You guys.. in case you didn’t know, Christmas is next week! I’ll let you soak that in a second. Ok, now that full Christmas decorating panic has set in, calm down. I have a few frugal & quick Christmas decoration ideas anyone and do. What qualifies me as an “expert” in this situation? Well, a few weeks ago Mr. LMB & I were living in a rental in NC & we were leaving the day of Thanksgiving. Well, me being the crazy person I am, I wanted to decorate our rental for the holidays because it was such a beautiful house. I had to work quickly since the movers were coming to pack up your belongings & I had to work frugally because let’s face it, I wasn’t going to be spending a lot of money decorating a house we were about to leave. So, here are my tips on decorating your homes for Christmas for those who are running out of time, those on a budget, or those who just want to whole process of decking the halls to go by quickly. With some quick DIY projects, thrift store finds, & items from you own backyard you can create some beautiful holiday spaces instantly!

1. Put up a Christmas tree.

Well, this is the easiest & quickest way to add that Christmas charm to your home. The most obvious way to bring Christmas into your home is by adding a Christmas tree in your home no matter what kind of tree it is. It can be big, small, silver, gold, made of paper, or just a tiny rosemary plant. You can see a bunch of Christmas tree ideas {here}. Whether you like a classic douglas fir or a white tree with colorful lights, either way it’s the number one way to make your house ready for the holiday season. Christmas ornaments can be made by hand like the star ornaments we made from popsicle sticks on our neutral Christmas tree. 

2. Hang up a Christmas wreath.

A christmas wreath hanging on your front door will welcome your holiday guests into your home, but wreaths look great inside too. You can DIY a spiffy red & green wreath by adding ornaments & other christmas items or you can simply hang a plain pine needle wreath with a ribbon to give off the holiday vibe. Wreaths are a fun and easy way to bring the yuletide spirit to your home. I use wreaths almost everywhere in our home, & what is great is you can find great sales on them at the stores or make them out of natural elements from your yard. It doesn’t have to cost a lot to be beautiful.

3. Light some candles

Lighting can really set the mood for warm and cozy winter days. Lighting a candle or a group of candles in some holiday decor can really bring these Christmas decoration ideas to the next level. Candles look great as centerpieces on tables, vignettes & on any piece of furniture in your home, & as a bonus the holiday ones smell great and set the mood with great scents like cinnamon & baked goods. Use candles you already have around the house & surround them with some holiday elements to create the perfect centerpiece that didn’t cost you a penny.

4. Bring out some throws & holiday pillows.

Adding cozy blankets & holiday pillows with pops of gold, green, red, or any other fun holiday colors is a great way to add warmth to your everyday home decor. Plaids, Christmas patterns, holiday colors, & even DIY’ing a Christmas themed pillow is the perfect way to bring the cozy decor in your home. A tip for a quick plaid throw: we purchased some cheap plaid fabric from walmart & used it as a holiday throw & no one knew the difference!

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5. Wrap those gifts early.

Adding Christmas gifts and placing them under the tree it adds that thrill to your holiday decor. There are a million ways you can wrap Christmas gifts, & you can even wrap faux  boxes to look like christmas gifts to place them under your tree or add to your Christmas vignettes before you wrap your actual gifts. Add some cute ribbon, some ornaments, & even some chalkboard gift tags & you have some lovely holiday decor for under your tree. Wrapping tip: The dollar store sells great brown craft paper that looks great paired with some natural elements you can find in your yard. Cheap & chic holiday wrapping paper!

6. Create holiday inspired vignettes.

By creating some simple holiday vignettes throughout your home you really can set the mood for Christmas with just a few elements. For example, some ornaments, a wreath, some natural elements from your yard, a few candles, & a small Christmas tree can go a really long way! Use your imagination & play around with some holiday decor that you already have to make some Christmas vignettes in your home on buffets, dressers, media stands, coffee tables, & more. Most of these items in our vignettes were DIY projects, found at thrift stores, free, or things that we already had proving yet again that it doesn’t have to be expensive to be festive & beautiful!

7. Get your dining room Holiday ready.

You might not be throwing a huge Christmas part at your house this holiday season, but by adding some Christmas decor to your dining room you can really turn every meal you and your family have into a festive feast. By simply adding a centerpiece of candles & some greenery or any holiday centerpiece of your choice , your dining room instantly screams Christmas. Remember it doesn’t have to cost a lot to be beautiful. We created some candle centerpieces with beans, a glass jar, & a candle for a simple holiday look.

8. Create a Hot Chocolate Bar.

Or any kind of festive bar. Creating a quick and easy hot chocolate bar or drink bar is a great way to make your home instantly ready for a holiday party. Again, this doesn’t have to cost a lot & you can just use things you already have like coffee cups, straws, hot chocolate, marshmallows, & other utensils. In minutes you can bring your holiday decor & parties from drab to fab with a lovely hot chocolate bar that everyone will be talking about.

Seriously most of the things we decorated with were on sale, free, found on the side of the road, found at a thrift store, or a DIY project. It truly doesn’t have to cost a lot to create beautiful holiday spaces. I hope these tips help you decorate your homes for Christmas! Do you have any tips on decorating your house quickly & frugally? Leave them in the comments below! I would love to hear from you. Also, be sure to find me on Facebook & Instagram to chat.

xx Liz Marie

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