Cheap Ways to Decorate Your Home for Christmas

Many stores sport expensive Christmas decorations for your home but there is no need to break the bank when it comes to decorating for the holidays. A hundred years ago families made their own Christmas decorations out of the materials that were on hand. They did not have the option of purchasing glass decorations, expensive garland, and top of the line Nativity Scenes. They simply had to utilize what was on available. So why not plan to decorate your home in the tradition of our predecessors and lean toward a Victorian theme for the holidays.

1) Garland

Make your own garland by simply buying bags of cranberries and stringing them on string. You only need to purchase cranberries, string, and a needle. These look fabulous and they last throughout the holiday season. You can also pop non buttered popcorn and string this. Garland that is made from popcorn and cranberries looks wonderful on a tree or adorning the mantel. You can also have your children cut strips of card stock paper and glue these to make rings of homemade garland. This is an easy craft that all children enjoy doing. You can decorate various areas of the home with this homemade ring garland or you can even place it on the tree.

2) Pine Boughs

Utilize the pine boughs that you cut from the base of your Christmas tree to decorate tables and other locations in your home. You can even make your own Christmas wreaths using these boughs. You can also cut boughs from living tree's to fashion into decorations. Just make sure you do not not kill the tree when you remove the boughs. Only take two or three from the base of a living tree and place a tree sealant over the wounds so you do not let bacteria or other pests seep into the tree and damage it.

3) Cookies

For a thousand years people have baked Christmas cookies and used these to decorate a tree. The majority of people use basic sugar cookies. They use cookie cutters to cut them into Christmas shapes. Then you simply slip a hook through the top to place on your tree.

4) Use Your Christmas Cards

Many people also take their Christmas cards and they place hooks into the cards and use these as Christmas ornaments. This gives a tree a very unique look.

5) DIY Christmas Ornaments

You can also purchase Styrofoam balls at any Craft store. You can usually get five to ten balls for under five dollars. Take these balls and place hooks in the ends. Now use sparkle paint and regular paint to decorate each ball. Children adore doing this craft. Once the ball is complete you simply place it on your tree as a decoration. These are inexpensive, look fantastic, are non breakable, and they help your child bring out their artistic ability.

You can also use Styrofoam balls to fashion homemade snowmen. These are fun to make and easy. They look wonderful sitting on tables are around your house. You can even hang them from your Christmas tree.

6) Ribbon

You can purchase yards of ribbon for as little as .99 cents. These are amazing idea's for decorating. Buy ribbon in Christmas colors and tie the bows all over your Christmas tree. They will look lovely and festive. Many families utilized this idea a hundred years ago.

7) Paper Snowflakes

Remember when you were a child and you would take plain white paper and fold it to cut out a snowflake. Make dozens of these snowflakes to hang in your home and from your Christmas tree. They are cheap and they look amazing when Christmas lights shine through them.

8) Dollar Store

Almost all towns have a Dollar Store. These wonderful stores sell many items for only a dollar that you can decorate your home and tree with. Its worth a trip to look around.

9) Candles

Candles are inexpensive and they look fantastic. Just make sure that you place them in safe locations in your home and never leave the house with a candle burning. Also never place a candle on a Christmas tree or near a tree. A hundred years ago people actually lit their tree's using candles and many homes burned to the ground that utilized this practice. It can be quite dangerous. Be careful with all candles.

10) Candy Canes

Decorating with Candy Canes was once very popular. You can buy a box of ten for under $2 at most supermarkets. These festive little candies look amazing on Christmas trees, in baskets on your table, or hanging from a mantel. The idea's are truly endless when decorating with candy canes.