27 Charming Christmas Decorations on a Budget

This collection of Christmas decorations on a budget grew out of my love for beautiful Christmas decor, my frugal nature, and the necessity of staying on budget. I love all things Christmas, but if you’re like me, decorating is one of your favorite parts of the season. At the same time, there are still special meals to make and magical moments to create under the Christmas tree. I think this collection will have a few ideas you can appreciate, make, and use in your own home affordably.

When you are working with a tight budget, a little creativity can go a long way. You don’t need to fill your home with expensive new holiday decorations to make it feel special. Many of my favorite DIY Christmas decorations use natural elements, thrift store finds, free printables, inexpensive supplies, and things I already have tucked away at home.

I gathered some of my favorite Christmas decorating projects together here, from kitchen decor and centerpieces to homemade Christmas decorations, tree ornaments, garlands, and repurposed finds. My hope is that you’ll find a few ideas that inspire you to make your entire house feel beautiful and festive while keeping your Christmas decorating budget under control.

Christmas Centerpieces & Kitchen Decor

My loved ones enjoy gathering around the table, whether we are visiting, playing games, or having snacks. Open-concept living has also made the kitchen part of our Christmas celebrations, so over the years I have found simple, affordable ways to brighten the space and create a festive look. Decorating the kitchen and dining room table is also a great way to make those everyday gathering spaces feel part of the celebration.

1. Vintage Christmas Tray Centerpiece

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

This vintage Christmas tray centerpiece is a simple way to add Christmas decor to a kitchen counter or table without taking up too much space. Using a collected mix of vintage pieces and inexpensive seasonal dishware keeps the arrangement pretty, festive, and practical.

2. DIY Tartan Christmas Chair Covers

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

I originally made these tartan Christmas chair covers as an inexpensive way to make a tired set of kitchen chairs work for the holidays. The bright tartan fabric completely changes their look, adds lots of Christmas colour to the room, and best of all, you don’t need a pattern to make them.

3. Hot Cocoa Crate and Cocoa Station for Small Spaces

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

Kids and grandkids love a hot chocolate station decked out with sweets and treats. I enjoy creating them for the little ones, and keeping everything together in one spot makes it easy for everyone to help themselves. It is also a practical way to create something festive in a small space. Best of all, most of the food items are things I would be buying for Christmas anyway.

4. Tin Can Christmas Craft Centerpiece

Image by Pretty DIY Home

Have you ever finished decorating the house for Christmas, spent your decorating budget, and then realized you still have nothing for the table? That is exactly how this Christmas centerpiece came about. Using empty tin cans and a few inexpensive supplies I already had, I was able to pull together a pretty last-minute centerpiece without spending much more at all.

5. Dollar Tree Christmas Kitchen Decor with Free Printables

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

If you want to add a little Christmas decor to your kitchen without spending much, printable art is an easy place to start. These free Christmas barn printables can be paired with inexpensive dollar store pie plates to create simple seasonal decor that adds colour and charm without taking up valuable Christmas counter space.

6. Neutral Christmas Kitchen Centerpiece with Vintage Mason Jars

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

If you prefer softer Christmas decorating, this centerpiece is an easy way to add something festive to the kitchen without bringing in lots of bright colour. Vintage mason jars, simple greenery, and neutral Christmas accents create a pretty centerpiece using pieces you may already own or can find inexpensively.

Thrifted & Repurposed Christmas Decorations

A quick trip to the thrift store in November can be a win-win for the holidays. It is one of my favorite ways to find vintage Christmas pieces, old decorations, or inexpensive ornaments that are easy to update for your own home. You can often find similar treasures at flea markets as well. Best of all, when you shop at a charitable thrift store, your purchase also helps support the organization. It is a simple way to stretch your decorating budget and bring home something a little more unique.

7. Vintage Style Bottle Brush Christmas Trees from Old Spindles

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

Old wooden spindles are one of those thrifted finds that are worth picking up when you see them. With a little paint and some inexpensive bottle brush trees, you can turn them into charming Christmas decorations in an afternoon. The finished trees look collected and vintage-inspired without the price tag of similar store-bought decor.

8. Wooden Spool Christmas Postcard Holders

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

Old wooden spools are easy to overlook, but they make wonderful little holders for vintage-style Christmas postcards. They are easy to make using faux vintage postcards from Temu, a free printable, and a simple DIY wire holder. It is an inexpensive way to give old spools a new purpose while adding a pretty vintage touch to shelves, side tables, or a mantel.

