Manga Drone

There's usually the thought that getting your home ready for Christmas, goes hand in hand with a big spend on decorations. There's baubles to be bought, fairy lights to renew and tinsel (so much tinsel) to hang (tastefully) from absolutely every corner of your house. But contrary to what you might think, the best Christmas decoration ideas don't need to cost the earth, and there are so many ways to save on beautifying your home for the holidays.

It just takes a little thought and creativity. And, what's lovely about being a little frugal, is that not only will you save money while still making a great and gorgeous impact, but you'll likely be nodding to more eco-friendly ways of decorating also. So keep scrolling for our favorite budget Christmas decor ideas plus top tips from the author of This Girl Can Organise, Nicola Lewis.

1. DIY your advent calendars

Our love for DIY is simply amplified around Christmastime, and making your own advent calendar is not only an easy way to save cash (not to mention plastic) but it's also perfect to make something so much more personal to you, or to your lucky recipient. And, the bigger you go, the more decorative it is! These Swoosh craft paper bags are from Amazon and they make a great display.

2. Make your own plantable Christmas cards

This is first and foremost a more eco friendly Christmas decoration idea, plus, iInvesting in plantable seed paper Christmas cards can not only be more pocket-friendly compared to some luxurious cards, but when they will, in turn, grow wildflowers, that's a 2 in 1 gift!

We like these Nordic plantable Christmas cards available on Amazon but if you're feeling even more creative, you can purchase blank ones to decorate yourself!

3. Decorate with greenery

Greenery is usually free, especially if you have a holly bush, willow tree or  type of fir in your garden or local park. And, you only need a little to make a stylish impact on a dining table. So you could even just use some offcuts of your real Christmas tree. Plus, if you want to invest in a little dried eucalyptus from Etsy, it's fairly affordable, will last for years and looks great in the house, out of the winter season also!

4. Fashion your own table decor

There's a lot you can do with what you already have, especially when it comes to Christmas table decor that has a little more personality. From leftover baubles (you know the ones missing the string), to old candle or jam jars, these all add interest, for free! Plus, any vessels like candle jars, you can fill with cute Christmassy trinkets or even turn them into placeholders and write each person's name on a small piece of card to pop inside. Cute.

5. Decorate every nook and cranny

By giving every are in your house a little Christmas love, it can elevate your whole holiday vibe, without costing you a fortune. This beautiful staircase idea is created with just a few repurposed vases, candles, garlands and rustic Christmas decorations which you might have left at the bottom of the box. Proof that there is a place for everything, and it won't cost you any extra!

6. Make your own no sew stockings

Stockings hanging from a Christmas mantlepiece in one of those cozy Christmas scenes that we all think about. And, making your own no sew or appliqué stockings is a really nice way to add a personal touch to your Christmas decor, without the big spend on a regular shop bought stocking. Plus, it's a great way to reuse any old fabrics you have lying around. Waste not want not after all.

7. Be original with your Christmas wrapping

Gift wrapping is all part of the Christmas decor package, and if you choose to go fancy, it can be expensive!

We love the authentic look of brown paper packages, while you can even reuse paper bags from Primark or other stores like Amazon, as Nicola suggests below, because this is one of the most simple, stylish, eco-friendly and cheap Christmas decor ideas going.

8. Make your own decor

We've mentioned that we're into DIY Christmas decks and proof is in the pudding. Think outside the box, and take a little inspiration from far out budget Christmas decor ideas like this one. To recreate the look, you simply need to paint a leftover frame in gold or silver – depending on your Christmas decorating color scheme – and that gives off such a good effect, making it the perfect place to house a couple of hanging Christmas tree decorations and anything you'd want really.

9. Be strategic with fairy lights

We know how versatile Christmas fairy lights can be, and the way to get the most use out of a small bunch of lights is to place them thoughtfully. Cascading them looks amazing visually, while if you really don't have many to work with, or if some of the bulbs have gone, you could entwine them around a little foliage to help softly brighten up the greenery in a lovely subtle way.

10. Hang things high for more effect

And it's not just about hanging fairly lights either. Think about the placement of all your Christmas decor and aim for height for more visual grandeur. We love these paper decks (which are fairly inexpensive also) and hanging them from above helps make the Christmas decor pop!