How to Decorate for Christmas on a Budget

It is easy to get carried away on Christmas spirit, and there is nothing wrong with going a little overboard as you celebrate the season. However, sometimes it helps to do some things--like decorations--in a big way on a small budget. While you probably have a tradition based around your Christmas tree and use many of the same decorations there from year to year, you may wish to spruce up the rest of the house as well for a party or just to get in the holiday spirit. Using items that you can purchase at any local "dollar store," you can decorate your entire home, inside and out, for under 50 dollars. In this article, we will discuss how to decorate for Christmas on a budget.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Enough fake fir wire wreaths to have one on each front window and door
• Ornament hangers
• Strands of 50 lights--one for each wreath
• Shiny Christmas Ball Ornaments
• Fake poinsettia flowers
• Small wicker baskets
• Cinnamon or pine-scented potpourri
• Red and green hand towels
• Individually wrapped Christmas candies
• Extension cords (if necessary)

1. 

   Twine a short strand of lights around each fake fir wire wreath. The lights do not need to be very close together. Spread them out to be sure that they make it all the way around. Leave the plug end of the strand of lights dangling from the top of the wreath.

2. 

   Colored balls like these tend to come in packs of 12 or more. One pack could make 3 or 4 wreaths.You do not need a lot of lights to have a striking decoration by day or night. Hang several colored ball ornaments on the branches of each wreath. Use the ornament hangers to fix them tightly to the branches.

3. Hang the wreaths on all windows and doors visible from the front of the house. Run the dangling end of the light strand through the top of the window to hang the wreath and provide access to an indoor outlet for electricity. Indoor lights are less expensive and generally windows are sheltered from most weather by the eaves of the house. The window should still shut and lock securely.

4. 

   Swap out your hand towels. Exchange your usual kitchen and bath towels for red and green hand towels to create a festive mood throughout the house. If you wish, you can use seasonal towels, but solid red and green work just as well and can be used after the holidays also.

5. 

   Baskets like these are inexpensive and make anything look festive. Fill the baskets with potpourri. An even layer across the bottom of the baskets will create a holiday scent throughout the house without the hassle of lighting, extinguishing and replacing scented candles.

6. Top the potpourri with the remaining shiny balls, Christmas candy and fake flowers. You can place these baskets on end tables, in entryways and any other place that guests may gather. You may also wish to use a larger basket as a centerpiece.

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[washingtonson]

on 11/30/2008 I featured this in Christmas How To's here:
http://washingtonson.blogspot.com/