9. Thrift Store Christmas Star Ornaments

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

Thrift stores are a great place to look for inexpensive Christmas ornaments that just need a little updating. These metal stars were given a fresh new look with paint, free printable Christmas verses, and a dusting of sparkly glitter. It is an easy way to turn secondhand ornaments into something pretty, personal, and wonderfully festive for your Christmas tree.

10. Vintage Rocking Horse Christmas Makeover

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

I like to keep a collection of vintage toys under the Christmas tree, including old rocking horses, antique sleighs, and teddy bears. They help keep the bottom of the tree looking decorated while you are waiting for the gifts to arrive, and again after the presents have all been opened. This one is a little more of a time investment, but it turns into a charming Christmas decoration you can bring out year after year.

11. Thrift Store Christmas Angel Makeover

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

Small thrift store finds can be some of the easiest Christmas decorations to update because they often use only a few leftover craft supplies. This little angel was painted white, given a dusting of iridescent glitter, and finished with a simple halo, greenery, and a flameless candle. Other than drying time, the makeover takes about an hour and turns an ordinary secondhand find into something soft, sparkly, and special for Christmas.

12. Rustic Tart Tin Christmas Ornaments

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

If you have a few old tart tins tucked away, they can be turned into charming vintage lanterns. These little Christmas ornaments can add extra light to your tree, or you can place one on a bedside table as a little holiday nightlight for the kids. Add tartan fabric, a small bow and bell, faux snow, and a tiny flameless candle to give them a warm festive glow. Tucked into the branches of your Christmas tree, they add texture, sparkle, and a pretty handmade touch.

Handmade Christmas Tree Decorations

I often end up making handmade ornaments as a last-minute way to fill in a themed Christmas tree that just doesn’t have enough ornaments to give it the full, designer look I want. Simple handmade decorations are an affordable way to fill those empty spaces, repeat your colours or theme, and add a personal touch that makes the whole tree look much more finished. Making your own Christmas decorations can save money, but it also lets you skip the crowded stores and holiday lineups and spend some of the Christmas season crafting instead.

13. DIY Christmas Garland with Cinnamon Sticks

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

If your Christmas tree feels like it still needs a little something, this cinnamon stick garland is an easy and inexpensive way to finish it off. Cinnamon sticks, old buttons, wood beads, and twine come together in about 30 minutes to create a simple handmade garland with lots of texture and a wonderful Christmas scent. It is especially pretty on a natural or neutral Christmas tree.

14. Easy Macramé Christmas Wreath Ornaments

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

If you love the look of macramé but have never tried it, these little Christmas wreath ornaments are a simple place to start. They use just one easy square knot, along with inexpensive cord, florist wire, and a few beads. Once you get the hang of the knot, you can make several for your tree or add them to wrapped gifts for an extra handmade touch.

15. Easy Green Tartan Christmas Garland

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

If you have chosen a specific colour or theme for your Christmas tree, making your own garland is an easy way to repeat that colour throughout the branches. This green tartan garland adds pattern, texture, and plenty of Christmas charm without needing to buy dozens of matching ornaments. It is also simple enough to make when you discover your tree still needs a little something to pull the whole look together.

16. Dried Orange Slices for Christmas Decorating

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

Dried orange slices are one of those simple Christmas decorations that give you a lot of charm for very little cost. Once dried, you can tuck them into garlands, hang them on the tree, add them to wreaths, or use them in small Christmas arrangements. Their warm colour works with greenery, wood, tartan, and other natural materials, and they bring an easy old-world feel to your holiday decor.

17. Salt Dough Glitter Star Garland

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

Salt dough ornaments are one of the most inexpensive Christmas decorations you can make, and this glitter star garland has been a favourite of mine for years. A simple batch of salt dough, a star cutter, some twine, paint, and glitter are all you need to create a handmade garland with lots of Christmas sparkle. Sparkly stars are wonderfully versatile and work just as well with traditional, modern, cottage, vintage, or farmhouse Christmas decor.

18. Painted Christmas Ball Ornaments

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

If you can’t find Christmas ornaments in the exact colours you want, inexpensive plastic ornaments or old ornaments you already own can be painted to match your decorating theme. This is a simple way to create a custom colour palette without spending hours searching the stores or paying more for specialty ornaments. Add a little distressing or glitter, and they can look surprisingly high-end.

19. Dollar Tree DIY Christmas Ornament Stars

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

If your Christmas tree needs a little more depth, adding a few darker ornaments can make a big difference. These Dollar Tree star ornaments were painted a rich chocolate brown to add contrast and help balance the tree. They are also a great option when you want ornaments in a hard-to-find colour and don’t want to spend a fortune trying to track them down.

