Beautiful DIY Christmas decorations on a budget - serpaja america

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Get crafty for Christmas

Nothing is more festive than a well-decorated home. But don’t panic, filling your home with light, sparkle and jolly displays this holiday season doesn’t need to cost you a fortune. Whether you’re creative or not, need to stick to a budget, or just want to get into the Christmas spirit, then you’ll love our quick and simple DIY Christmas decorating ideas. Click or scroll through and prepare to be inspired…

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Design your own wrap

Have fun creating unique wrapping paper on recycled or sustainable paper that is better for the environment. From basic potato printing festive shapes with little ones to more advanced hand-painted motifs that show off your illustrative skills, this is a craft that ramps up the feel-good factor for yourself and the planet. Plus they look amazing under the tree!

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Make twig tree wall-hangings

The next time you go for a country or coastal walk collect fallen twigs and small branches. Then, dried out use them to make rustic tree decorations. Hang them in size order (smallest at the top) with rope and hang on the wall embellished with fairy lights and a wooden star ornament at the top.

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Chalk up festive messages

If you have a chalkboard wall or framed blackboard, drawing festive chalk art costs practically nothing. Take a look online for inspirational festive messages and brush up on your calligraphy skills to get scribbling. Crafty marketplace websites stock pages of Christmas overlay to trace or if you are not artistic why not buy a ready-made personalised chalkboard that you can bring out every year.

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Wrap present props

Nothing looks more intriguing than a Christmas tree once presents start to stack up underneath. Spread the cheer into other places of your home with faux present props. Save empty boxes in various sizes throughout the year and then wrap them in beautiful paper and ribbon. Be sure little ones know there is nothing inside or they might try to unwrap your hard work.

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Decorate mini trees

If you don’t have the room or budget for a large Christmas tree, you don’t have to go without a Christmas tree, mini versions look endearing and country chic. Dress them with natural elements like pine cones or hessian wrap, give them some bling with colourful tiny baubles or make them glow with delicate fairy lights. Group them in three’s or with other foliage to create an endearing elf-sized forest display.

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Upcycle homewares

Get upcycling and use Louvre-style doors or an antique clothes horse to make a DIY advent calendar with paper envelopes. Fill each one with well wishes, thankful messages or even small treats to discover each day. Frame the top with real foliage and hanging mini baubles. This idea also makes an attractive Christmas card display with tiny pegs to hold cards in place.

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Perk up with pom-poms

Colourful pom-poms are a simple folk style festive embellishment that makes everyone smile. Choose natural materials like wool and felt and match the colours to your Christmas décor or a feature wall. Hang them as garlands or stick them onto a ring of card to make a cheery wreath for an authentic Scandi feel.

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Cluster baubles together

Here’s a pretty use for leftover baubles that’s easy to do; hang them together in groups from ribbons. Choose complementary colour sets and hang them at different lengths in a swag shape. They make a bright and shiny alternative to wall wreaths or will jazz up the back of chairs at the Christmas table.

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Freshen up your home with pomander balls

If you’re a fan of traditional Christmas decorations like Grandma used to make, you’ll love these spiced pomander balls. Take some firm citrus fruits, carve the skin into elaborate shapes and stud with cloves. Experiment with patterns to create different effects and tie up with ribbon to hang them up, scenting the air with citrus and spice.

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Create an alternative tree

If you don’t have the space for a traditional tree, but still want somewhere to hang your favourite baubles, go for a twig design. You can buy one from most high street retailers and supermarkets, but better still you could repurpose a real branch or tree. Bring it indoors and let it completely dry, then spray paint it either white or silver.

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Make snow globes

Snow globes are ultra magical at Christmas time. Make your own miniature scene with floating snow and glitter for the fraction of the price of one from a shop. Use a craft shop kit or make a vintage style version using an upside-down jam jar and glycerin then disguise the lid with a ribbon.

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Fold origami stars

Sustainable decorations like paper stars are simple to fold and make a mindful Christmas choice. Use leftover gift wrap for a colourful contrast to a white backdrop or brown paper looks rustic and cosy. Look for online tutorials or cheat and buy one ready-made like this dainty version.

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Make your own crackers

DIY Christmas crackers are a great way to use up spare bits of wrapping paper and curling ribbon. You’ll need toilet or kitchen roll tubes (start collecting now!), wrapping paper, ribbon and whichever fillers take your fancy. Cut the cardboard barrels into three sections, wrap and tie up. Don’t forget to add the fillers before you tie the knots!

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Find foliage for candle holders

Create elegant and eco-friendly candelabras. Insert festive foliage such as fern, eucalyptus, holly or bay sprigs into empty glass bottles. Fill with water up to the neck and add candles in colours of your choice. Then place on a mantel, table or windowsill, safely light and enjoy the wintery glow.

