Budget Decorating
How to decorate for the holidays by spending very little
Photography: Francesco Lagnese | Story: Festive Decor That Adds Cool, Cozy Charm Year Round
Budget Decorating
How to decorate for the holidays by spending very little
You can deck your quarters for the holidays while saving your funds for home essentials that you'll use well past December 25. Here's how.
We know the feeling — you want to decorate for the holidays but don't want to spend money on pieces that only make an appearance for one month out of the whole year. Although you can get into the Christmas spirit by binge-watching the cheesy Netflix Christmas movies (not judging—we love 'em too), it won't feel like Christmas until you actually deck the halls.
We spoke with Karin Bennett, owner of Karin Bennett Designs, to get her tips on how to upgrade your home for the holidays on a budget. With these three tips, you'll be able to infuse your abode with the magic of the most wonderful time of the year without digging into your 2019 home update fund.
1. Get some spray paint.
Photography: Reid Lambshead | Story: A Floral and Glamorous Spin on Holiday Decor
Karin has a particular affinity for using spray paint to give home accessories — like Christmas tree ornaments — a new look. “Spray paint your old ornaments when you want to switch them up,” she says. “Stores have a higher ticket price on something that is popular — say, for instance, copper is really big this year, the copper ornaments are going to be more expensive than the others.”
Karin suggests grabbing different finishes of one colour to achieve a cohesive look once they're on the tree and also add extra interest. “Getting matte, glossy and sparkly in something like gold will give you more of a textured look to your ornaments.”
2. Go holiday-neutral.
Photography: Francesco Lagnese | Story: Festive Decor That Adds Cool, Cozy Charm Year Round
Instead of investing in red and green Christmas decor that's in storage the majority of the year, Karin recommends decorating for winter, instead of the holidays specifically. She explains, “Use white, wood, fur and heavy textures with throw blankets.” If you live close to wooded areas, grab some (free!) natural items like branches, sticks and pinecones, which can make great table centrepieces.
This neutral palette has serious staying power — you won't want to get rid of the cozy textures until spring comes around.
3. Create your own festive floral arrangements.
Photography: Janis Nicolay | Story: A Fresh and Eclectic Home Sprinkled With Greenery for the Holidays
Pre-made arrangements can be pricey — but getting bundles of greenery and putting together your own arrangements can cost significantly less. “You can get real pine and spruce greenery from your local garden centre and bundles are usually around $5 each,” says Karin. Grabbing a few bundles gives you enough greenery to create multiple arrangements.
Tip: With the extra sprigs of pine you're bound to have, Karin recommends using them to add a festive touch to your mantle or coffee table.
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