TIPS FOR HOLIDAY DECORATING ON A BUDGET (+ DECOR UNDER $50)

HELLOOOOOO! Happy November – seriously, already? ANYWAY, this week is about to be super stressful for me and the country at large. So, now that it’s come down to a waiting game, I’m ready to stick my head in the ground and go full ostrich. I intend to distract myself by diving head first into Christmas, so Gift Guides are starting extra early this year! But before that, we need to do a little holiday decorating. We hoped to break out the decor this weekend, but it just got too busy so I only got the wreath up. I’m also at a complete loss about where to put the tree, so that’s something I’ll start on this week or maybe next. Anyway, I wanted to share some affordable holiday decor finds and some tips for decorating on a budget this year!

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TIPS FOR HOLIDAY DECORATING ON A BUDGET

Whether it’s your first holiday season and you want to experience the full visual as much as possible or your fifteenth season and you’re looking to spice up old decor, decorating on a budget isn’t easy unless you know where to start.

START WITH A BUDGET & A LIST

First, it’s important to know where to splurge. Take a look at your decorating budget and figure out the pieces that are most important for you to make sure last year-after-year. Investing in a good quality artificial tree is worth it, if you plan on sticking to artificial. Maybe a tree topper is really important in your family and you want to find one to pass down. Whatever it is, figure out the most important quality pieces you’ll want – these objects will take the priority in your shopping.

Once you’ve figured out your most important objects and tracked them down, you can look at the remainder of your budget and determine how to spend it. Before you go buy pieces though, make a list of items you’d like to have – like wreaths, stocking holders, tree skirts, tablescape pieces, etc. It’s easy to pop in store and get overwhelmed or go crazy buying 15 pillows when you really needed a tree skirt, and now the budget is gone.

START SHOPPING (WITH INTENTION)

Now that you have your list, you can start shopping. If you can focus, go track down your big items first from the “pricier stores,” then move to the lower priority items. If you are like me and endlessly distracted, start with the low priority items at the most high-value stores, but be sure not to go over your low priority budget (actually, I’d recommend a little wiggle room even). You can always go back (inconvenient, I know, but if you struggle to budget it might be worth it.)

One of my favorite stops is the Dollar Tree, Dollar General, or another Dollar store. Although, Dollar Tree is only a $1 items, and Dollar general has varying prices, both are incredibly affordable. This is also a great stop for gift basket gifts. The dollar tree is a fabulous place to find small decor accents like ribbons and bows to put on dining chairs, small vignette-making accessories like brush trees, and even signs and larger decor. Mostly, though, I love it for filler (like those brush trees that are so cute clustered together on a bookshelf).

For larger pieces, go to Micheal’s or Joann Fabrics armed with a coupon in hand. We found a few blankets, stockings, and tree skirts from Micheal’s over the years, as well as some hanging art and other decor.

Hobby Lobby can be another great destination, but the coupons just can’t compete with the above. So, for that reason, I wrap it up with my higher-priced-budget shopping destinations including Walmart, Target, and Kirklands. In terms of affordability, I would rank Walmart the most affordable, then Hobby Lobby, then Target (generalizing, but they do flip for certain items). Kirklands is a higher-priced destination, but the frequently offer coupons putting them in the Hobby Lobby price range.

TOP HOLIDAY DECOR PICKS UNDER $50

STOCKING HOLDERS // GNOMES // TREE SKIRT // BASKET SIGN // FRAMED SIGN // DEER // BLANKET

When we have a big house, I hope to be able to explore different holiday themes in different rooms or parts of the house, but for now, I stick to the cozy styles. Anything to provide that soothing holiday comfort we so desperately need, this year and last year especially. Last year we didn’t even get ornaments on our tree we were so stressed. So we’re determined to get a lot cozier this year!

How do you like to decorate for the holidays? And is it too soon for you, or not soon enough?