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Use holly as a table display

What a simple but effective way to add some life to the Christmas table. Once you’ve set the table – red placemats with a white dinner plate on top – tuck real holly (or faux) around the edge of the plate. Position it towards the top and not all the way around the plate, for a festive touch that doesn’t get in the way of meal time.

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Curate a wall feature

One thing that is most likely to happen on the lead up to Christmas, is the arrival of plenty of festive cards popping through the letter box. Use them to decorate your home by stringing them up to make a standout display. Or, perhaps forgo a Christmas tree altogether this year, and stick the cards on a wall in the shape of a tree, then pop all the presents at the bottom.

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Decorate the windows

Cut paper snowflakes or stars from shimmering gold or silver paper and stick them to window with Blu-Tack (a staple at Christmas!). Really easy to make, just fold a paper square several times, snip shapes and reveal the snowflake’s design. If that sounds like too much work, position a window film in place, instead. Easy!

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Make rustic wreaths by hand

Wreaths are not just for the front door and there are so many styles available, too. Have a go at making your own with natural foliage and then use them to decorate a wall or a chimney breast above the fire. Make them extra special by wrapping delicate, battery-powered, fairy lights around them for a twinkling effect.

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Make mistletoe bouquets

Mistletoe is a fun and pocket-friendly way to decorate your home. Create beautiful bouquets of mistletoe with leftover wrapping paper or newspaper, mix in some evergreen cuttings and secure with yarn. Hang them above doors and wherever people like to congregate, if you’re feeling mischievous. These can then be dried and used again next year.

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Bring in outdoor elements

Think creatively about your dining table decoration and give something like this a try. You don’t need to go massively over the top, but see if you can find a fallen branch outside; it won’t cost you anything, but will take some effort. Dry it off, clean it up and you could even spray paint it. Then securely affix it to the ceiling before hanging baubles and fairy lights from it.

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Make your own table light

A few jam jars, some black card, chalk and fairy lights is all you need for this simple hack. Decide how many jam jars you need to spell out a desired phrase. (Go for an odd number if you can, as it gives a better aesthetic). Cut out the relevant number of tag shapes from card, then chalk out the letters. Stick to the fronts of the jam jars, arrange together, drape with fairy lights and pop in some natural foliage to finish.

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Bake festive family treats

Have a go at baking your Christmas decorations this year. Gingerbread is a sturdy biscuit that you can shape and assemble into just about anything. Cut out trees, stars, reindeer and gingerbread men from the dough and pierce a hole through the top. Bake, decorate and string up onto the tree. Why not have a go at making a gingerbread house, as well?

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Craft your own gift tags

Trim tag shapes from card and decorate with simple red ribbon and dried natural leaves, glued into position. Choose seasonal winter foliage – fir, holly, ivy and eucalyptus, they’re perfect for making your own decorations!

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Hand-tie cutlery with ribbon

Setting a lavish table doesn’t need to cost a fortune – simple touches can really make a difference. Tie cutlery with ribbons, handwrite place cards, entwine fairy lights down the length of the table, and dot faux flower petals around. You can pick up coordinating dinnerware sets like this at budget prices from most supermarkets.

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Design your own baubles

Transform old or plain baubles by decorating or personalising them – it’s amazing what you can do with a glue gun! Simply affix colourful felt, string, sequins, gems, ribbon and so much more to transform them. It’s inexpensive, a great way to recycle and also a perfect way to get friends and family involved in some crafty fun.

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Use fairy lights in new ways

Why limit yourself to hanging fairy lights on your Christmas tree? With a bit of imagination you can transform plants, fireplaces, pictures and mirrors into a twinkling lighting feature. String them along windowsills, around doors or up the banisters. Drop a bunch of fairy lights into a glass vase to add a glow to empty fireplaces. And a simple effect is to drape them along the centre of the dining table for a twinkly look.

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Sew your own hanging decs

For those brave enough to reach for the sewing needle, these heart-shaped felt decorations are a delightful way to decorate your home. Cut felt into shape, ensuring you make two identical shapes per decoration, and sew together using embroidery thread, leaving a small hole to fill with stuffing.

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Craft baubles from bits and bobs

Most of us have a drawer filled with scraps and remnants. Take those leftover gift bows, curling ribbons and buttons and use them to spruce up old baubles. Not only will you create a unique ornament but you’ll claw back some extra storage space just in time for Christmas.

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Personalise your own stockings

Christmas stockings are a fun and personal way to treat your family during the festive season. All you really need for this one is a stiff fabric, a sewing kit and some decorative pieces, such as sprigs of holly and berries. Create personalised stockings by stitching the names of your family members onto each sock.

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Crack out the candy canes

Feast your eyes on these sweet decorations. A festive necessity, candy canes usually make an appearance every year and they’re cheap to use. Try arranging a bunch of candy canes into a vase for a DIY centrepiece that’s good enough to eat or add them to garlands and wreaths, crossed at the base, to make the shape of a heart. They also make great gift toppers.

