Sharing simple tips and tricks that are an affordable way to add festive touches to your Christmas decor this year!
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When it comes to Christmas decorating, sometimes the simplest touches make the biggest impact! Over the years, I’ve found that you don’t have to spend a fortune or completely reinvent your holiday decor to make your home feel festive and inviting. In fact, some of my favorite Christmas decorating tricks involve things I already have on hand, like adding a few ornaments to a pretty bowl, tying velvet ribbon around everyday items, or incorporating fresh greenery throughout our home.
Today I’m sharing some of my favorite simple and inexpensive Christmas decorating ideas that are easy to recreate, budget-friendly, and still feel beautiful and elevated. Whether you’re looking to add a few festive touches or refresh your holiday decor without buying a bunch of new things, these little ideas can make a big difference!
Decorating With Ornaments
Christmas ornaments aren’t just for the tree! One of my favorite ways to add little festive touches throughout our home is by using ornaments in unexpected places. Whether it’s filling a pretty bowl with colorful ornaments, adding a few to a decorative tray, or hanging them from ribbon, there are so many easy ways to incorporate them into your existing decor. It’s also a great way to use leftover ornaments you may already have on hand, without spending any extra money!
Fill Bowls, Vases or Other Vessels with Leftover Ornaments
Perhaps the absolute easiest decor idea is one I use every year. If I have some leftover ornaments in the color scheme I’m using for the year, I throw them in a bowl on a coffee table, dining table, kitchen island, etc. You can see how I did that here in our 2022 Christmas home tour.
CHRISTMAS DINING ROOM SOURCES: Dining Table | Rattan Dining Chairs | Footed Bowl (small) | Ornaments | Christmas Tree
Similarly, in our 2020 Christmas home tour, I filled a dough bowl with leftover ornaments and then popped a greenery stem in each end for a little more color.
The concept even works with items you wouldn’t think to typically pair with Christmas decor, like this oversized clam shell I filled with ornaments in our 2023 Christmas home tour.
LOFT SOURCES: Sectional | Console Table | Woven Shades (Bonaire Flaxen) | Rattan Cabinet | Footed Bowl | Similar Moss Balls | Blue Bottle Brush Tree Set | Green Bottle Brush Tree Set | Scalloped Stockings | Faux Greenery Stems with Pinecones | Frame TV | Lamps | Console Baskets | Similar Rug | Green Corduroy Pillow Covers | Striped Pillow Cover | Plaid Pillow Cover | Giant Clam Shell | Green Ornaments | Christmas Tree
This look can be replicated with other items like jingle bells, as well! You can also see in my 2024 Christmas home tour, I sprinkled extra ornaments loose on the coffee table to add a bit more color!
CHRISTMAS LIVING ROOM SOURCES: Raffia & Seagrass Coffee Table Tray | Silver Vase | Faux Juniper & Berry Bundle | Small Footed Bowl | Jingle Bell Vase Filler (similar here) | Red Ornaments | “Ralph Lauren” Coffee Table Book | “Ralph Lauren: A Way of Living” Coffee Table Book “
Make Ornament Clusters for Larger Scale Impact
This is a quick iPhone snap from this year’s Christmas decor preview, but another really simply way to make a big impact is to take floral wire to tie a cluster of ornaments together! It lets you easily customize your color scheme and allows you to take smaller items and make them appear much larger in a grouping.
SOURCES: Plaid Ribbon | Light Blue Velvet Ribbon | String Lights | Moss Green Satin Ribbon | Green Glitter Ornament | Grass Green Velvet Ornaments | Sparkle Green Ornaments | Matte Blue Ornament | Blue Gray Velvet Ornaments
Decorating With Bows
One of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to add a festive touch to your home is with a simple ribbon bow! I love how something as small as a pretty velvet or satin ribbon can instantly make everyday items feel special for the holidays. From wreaths and candlesticks to lamps, cabinet knobs, and even Christmas trees, there are so many fun ways to incorporate bows into your Christmas decor. Given that most rolls of ribbon are under $20, it’s a simple trick that adds a little extra charm without a lot of effort or expense!
