8 Tips for low cost/simple holiday decorating

​December is here and if you haven't already, it is time to tackle the annual fiasco.. which is HOLIDAY DECORATING!  After years of converting our home into a winter wonderland full of holiday cheer, we have come up with a few tips to help make it go a little smoother.

​Start Early 
Don't wait till the last minute. Start a few weeks early and spent a few minutes here or there when the kids are at school or on the weekends putting out some decorations. Choose decorations that can be used for multiple holidays as well as the seasons, so you can leave them up longer for less turn around. Remember you don't have to turn the lights on but if you get a nice day in November put the outdoor lights up.
Use What You Have Out
Try and take advantage of what you already have around the house. Leave out the candle holder but replace it with a holiday themed candle or just decorate the holder itself, ribbons or garland for example. Fill vases or dishes around the house with candy, tissue paper, tinsel, overflow decorations that didn't make the tree this year. Dollar stores are full of cheap solutions for this!
Decorate Lighting or Chandeliers
Simply change the bulb to a colored one ore hang some decorations from them which can add a festive feel to a room as well as some nice accent lighting.
Use Paper Clips and Zip Ties
Using paper clips is an easy affordable way to hang ornaments on trees or any where else in the house.  The are cheap and  sturdy and will last a long time. You can also find them in holiday colors (yay!). Zip ties also make for neat and easy hanging of garland and light strings on mantles, railings and bannisters.
Integrate Timers and Apps for Lighting
Use timers for your outdoor lights, once you have them set, you never have to worry about turning them on and off and your house will always be festive even if you are not home to turn them on! There are multiple kinds of timers, for instance,  I like  ones with sensor because they turn on at dusk and you set how long you want them on for 4,6,8 hours at a time.  Newer lights systems now have apps you can load onto your phone! As long as you are connected to WiFi, you can turn them on/off, change the color, make them blink or fade to other colors. The possibilities are endless and you can do this to your home from anywhere in the world!
Popcorn
Remember this as a kid?  Make this a family event and the kids can do most of the work!  All you need is string, a needle and pop some popcorn.  Thread the popcorn onto the string and hang on mantles, doorways, tree, railings, anywhere you can think of really.
Wreaths
A Christmas classic!  Hang in the windows, front doors or anywhere outside on the house. Just add battery operated lights and bows and,  voila! You have a magical masterpiece!
Colored Bags
​ You can get these at grocery stores, dollar stores, any decorating store. Simply open them up and place a battery operated tea light in them (do NOT use real candles) and place where desired.  Up a staircase is a nice effect too.  For a simple yet personal added touch, you can draw pictures on the bags or cut out decorative shapes and images.

Hope this helps make the holidays a little easier, and we wish you a very Healthy and Happy Holiday season!
​

RSS Feed