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Thursday, October 29, 2026 Ideas for home, garden, travel & style · since 2013
DIY & Crafts

DIY Christmas Decorations on a Budget: A Room-by-Room Guide

Budget-friendly DIY Christmas decorations for every part of your home: the tree, ornaments, wreaths, the table, outdoor spaces and crafts to make with kids.

By WIP Editorial Team Published · 5 min read

Christmas decorating doesn’t need a big budget. The prettiest homes at this time of year are usually filled with handmade pieces: paper stars, jar lanterns, a wreath built on a wire frame, branches from the garden. This guide brings together the best DIY Christmas decorations we’ve published since 2013, room by room, so you can plan the whole house in one sitting and spend money only where it counts.

Start with the five budget rules below, then jump to the part of the house you want to decorate first.

Five rules for decorating on a budget

  1. Pick a palette before you shop. Two colours plus a metal (red, white and gold; green, cream and copper) make cheap pieces look planned. Our guide to Christmas tree colour schemes helps you choose.
  2. Use what you already have. Jars, paper, cardboard, old ornaments, pasta and pallet wood all appear in the projects below.
  3. Bring the outdoors in. Pine cones, evergreen cuttings, cinnamon sticks and dried orange slices cost little or nothing and fill a room with scent.
  4. Spend on light, not on objects. One string of warm white lights changes a room more than a box of new baubles.
  5. Store well so you buy less next year. These smart ways to store Christmas ornaments keep everything in one piece for next December.

For a fuller money plan that also covers gifts and food, read how to enjoy the holidays on a budget.

The Christmas tree

The tree is the centrepiece, so it is worth planning first. If you are short on space or budget, an alternative tree (on the wall, made of branches, books or lights) can be cheaper than a real fir and easier to store.

DIY Christmas ornaments

Handmade ornaments are where budget decorating shines: salt dough, paper, clear glass baubles you fill yourself. Make a batch with the family on a weekend in early December and you will have a tree with a story.

Wreaths and the front door

The front door is the first thing guests see. A wreath made on a simple wire or grapevine frame costs a fraction of a ready-made one, and you can refresh it every year.

Outdoor Christmas decorations

Outdoors, weatherproof materials and lighting matter most. Group lanterns, potted evergreens and a few large pieces by the entrance instead of spreading small items across the whole garden.

The Christmas table

A festive table needs three things: a runner or tablecloth in your palette, a low centrepiece people can talk over, and candlelight. Napkin folds and place cards made from paper or greenery finish it for almost nothing.

Mantel, windows, stairs and every room

Once the tree and table are done, carry your palette into the rest of the house: garland on the mantel and stairs, lights in the windows and one small touch in the bedroom and bathroom.

Budget materials: paper, jars, cardboard and pallets

These projects start with things most homes already have. Paper and cardboard decorations are the cheapest of all, and mason jars turn into lanterns, snow globes and gift containers.

Christmas crafts with kids

Children love making decorations they can hang themselves. Keep the projects simple (paper, salt dough, cardboard rolls) and set up a crafting table for the whole of December.

More DIY Christmas decoration ideas

Beyond decorating: gifts, food and style

Once the house is ready, plan the rest of the season with the same budget-friendly approach. For baking, see our guide to easy Christmas cookies and desserts, and for a festive manicure, our guide to Christmas nails.

Frequently asked questions

When should I start decorating for Christmas?

Most people decorate in the first weekend of December or right after Thanksgiving in the US. If you are making your own decorations, start crafting in mid-November so everything is ready in time.

What are the cheapest Christmas decorations to make?

Paper stars and garlands, cardboard tube crafts, salt dough ornaments, jar lanterns and anything made from pine cones or garden greenery. All of them use materials you probably already have.

How do I make cheap decorations look expensive?

Stick to a tight colour palette, repeat the same materials in several rooms, add warm lighting and group objects in odd numbers. Natural textures like wood, linen and greenery always look richer than plastic.

Bookmark this guide: we add new Christmas ideas to it every season. For year-round projects, browse all our DIY and craft ideas.

Written by

WIP Editorial Team

Ideas, guides and real budgets for home, garden and travel, published on World inside pictures since 2013.

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