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Sew a felt garland

Create a length of bunting with cheeky gingerbread men as the star. Cut an outline from a piece of card to streamline the process. Stitch them, evenly spaced, along a length of ribbon and finish with black sequins as eyes. Use them to decorate areas in your home, such as above the mantelpiece, up the banisters or hanging from wall mirrors and pictures.

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Faux the fireplace

If you don’t have a real fireplace then it’s time to get creative. You can pick up a wooden fire surround free from sites such as Facebook Marketplace, which you can affix to a bare wall in your living room. Fill it with wood, fairy lights or candles to bring it to life. It’s the perfect spot to hang your Christmas stockings, add more decorations and gather around.

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Go for an unusual wreath

Make the most of materials from around the home to create striking outdoor decorations. This wreath is made from wine corks that are hot glued in a concentric pattern over a ring-shaped base. Seasonal berries and foliage add colour.

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Make a bauble feature

If you live in a small home and don’t have a lot of space for elaborate decorations but still want to create impact, then have a go at this striking craft idea. Here, a branch has been used but you could use any stick or pole – a sturdy cardboard tube from finished wrapping paper would work well. String as many baubles as possible to the pole at varying lengths, then hang up on the wall; above the sofa would look great!

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Start from scratch with wooden ornaments

Customise unfinished wooden ornaments with stencils, paint and glitter. These plain decorations are available from most craft stores and come in a number of shapes and sizes. If you don’t want off-the-shelf decorations these are a thrifty way to achieve a unique look in your home.

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Repurpose leftover Christmas decorations

Who says baubles should only be hung on trees? Give your coffee table, shelves and mantelpiece a festive makeover this Christmas by filling up flower vases and bowls with leftover baubles. Opt for different sizes and shapes or stick to one style of bauble for a more coordinated look.

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Arrange a pine cone display

Gather pine cones on a forest walk and use them as a pretty table display. Spritz with cinnamon and pine room spray or position in a bow with potpourri. Tie them with twine and you could hang them on the tree or just leave in a bowl – it’s free and wonderfully festive for the season.

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Make long paper chains

You can buy paperchain kits with ready-cut lengths of paper, or go old-school and start from scratch and make your own. Simply trim equal lengths from coloured paper or Christmas wrap. You could even use up old magazines or newspaper. Then, with a glue stick, assemble them into a long chain. Make it any length you like and then drape around your home.

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Decorate a ladder

If you don’t have a tree then bring in an old wooden ladder that you can lean against the wall and decorate with baubles, garlands and fairy lights. You could paint it white, but if you leave it bare it’ll give your room a rustic Scandinavian feel.

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Knit mini tree jumpers

Get those needles tapping and work up a pair of cute Christmas jumpers. Miniature in size, these will look sweet hanging from the tree or dotted about your home. Make them in traditional colours or go for bright neon wools for something more modern. These also make a lovely gift for a loved one.

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Try new wrapping styles

You don’t need to splash out on expensive luxury wrapping paper, just go and buy yourself a roll of brown packing paper from an office supplies shop. Next is the fun part. Decorate the brown paper any which way you please, with ribbons, natural foliage, paper tags, stamps, calligraphy and stickers.

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Make your own wreath

Create a warm welcome by hanging a wreath on your door. Have a go at making your own from natural foliage, snipped from the garden. Take a piece of soaked flower oasis and push sprigs of holly, fir and eucalyptus into it. Get creative by customising your wreath further with lace, mini baubles, silver stars and winter berries. Don’t stop there, get to work on a DIY garland, as well!

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Draw your own greeting cards

Design your own greetings cards using colouring pens. Using a pencil, lightly sketch a design onto the front of a card blank and then go over the top with coloured pens. It’s much more thoughtful than buying shop-bought packs and you can make them personal.

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Make a stylish centrepiece

Add a bit of festive spirit to the dinner table with a rustic centrepiece. Glue together small offcuts of foraged wood, leaving space for votives to nestle in. Add colour with winter berries, cinnamon sticks and anything else you have to hand. Pop the votives and tealights in. If you are going to light the candles, be sure to never leave them unattended.

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Hang photo decorations

Make your Christmas tree look extra special decorated with personalised ornaments filled with family photographs. Insert DIY polaroid style photos into fillable frames or hang print outs in wooden ornament shaped frames. These also make wonderful keepsake gifts too.

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Create a Scandi forest

Make and decorate modern Scandi trees like Hester hestershandmadehome.com has done with Balsa wood or thin plywood and craft paint. Cut out and slot together triangle shapes and then decorate each however you wish. Group different sizes together in amongst LED fairy lights and foliage to create a minimalist Nordic forest display. Check out the full tutorial here.

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