How to Brighten Up Your Home for the Holidays for Less Than Twenty Dollars

We all want our homes to look bright, festive and inviting once the holidays arrive. The added financial obligation of gifts and hosting seasonal gatherings, however, often leaves us with little in the budget for new carpeting or dining room furniture. Luckily, just a few tweaks and a few dollars can give our living spaces a wonderfully attractive new appearance for the holiday season.

Freshen Up the Paint. Nothing can make a home look older and more worn than dingy paint that has seen better days. A few coats of paint from the cans left over from the original paint job can spiff up your home in a hurry. If you do not have any paint left from the initial job, purchase only one new can to use in your efforts. Concentrate on the walls where your guests will likely gather for the holiday celebration, or the area that needs it the most. A smaller can of paint for the baseboard where you are doing your painting will ensure that the walls look completely finished. You will be amazed at a what a difference one can of paint can do.

Replace the Throw Pillows. If your sofa is a bit older than you would like, and could certainly use with a sprucing up for the holidays, add some decorative throw pillows. Choose throws in bright and festive colors and your guests will only notice these great splashes of color, rather than the thinning material and the sag on one side. If you are feeling particularly festive when shopping for throw pillows, purchase a few in traditional holiday colors such as red or green to really brighten up the living area.

Add a Bouquet of Fresh Flowers to your Table. A tried and true way to instantly breathe new life into a home is with fresh flowers. Invest in the biggest and most beautiful arrangement that twenty dollars can buy and make it the centerpiece of your holiday dinner. The gorgeous colors and delicious scent will add a wonderful touch to your home for the holidays.

Spend an Ample Amount of Time Cleaning the Windows. Really clean windowscan give your home a wonderfully bright look for the holiday season. Invest in a quality squeegee, a sturdy bucket and a top of the line window cleaner. Spend an afternoon ridding your windows of grime, dust, pollen and streaks from previous cleaning sessions. Your sparkling windows will immediately give your home a fresh new look and provide a wonderful backdrop for your holiday decor.

Hang a Gorgeous Holiday Wreath on your Door. Greet your holiday visitors with a brand new wreath this year. Twenty dollars can get you a lovely seasonal decoration for your front door. Choose a wreath that is festive and fun and can be lit up when darkness falls. The beauty that your guests see upon arriving will instantly give them the impression that your home is wonderfully pulled together and quite festive and inviting.