Decorating With Bows On Christmas Trees
I’ve been loving velvet bows on trees for years now, and decorated my first tree that way nearly seven years ago! It’s a look I still love and used as recently as last year’s Ralph Lauren-inspired Christmas home tour.
CHRISTMAS LIVING ROOM SOURCES: Woven Shades (Bonaire Flaxen) | Sofas (read my full review here) | Chairs | Coffee Table | Indoor/Outdoor Striped Rug | Linen Pillow Covers | Plaid Pillow Covers | Vase | Faux Juniper & Berry Bundle | Hurricane Candle Holder | Flameless Candle | “Ralph Lauren: A Way of Living” Coffee Table Book “ | “Louis Vuitton” Coffee Table Book | Lamps | Rope Sofa Table | Christmas Tree | Navy Blue Velvet Ribbon | Christmas Tree Collar | Navy Blue Velvet Ornaments (smaller size here) | Jingle Bell Ornaments
Decorating With Bows On Light Fixtures
For years now, I’ve been tying simple velvet or satin bows to light fixtures throughout our home, and even if I had done nothing else, it adds such a festive touch! If you have overhead sconces in your bathroom you can easily adjust the tails on the bows based on how tall your mirrors are. You can see a longer tail here in our 2021 Christmas home tour.
JACK & JILL BATHROOM CHRISTMAS SOURCES: Wood & Cane Vanity | Light Fixtures | Pivot Mirrors | Velvet Ribbon | Faucets | Towel Rings | Stewart Plaid Hand Towels (similar here, here, and here) | Stewart Plaid Bath Mat (similar here) | Marble Floor Tiles | Faux Greenery – old | Colorblock Vase | Hand Soap
It also looks really cute on sconces flanking your mirrors, as well!
CHRISTMAS BATHROOM SOURCES: Scalloped Mirror | Sconces | Navy Blue Velvet Ribbon | Faux Cedar, Berry & Pinecone Stems | Cane Wrapped Vase | Cabinet Knobs | Striped Wallpaper | Hand Towel | Bath Mat | Raffia Bathroom Accessories | Hand Soap | Paint Color: similar to Benjamin Moore Santorini Blue
Another fun option is to tie bows on your kitchen pendant lights, like I did in our 2022 Christmas home tour. Outside of swapping out the greenery, I literally did nothing else to our kitchen that year, and yet it still felt festive!
SOURCES: Pendant Light Fixtures | Counter Stools | Striped Runner | Paint Dipped Vase
Decorating With Bows on Wreaths
I love to add new bows to wreaths I’ve owned for years and years. It’s an easy way to have them adapt to changing color schemes or to give them a fresh new look! I particularly love to hang a wreath over our bed and then swap out the bow for the year’s colors, like I did in our 2024 Christmas home tour.
CHRISTMAS BEDROOM SOURCES: Upholstered Bed (look-for-less option here) | Nightstands | Chandelier | Rug | Real-Touch Wreath | Red Velvet Ribbon | Striped Sheets | Stewart Plaid Duvet Cover & Euro Shams | Velvet Throw Pillow Covers | Waffle Knit Blanket | Lamps | Vase | Faux Norfolk Pine Stems | Coral Style Mirror | Mixed Greens Wreath | Plaid Ribbon | Blue Satin Ribbon | Thin Red Velvet Ribbon | Bench
Last year I added a simple navy blue velvet bow to an already pretty ornament wreath. But the addition helped tie the whole space together.
CHRISTMAS ENTRYWAY SOURCES: Real-Touch Garland | Cedar Garland | Console Table | Lamp | Navy Blue Velvet Ribbon | Ornament Wreath | Rattan Box | Small Ginger Jar Vase | “Surf Like A Girl” | “Ralph Lauren: In His Own Fashion” | Ceramic Vase | Greenery Stems | Red Berry Stems
Decorating With Greenery
Greenery is one of my favorite ways to make our home feel festive and cozy for Christmas! Whether you’re using fresh clippings from your yard, faux greenery stems, or leftover garland from other areas of your home, there are so many simple ways to incorporate it into your holiday decor. I love tucking little sprigs into vases, draping extra garland over mirrors or shelves, and layering different types of greenery for a fuller, more collected look. It’s such an easy and inexpensive way to bring a little Christmas charm to just about any space! Bonus points if you have greenery stems that don’t feel “Christmas-y” and you can leave out all winter long.
