Christmas on a Budget
A festive-looking home does not have to cost a fortune. The secret is knowing where a few pounds make the biggest difference and where you can save without anyone noticing. Here is how to get real impact for less, and the simple tricks that make a small budget look generous.
Spend where it shows, save where it does not
Put your money into the pieces people see first and use most.
- Spend on the tree and one hero display. The tree and a single well-dressed spot, such as the mantel or the front door, carry the whole room.
- Spend on the table if you are hosting a meal, because everyone sits at it for hours. Crackers, napkins and a runner go a long way.
- Save on background filler. Tinsel, garland and hanging decorations add volume cheaply, so buy these in bulk to fill space.
- Save on anything guests will not look at closely, like decorations for a spare room or a hallway corner.
Tricks that stretch a small budget
- Buy in multiples of one or two colours. Matching sets always look more expensive than a mix of odd single pieces.
- Let one length of ribbon tie the room together on the tree, the banister and the napkins.
- Reuse and top up. Keep the base each year and add a few new pieces in the same scheme rather than starting over.
- Use balloons for cheap height and colour. A cluster or an arch fills a large space for very little.
- Shop early or in the sales and store it well, so next year is nearly free.
Since 2005 we have packed over 3 million orders, and free UK delivery over £45 makes it easy to stock up on the bulk basics in one go.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I spend my money first?
The tree and one focal display, plus the table if you are hosting a meal. Those are the things people notice and photograph. Everything else can be inexpensive bulk filler in the same colours, and the room will still look pulled together.
How do cheap decorations still look good?
Consistency does the work. Choose one tight colour scheme, buy in multiples, and repeat the same few colours in every room. A dozen matching baubles and a single ribbon running through the space reads as styled, even on a tiny spend.
Stock up for less with Christmas decorations, tinsel, crackers and party hats.