20. DIY Fabric Star Christmas Ornaments

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

If you have scraps of fabric left from other projects, these stuffed fabric stars are a pretty way to turn them into Christmas ornaments. You can coordinate the fabrics and embellishments with your own colour scheme, making them especially useful when you need ornaments in colours that are hard to find in stores. Finish each star with greenery, ribbon, and a small jingle bell for an extra Christmas touch. The stars can be cut with a Cricut, or you can use the free printable pattern and cut them by hand.

21. DIY Christmas Balls with Macramé Cord

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

If you like soft, textured Christmas ornaments, these macramé cord balls are an inexpensive way to get that look without buying new designer ornaments. The macramé cord is first crocheted into long ropes and then wrapped around inexpensive or secondhand Christmas balls, giving them much more texture and detail than simply covering the ornaments with cord. They look warm and substantial on the tree and are also pretty tucked into bowls, trays, or other Christmas arrangements.

22. Crocheted Christmas Tree Collar

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

A handmade tree collar is a pretty alternative to a traditional tree skirt and a simple way to hide the tree stand and unfinished base without paying the price of a large store-bought collar. This one is crocheted with extra chunky yarn, so it works up surprisingly quickly despite its size. The thick stitches give it lots of soft texture around the bottom of the tree, and the free pattern includes a step-by-step video tutorial to help you make your own.

Christmas Decor for Walls, Windows & Mantels

This section is one of my favorites because Christmas seems to come with an incredible amount of extra clutter. Our homes begin to feel smaller, our living areas fill up, and sometimes even our thoughts start to feel cluttered. I especially enjoy keeping some of the remaining decor more minimal and moving the Christmas decor onto the walls and windows instead. It gives us a little more room to breathe, cleaner counters, and at least partially clear buffet tops while still making the whole house feel festive.

23. Large Wooden Christmas Angel DIY

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

If you want to make a larger Christmas decoration without using up valuable floor or counter space, this wooden angel is a lovely option. Made from scrap wood and inexpensive fabric, she has enough size to make an impact on a wall or porch without needing a lot of additional decor around her. I also like placing her behind a Christmas arrangement, where the extra height helps make the whole display feel more finished.

24. Simple Christmas Wreath with Bells

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

If you like Christmas decor that feels special without looking busy, this simple wreath is an easy way to decorate a door or wall while keeping the surrounding space uncluttered. A thrifted metal ring, inexpensive gold wire, a few sprigs of greenery, and one beautiful set of farmhouse bells create a wreath that feels elegant and high-end. It comes together in under an hour and works just as well on a front door as it does above a mantel, mirror, or entryway bench.

25. Christmas Candles in the Windows

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

The tradition of placing a candle in the window was a way of welcoming and guiding travellers toward your home. It is also an easy Christmas decoration that adds some tradition and extra light to your Christmas decor. This post includes four examples you can recreate using items you likely already have on hand.

26. Neutral Christmas Fireplace Decor Ideas

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

If you prefer a calm and bright Christmas look, a neutral fireplace mantle can still feel warm and festive without adding lots of colour or clutter. Reusing greenery, candles, fairy lights, pine cones, and other decorations you already own keeps the cost down while creating plenty of texture and interest. In this living room, a simple branch is used to hang the stockings, which helps create a relaxed natural focal point you can build the rest of your Christmas decorating around.

27. Large DIY Wood Christmas Sign

Photo by Pretty DIY Home

Large Christmas signs can be expensive to buy, especially when you want something substantial enough to fill an empty wall. Making your own from inexpensive wood lets you choose the size, colours, and wording to suit your home while creating a statement piece that doesn’t add anything else to your already busy counters or tabletops.

I hope this collection of Christmas decorations on a budget gives you a few ideas you can use in your own home this holiday season. Beautiful Christmas decor does not need to come with a large price tag. Sometimes the prettiest pieces begin with something thrifted, a few supplies already tucked away in the craft room, or a simple idea you can make yourself. Often, it is the simple things you create from what you already have that become the decorations you enjoy bringing out year after year.

Starting early and making a few things yourself can also make Christmas time feel like it lasts a little longer. The best part is that you get to enjoy the process of creating for the season before all the rushing begins.

Want to save these Christmas decorating ideas for later? Pin this collection of 27 charming Christmas decorations on a budget so you can come back to it when you’re ready to decorate. It is filled with affordable DIY projects, thrifted finds, handmade ornaments, simple Christmas decor, and creative ways to make your home feel festive without spending a fortune.