Drape Leftover Garland in Expected Places Like a Bathroom Mirror
If you have any used garland, it can be fun to use in creative ways like I did in our 2021 Christmas home tour out in the pool house bathroom. The space was rather tiny, and I only had one piece of this garland left, so I did an asymmetrical swag that could be seen from out in the hallway and I love the result!
CHRISTMAS POOL HOUSE BATHROOM SOURCES: Vanity | Light Fixture | Mirror | Towel Bar | Hand Towel | Hand Soap | Faucet | Garland | Door Hardware | LVP Floors
Small Faux Greenery That Can Make An Impact
I’ve had these faux cedar napkin rings for as long as I can remember, and I still love them so much! They’re very affordable but help elevate any tablescape to the next level. They add texture and color and an overall festive vibe!
CHRISTMAS DINING ROOM SOURCES: Dining Chairs | Dining Table | Rug | Chandelier | Abstract Art | Wave Placemats | Stewart Plaid Napkins | Faux Cedar Napkin Rings (similar here) | Greenery: Mix of old PB, these Juniper & Berry Branches, and these Lighted Twig Branches in brown | Vase | Wine Bottle Bow Collar | Silver Serving Set | Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Smoke
Clip Seasonal Greenery From Your Yard
Looking for cheap vase filler? Look no further than your yard. Think items like magnolia stems, pine branches, even bare sticks can all look festive when mixed with seasonal decor. Be sure to check for the safety of the items you bring inside (especially if you have pets or small animals) and then decorate away!
Inexpensive Swaps Using Items You Already Own
Sometimes the easiest way to decorate for Christmas is by making a few simple swaps with items you already own! I love finding ways to give our everyday decor a festive feel without having to buy a bunch of holiday-specific pieces. Think swapping artwork in existing frames for pretty Christmas printables, using everyday pillows in seasonal colors, or switching out a few small accessories for something a little more festive. These little changes are budget-friendly, easy to do, and can make your home feel ready for the holidays without a complete decorating overhaul!
Use Your Existing Throw Pillows Instead of Buying New Ones
When we first moved to Florida into the home we lived in for about a year while we were building, I opted to use the same throw pillow covers in my Christmas decor that I had used in my summer decor in our 2022 Christmas home tour. They definitely did not scream “Christmas”, but when paired with a decorated tree in similar colors, it worked! Especially given that we were short on space, storage, and quite honestly energy at that point after moving across the country 😉
CHRISTMAS LIVING ROOM SOURCES: Sofas | Leather Chairs | Rug | Coffee Table | Rattan Cabinet | Linen Pillows (Mineral Blue) | Patterned Pillows (I sewed my own with this fabric) | Large White Footed Bowl | Similar Moss Balls | Staircase Garland & Garland on Cabinet | Christmas Tree
This year, I went into my very simple and minimal fall decor knowing that anything I bought needed to work with my Christmas decor too. It saves so much time (and expense) when you can get multiple seasons to work in tandem with a few simple swaps!
Print Your Own Christmas Art to Swap Out in Frames Or Layer in Festive Pieces
I have an entire post about simple and affordable artwork ideas, and while not holiday-themed, it gives a lot of ideas for sourcing affordable art! By using printables or affordable Etsy downloads, you can swap out your artwork seasonally for next to nothing. Similarly, you can keep your existing artwork or photos, and simply add in some festive touches, like I did in our 2024 Christmas home tour! I updated our gallery wall with a canvas I’ve owned for ages, and then added a few simple pieces of greenery to the shelves.
