’Tis the season to be festive: Christmas decor ideas for the budget-conscious

Deck the halls (outside) with style with these outdoor Christmas decor ideas!

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With the holidays approaching, you’re probably thinking about your outdoor Christmas decor. Sprucing up your place is a great way to jumpstart Christmas time because it sets a joyful atmosphere, fosters bonding, evokes nostalgic comfort, adds a personal touch to your home, and, most of all, is fun!

It might be costly to buy decorations. But this is where getting crafty and creative come in. Read on for tips and tricks to stay on budget with your outdoor Christmas decorations and display.

Affordable outdoor Christmas decorations ideas

1. Use natural materials

Since you’re decorating the outside of your house, you might as well look outdoors for your embellishments. Nature has a lot in store because you can use many items to achieve the Christmas feels at home. Find pinecones, holly, evergreen branches, and twigs. These are matchless for whatever Christmas decorations and projects you have in mind.

If you live near the beach or would like to put a twist on your traditional Christmas decoration, pick up some stones, pebbles, shells, and other things you might find by the shore. You can use them to add a beautiful summer vibe or achieve a Christmas by the Sea theme.


2. Go DIY

Stay in style while on a budget by doing things yourself. There are many outdoor hanging Christmas decorations that you can work on. You can create Christmas wreaths and garlands using natural materials like foliage, pine, moss, and other greenery. Throw in some eucalyptus leaves, and viola! Your decorations now have a mood-boosting scent.

making a Christmas wreath

Another tip for DIY crafts is to get the kids involved. If you have nieces, nephews, or children of your own staying over for Christmas, tap into their creativity. It can be an excellent opportunity to bond with them while making decorating easy as pie. Get artsy with the family and create various ornaments.

You can go as simple as using paper and colouring materials to exploring with homemade salt dough and cinnamon-scented decorations. The possibilities are endless with your Christmas spirit on.


3. Recycle old decorations

One more simple and budget-friendly idea you can try this year is to reuse old decorating materials. Check out your storage room or garage because you might have some items you can use for your outdoor Christmas display. Consider checking out a thrift store for decorations, too! You can surely get your hands on some great Christmas finds there.

painting Christmas decorations

Don’t let old Christmas decorations scare you. Although they’re aged, you can freshen them up to be like new again. For example, you can refurbish old, washed-out Christmas balls by gluing broken CD pieces or glitter to make them bright and sparkly again.

Retouch faded colours, repair broken parts, and add beads or other craft materials. But more importantly, have fun and express your style.


4. Switch to better lights

When it comes to outdoor lighted Christmas decorations, LED lights are a great option. They’re more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and long-lasting than incandescent bulbs. They also consume 90% less energy and emit less heat, making them a better and safer alternative.

Consider solar-powered ones if you’re eyeing sustainability for your Christmas decorations and outdoor lights. Buy them while on sale for a more affordable price. They’re worth getting since they run on renewable energy, which makes it cheaper for you in the long run. Plus, they’re easier to install and maintain compared to wired lights.


5. Borrow Christmas decorations from friends or family

a box filled with Christmas decor

The yuletide season is the perfect time to connect with your loved ones. If you’re spending time with them for the holidays this year, you could ask if they can lend you materials for decoration. Better yet, you can work on the outdoor Christmas arrangement together. With the team effort, everyone, including your wallet, is happy.

How to decorate outdoors for Christmas on a budget

With the cheap outdoor Christmas decorations and materials discussed above, you might now wonder what to do with them. Here are creative ways for you to decorate and make your house holiday-ready:

Create a festive front porch

The porch is much like the face of your home. Being at the front, it’s a great spot to personalise as it represents you. In line with the Christmas spirit, hang a wreath by the door and place garlands for a warm, welcoming touch. Add bells to your decoration for that extra joyful vibe. String lights are also perfect for brightening up the area at night.

front porch decorated with Christmas ornaments

Colour can be your best friend during the holidays. Dare to experiment with plants, shrubs, and other greenery. Decorate your planters with holly berries, bright ribbons, and ornaments for vibrant, lively hues.


Light up your yard

LED lights, luminaries, and other Christmas solar decorations outdoors should be nonnegotiable for you every year. They’re not only ideal for illuminating your place, but they also add colour, life, and warmth. You can hang them on trees and have them around the yard, patio, or your entire house.


Transform your garden

If you have a garden, you can go all out and turn it into a winter wonderland. No snow? No problem. You can get fake snow. Snow sprays, white cloths, dry plastic snow, and many other options are on the market. Choose one suitable to your budget.

Don’t forget to add a Christmas tree, happy snowmen, reindeer, Santa, elves, and other festive characters. You can even set up an outdoor Christmas train decoration. All ages will enjoy hanging out in your version of a snowy paradise.


Make a cosy outdoor space for winter gatherings

cosy patio with Christmas lights

On the contrary to a winter wonderland, create a warm and homey area for loved ones and guests. You can pick a spot in your house surrounded by trees or on your patio. Wherever it may be, remember to have comfortable seating and store up on blankets and pillows. Candles and a little bonfire area would also be lovely, especially if you have cold winters.

Tips for staying on budget this Christmas

Here are some easy pointers to ensure you reduce your Christmas decoration expenses.

  • Plan - List what you need to be on track with everything. This will also prevent unnecessary costs.

  • Look for the best deals - Shops usually have discounts, sales, and promo packages during Christmas. Watch out for these budget-friendly bargains when shopping for outdoor Christmas decorations. Be sure to bring coupons if you have any to get bigger rebates.

  • Use coupons and promo codes online - Virtual shopping provides an easy and convenient to browse desired items. But don’t forget to enjoy budget hacks with coupons, vouchers, and promo codes. You can score free shipping and cashback, saving you more money.

Spread joy with your outdoor Christmas decor!

Christmas is a time for merry-making, and decorating your home is an excellent way to fire up the spirit. As you channel your creative side, you get to showcase your style and skills while sticking to your budget. So step right to it and have a jolly time making your home Christmassy. Get help from a skilled home decorator in Airtasker today for a breezy Christmas setup!

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FAQs on outdoor Christmas decoration

Professionals advise applying a water shield, polyurethane, or similar clear coats. But remember to handle these chemicals carefully. Securing and anchoring items would also prevent them from being blown away by winds. Use glue, zip ties, weights, and so on to help keep them in place.

It depends on your preferences, but wreaths and garlands are commonly used to decorate an outdoor patio. You can play with colours and different styles. Plants, lights, bells, and Christmas characters are also great additions to jazz up the area. If you already own one, a chiminea is a multifunctional piece for your patio. It works well with small spaces and can keep you warm and cosy.

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