Decorating the outdoors of your home is a great way to spread holiday cheer to your neighborhood. With some creativity and advanced planning, you can design festive outdoor Christmas decorations even on a tight budget. The key is knowing where to get inexpensive supplies and repurposing items you already have at home.
Evaluate Your Outdoor Space
Take some time to walk around your yard and make note of areas that could accommodate Christmas decorate. Consider both your front yard and backyard. Some elements to evaluate:
- Trees, bushes, fences, and posts that can support string lights and garlands
- Open grassy areas that have potential for decorative light displays
- Gardens, landscape beds, or flower pots for Christmas plantings
- Entryways, porch areas, decks, and patios for decorative items like wreaths and garland
As you map out locations, also consider necessary accessories like extension cords and timers. Make sure access to power outlets does not limit your design options. Identify areas that may require the use of a step ladder for installing lights and decorations.
Take Inventory of Supplies
Before making additional purchases, take stock of holiday items you already own that could be used:
- Check storage areas for Christmas lights sets and replacement bulbs, even if partial sets
- Gather used holiday light clips, ties, timers, and extension cords
- Collect outdoor decoration items like wreaths, garlands, bows, and decorative stems
- Source craft supplies like paint, ribbon, pine cones, and accessories
- Repurpose household items like vases, empty bottles, mugs, and unused containers
Set aside anything with damage until you have time to make repairs so items can be reused. Craft stores offer inexpensive ornament hooks, wires, and replacement parts if needed.
Shop Discount and Dollar Stores
The key to decorating on a budget is knowing where to find deals on supplies. Check out these frugal shopping sources:
- Dollar Tree: Picks up inexpensive Christmas lights, gift wrap, ribbon, bows, crafts, and more
- Dollar General: Sells discounted extension cords, tinsel, stockings, signs, and light accessories
- Big Lots: Great for picking up wreaths, garlands, bows, stuffed characters, and lawn items
- Aldi: Food-focused but often stocks ribbon, gift wrap, cards, and decorations
- Amazon: Filter search results by price and read reviews to find top-rated deals
- Facebook Marketplace: Connect with local sellers offering used decorations and lights
Shop early, even prior years, for deepest discounts. Add a little at a time to your supplies. Download apps to receive additional e-coupons and alerts on sales.
Also read: The Importance of Culture
Embrace Natural Elements
Bring the outdoors inside by gathering free natural elements to incorporate into you décor:
- Display pine cones, acorns, nuts, seed pods, dried flowers
- Make mini Christmas trees out of evergreen branches and clippings
- Accent with magnolia leaves, red berries, curled willow stems, fresh cedar, and herbs
- Add pine, spruce, or eucalyptus to garlands and wreaths
- Use fallen branches as candle holders or bases for string lights
You can often find natural items on the ground this time of year. Always check if permits are required before cutting on public land.
Stick to Simple, Festive Colors
Follow classic Christmas color themes of red, green, gold, and white accented by pops of silver or blue. Repeat colors across your décor for cohesion:
- Tie coordinating ribbon around wreaths, planters, railings, and mailbox
- Wrap red and green garlands around columns, banisters, gutters, arches
- Use white string lights to highlight greenery and architecture
- Display silver or gold ornaments in bushes, pots, and yard accents
- Add metallic to pine cones, wreaths, and table decorations
Spray paint is an inexpensive way to transform color. Add some glitter or shimmery texture for more dynamic effects.
Light Up Paths and Trees
Outlining walkways and highlighting trees draws attention to nature’s beauty.
Pathway light ideas:
- Line steps and sidewalks edges with small white lights
- Place garden stakes with solar lights along lawns and gardens
- Outline driveway and fences using green or red string lights
- Wrap spotlights or projectors in red/green filters to color wash home exterior
Tree decoration concepts:
- Wrap trunks with string lights going up and down
- Drape nets brightly lit with large bulbs over trees
- Focus spotlights on one special tree to highlight unique shape
- Place yellow spotlights in branches to emulate stars
- Project images of ornaments, windows, or scenes onto tree canopy
Play with light placement and colors. Use extension cords to safely run power sources to areas far from outlets.
Handcraft Decorations and Signs
Part of the fun of outdoor decorating for Christmas comes from making your own signature pieces.
- Pine cone projects: Paint colors or add glitter accents, tie with ribbon and hang as ornaments or garland
- Bottle lights: Place mini string lights in glass bottles, jars, or vases
- wine cork figures: Glue together painted/decorated wine corks into shapes like trees, snowmen, etc.
- Chalk paint terracotta pots, wooden cutouts into Christmas themes
- Decorate and distress wood slices into rustic candle holders and napkin rings
- Print out or hand draw holiday phrases for yard signs and house banners
Use basic craft supplies from dollar stores. Watch DIY videos online for more inspiration on ideas that fit your skill level.
Plant Seasonal Flowers and Greens
Incorporating holiday plantings is an easy way to infuse festive colors.
- Poinsettias add traditional red, white, pink into pots
- Cyclamen have red, white, or rose-colored blooms
- Christmas cactus produce bright red or pink flowers
- Holly shrubs or clippings accent with red berries and green leaves
- Evergreens like pine, cedar, spruce convey classic Christmas scents & colors
Check local nurseries for winter plants included in holiday sales and markdowns. Look for pot covers to embed into soil that disguise inexpensive plastic grow pots.
Celebrate the Season Creatively
Decorating your exterior for Christmas does not need to be complicated or break the bank. By tapping into your creativity, repurposing items, and looking for deals, you can design gorgeous outdoor spaces that highlight the hope and joy of the season. What display ideas can you start planning this year?