CHRISTMAS LOFT SOURCES: Sectional | Chunky Knit Throw Pillow Covers | Velvet Throw Pillow Covers Photo Gallery Ledge Shelves | Gallery Frames | ‘O Holy Night’ Canvas Art | Real-Touch Pine Wreath
Incorporate Fairy Lights to Everyday Settings
Granted, I have a lot more going on below than just adding simple fairy lights, but just that simple addition makes everyday items feel festive! Drop them in a vase, string them around stationary items in your kitchen,
CHRISTMAS LAUNDRY ROOM & PANTRY SOURCES: Plaid Tea Towels (similar here) | Gold Cabinet Knobs | Silver Bar Tray | Wine Bottle Bow Collar | String of Fairy Lights | Faux Cedar Stems | Wicker Wine Coaster: Old from Serena & Lily (full size here) | Plaid Decanter | Wood Ring Decanter | Seashell Bottle Opener: Old from Amanda Lindroth | Cabinet Color is stock (Aero Blue) but similar to Benjamin Moore Santorini Blue
Use Non-Holiday Decor In New, Unexpected Ways
Several years back, I decided to focus my Christmas decor around the orange stems I had used in decor for summer that year. While it’s not uncommon to use orange slice garland in Christmas decor, I hadn’t really seen many use actual floral stems this way. I popped them into our Christmas tree and also used them in vases with evergreen and pre-lit branches to make them feel more festive in our 2023 Coastal Christmas Home Tour. Don’t be afraid to try this with hydrangea stems, fan palms, or other pieces you love!
LIVING ROOM SOURCES: Sofa (read my full review here) | Chairs | Coffee Table | Indoor/Outdoor Striped Rug | Rattan Box Set | Christmas Tree | Blue Velvet Ribbon (similar here) | Light Blue Orb Ornaments | Orange Orb Ornaments | Faux Orange Stems | Oyster Shell Ornaments: purchased locally a kids fair | Cableknit Throw Pillow Cover | Striped Pillow Cover | Velvet Pillow Cover | Lamps | Ceramic Houses | Console Table | Woven Roman Shades (Bonaire Flaxen) | Frame TV
Since I opted for a blue and orange color scheme, I was also able to use all my blue pillows I already had on hand, and then just subbed in a few velvet and chunky knit pieces for more texture!
KITCHEN SOURCES: Faux Soft Cedar Wreath | Blue Velvet Ribbon (similar here) | Vase | Pre-Lit Birch Stems | Faux Orange Stems | Faux Pine Stems | Cabinet Knobs | Woven Chandeliers (looks for less here) | Faucet | Swivel Counter Stools | Wall & Trim Color: Sherwin Williams Snowbound
A Few Final Ideas
Following are a few other ideas to get your creative juices flowing!
- Hang ornaments from window latches with thin satin ribbon at varying heights
- Add a plaid or festive ribbon to existing lampshades, tied around the base of the shade without covering the bulb or vents
- Fill a silver tray with greenery and bells for a simple coffee table centerpiece
- Layer two types of existing garland to make inexpensive or older greenery look fuller (I’ve been doing this for years now!)
- Swap out your chandelier lamp shades for a festive color option
- Fill a hurricane vase with pinecones and fairy lights
- Tie a ribbon around a stack of books
- Swap everyday hand soap for a seasonal scent, then add a small evergreen sprig beside the sink
- Add a few evergreen clippings to wrapped gifts to make inexpensive kraft paper or other affordable wrapping feel special
I hope you found all of these ideas helpful!
Additional Christmas Decor Posts You May Enjoy
Following are even more Christmas decor posts you may enjoy, including some of our prior Christmas home tours!
- A Peek At Our Blue & Green Christmas Decor
- 2025 Christmas Home Tour
- Ralph Lauren Christmas Decor Aesthetic
- Christmas Tree Collar Ideas & Picks
- 2024 Christmas Home Tour
- 2023 Coastal Christmas Home Tour
- Citrus Christmas Decor
- 2022 Christmas Home Tour
- 2021 Christmas Home Tour
- 2020 Christmas Home Tour
If you would like to follow along on more of my home decor, DIY, lifestyle, travel and other posts, I’d love to have you join me on any of the below channels:
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