Five Tips For Getting The Most Bang For Your Holiday Decor Buck

Today I’m dishing about how to get a high end look without the high end price. In other words, how to get the most bang for your holiday decor buck.

I’m so excited today to be a guest for Welcome Home Sunday! If you are visiting here for the first time, welcome! I’m Nancy and love to create an inspired home on a real world budget.

Tip 1: Buy and Use Multiples

Pick an item you really like, and think you can use in your home multiple ways over the years, and then invest in several. This doesn’t have to be an immediate splurge. Start with a few, then watch for the sales to start and add a few more. Finally, after Christmas load up for next year. By choosing one item, like I did with these bottlebrush trees, you can make a big impact in your decor.

Last year I made a huge grouping of these faux trees and I loved the effect. I also collected silver over the course of the year from thrift stores to make this scene (you can always find silver at thrift stores because no one wants to polish anymore). Basically, go for a big impact by using an abundance of one type of item that you can rethink from year to year.

This year I have split the trees up and sprinkled them throughout the house. Next year, I may group them all together again…maybe on the mantel.

Not sure where to start? Here’s a few ideas for collections that would be stunning.

• Mercury Glass Trees
• Vintage Style Santas
• Faux little Christmas Trees
• Gold Angels
• Reindeer
• Dicken’s Style Carolers
• Cardinals

Tip 2: Reuse and Rethink

Think of your Christmas decor as a capsule wardrobe. It can be done exactly the same from year to year and hold steady, or, the items chosen can be used in a new way to bring a fresh approach to your holiday home. Case in point: I used the bottle brush trees last year in a different way. In fact, I didn’t buy one single bottle brush tree this year because I had enough left from last year. Here’s last year’s bottle brush tree explosion.

You can see in the following photos that they are all the same trees but arranged in a new way to make an impact in my dining room.

Tip 3: Create an Interesting Color Palette

Decide on a few basic colors you are going to use from year to year. For me, I know I always love white so I collect white ornaments and decor whenever I see a bargain. I also collect red. Some years I mix the red and white. Other years I go for a total neutral look with just the white and some greenery. This year, I decided to add in some pops of blue.

By sticking with two basic colors, I have the freedom to accent with another color that is inspiring me or trending. It also allows me to snap up great Christmas decor pieces at the thrift store when I see them. I have found all three of my Impossible Dreams Santas at the thrift store.

Tip 4: Use What You Already Own

I find I am attracted more and more to a sprinkle of Christmas to already existing decor. I’m so picky about the items I put in my home and I love each item I find thrifting, it is hard for me to put them away for a season. For me, I adore this collection of moss balls and I don’t think the dining room would feel right without them, so I just add a little Christmas to them.

Remember that hutch filled with bottle brush trees earlier in this post? Did you notice they were all sitting in milk glass? I love collecting milk glass so it seemed natural to add Christmas to my already existing milk glass collection.

Tip 5: Invest in Great Greenery

The greenery has really become very good in the last few years. It’s hard to tell what is real and what is faux. Whenever I see great greenery on a great sale I snap it up. I can always find places to tuck it in or drape it on a mantel. Be sure to buy enough. Don’t make the mistake of buying just one or two small pieces. Go for impact. It’s better to own 2-3 groups of greenery or garland than to own a whole bunch of different kinds all mixed up together.

See the garland in the photo above? It was kind of pricey for my standards at $35 a garland. It would have been easy to buy one and walk away. But, I took the big plunge and bought two. It is an investment for sure, but I can use the garland for years to come in different (or the same) ways. The key is not settling for bad quality. Seek out the real looking stuff.

I found the above stems at Ace Hardware. This was a photo from two years ago. This year, I have them tucked in with some red berries into a blue and white jar.

Bonus Tip 6: Never Underestimate the Power of Candlesticks

If you do one thing…watch for good candlesticks. They make such a huge difference in your decor. I buy all my candlesticks at thrift stores. Every. single. one. Adding candles to any vignette will immediately lend a sense of elegance to the arrangement. The best part? They can be used all year long for every season.

I hope you found these tips helpful a you are embarking on your seasonal decorating! If you want to see how I created this dining space on a shoestring budget by thrifting and Facebook Marketplace buying my way to this CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL DETAILS.

Thanks ladies for asking me to join in this week! There’s so much wonderful inspiration these ladies share each Sunday. Be sure to check them all out. I loved being part of your group this week!

Nancy

Welcome Home Sunday

Noting Grace / Noting Grace Capsule Collection With Romabio Paints

Sincerely, Marie Designs / Mercury Glass  & Cedar Christmas Mantel

The Tattered Pew / Christmas On the Porch

White Arrows Home / Advent Traditions Counting Sleeps Till Christmas

Seeking Lavender Lane / Kids Christmas Room

Adams and Elm Home / 5 Tips for Getting The Most Bang For Your Holiday Decor Buck