you don’t have a plaid one in your house, use a red or green one.
20. Hang up Christmas lyrics
Follow in the footsteps of @halfway_wholeistic and print out the lyrics to a classic Christmas song so you can display it as wall art. You can play with the style, size and color of the font until you find one that’s just right for your house and make your print as large or small as you want it to be.
Related:25 Christmas Mantel Decoration Ideas
21. Put your holiday mugs on display
Instead of keeping your Santa mugs hidden inside your cabinet, take them out, like @lizmariegalvan did, and arrange them so everyone can see them! You won’t have to spend an extra dime decorating your kitchen if you do this.
22. Design a Christmas books corner
A reading nook like the one @kate_decorates designed is perfect for any bookworm — both big and small. Just fill it with a bunch of holiday stories and read one each night leading up to Christmas day.
23. Light up your space
Place fairy lights inside several different glass containers you already have. That way you can create a whimsical light display just like the one @atcharlotteshouse has.
24. Turn your coffee cart into a cocoa cart
Each year, @justbeingtherekatherine gathers up hot chocolate packets, marshmallows, and holiday mugs so she can create a cocoa cart! We bet Santa approves of this sweet idea.
25. Create a magical, picture-perfect candle display
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This DIY project from @rocioruizhomedecor is something anyone can make and it looks so cool! All you need are a few wide and short candles, clear Orbeez (or water beads), Christmas baubles, clear vases and water. To make it stand out more, arrange it on a mirror or sturdy stand. These floating candles are going to be a hit for their optical illusion, but be careful! Don't make this easy Christmas DIY if you have children or pets in the house (Orbeez and water beads have been linked to some serious injuries and deaths).
26. Try a touch of gold
Whether it’s gold vases and gold tree figurines like @hallstromhome has, or gold garland and bells, this metallic shade makes anything look super-elegant. And you don’t need a lot of it to make a lasting impression. Displaying two or three gold pieces in one area will do the trick.
27. Brighten up your walls
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This might be the easiest Christmas DIY decor on this list, but it's definitely still a gorgeous addition to any home this holiday season. TikTok user @diyholic went to her local dollar store and bought all of her materials there, making this DIY a great budget decor project as well. The silvery, shimmery paint and snowflakes will make your space sparkle all winter long. For a more vibrant vibe, use battery-operated string lights instead of string or add it to the top and drape it down.
28. Wrap a garland around your banister
Deck your staircase with garland and pinecones! Use ribbon to tie it to your banister for an extra cute touch, like @lindseymeehandesigns did, to complete this classic Christmas decoration.
29. Yarn-maché some Christmas trees
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User @bestofchristmass created some DIY wintery trees with a papier-maché technique, but instead of paper, they used yarn. The hardest part might be finding the perfect mold for your trees, but you can either use a tree decoration you currently own or make one out of a paper towel holder. You're wrapping it in plastic wrap anyway, so it shouldn't get paint on it. The fun part is you can paint and decorate it to match whatever Christmas theme you already have going on, too.
30. Use faux fur accents
A faux fur table runner in your dining room is a great way to add elegance to your house this winter. You can finish off your look with some greenery from your floral shop, like @thehillarystyle did.
31. Christmas-fy your old Halloween treat buckets
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Thanks to The Nightmare Before Christmas, Halloween and Christmas have never been more intertwined. And if you're into making some spooky Christmas decorations with Jack Skellington's face, TikTok user @organizedandsimplified4u has the best DIY for you. This project involves an old jack-o'-lantern trick-or-treat bucket that you spray paint white and then paint Jack's face on. You can then decorate it to your heart's content; this user used it as a way to display their Skellington cakepops.
And of course, don't forget to trim your tree with the cutest Christmas tree decorations you can buy online.
