30 Cheap DIY Christmas Decorations That Look Like a Million Bucks

The week after Thanksgiving, our farmhouse turns into a craft room. The leftovers are packed away, the chickens are tucked into their winter routine, and every pinecone, mason jar, and scrap of twine I saved all year finally gets its moment.

I’ll be honest: I love Christmas, but I don’t love what store-bought decor costs. A single fancy wreath can run $60. A set of matching porch lanterns can cost more than our grocery bill for the week. So years ago I started making most of our decorations myself, and I’ve never looked back.

These 30 DIY Christmas decorations are the ones I come back to every year. They’re cheap, most use things you already have, and they look far more expensive than they are. Pin this post now so you have it ready when you’re ready to deck the halls.

Why DIY Christmas Decor Is the Frugal Way to Deck the Halls

Cheap DIY Christmas decorations save money because the supplies are mostly free. Pinecones, branches, jars and old sweaters cost nothing if you already have them, and a $1 bag of greenery stretches across a whole mantel.

Homemade decor also lasts. A salt dough ornament your kids made at five still hangs on our tree, and it means more than anything from a big box store. When you make it yourself, you’re building a collection of memories, not just filling a storage tote.

Here’s my simple rule before I buy anything for Christmas: can I make it, forage it, or thrift it first? Nine times out of ten, the answer is yes.

Supplies worth keeping on hand all season:

• Mason jars in a few sizes
• Jute twine and plaid or burlap ribbon
• A hot glue gun and extra glue sticks
• Battery fairy lights (buy a multipack)
• Pinecones, evergreen clippings and dried orange slices
• Wood slices or scrap lumber
• Epsom salt for a frosted, snowy look

Easy DIY Christmas Decorations You Can Make in an Afternoon

These easy DIY Christmas decorations take an hour or less and need no special skills. Start here if you want the house to feel like Christmas by tonight.

1. Epsom Salt Snowy Candle Jars. Brush a thin coat of Mod Podge or white glue on the outside of a jar, then roll it in Epsom salt. Tie twine around the neck and drop in a tea light. It looks like frost on a window, and a whole bag of Epsom salt costs about $4.

2. Sweater Pillow Covers. Grab a chunky knit sweater from the thrift store and slide a throw pillow inside. Cut it to size, then stitch or hot glue the edges closed. Cozy farmhouse texture for a couple of dollars.

3. Paper Snowflake Garland. Fold and cut white printer paper or old book pages into snowflakes, then string them on baker’s twine. Hang it across a window or doorway. This is a great one to make while a Christmas movie plays.

Homemade Christmas Ornaments

Homemade Christmas ornaments are the heart of our tree. They cost pennies, and every year we add a few new ones so the tree tells our family’s story.

4. Salt Dough Ornaments. Mix 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt and about ½ cup water into a dough. Roll it out, cut shapes with cookie cutters, and poke a hole for hanging. Bake at 250°F for 2 to 3 hours until hard, then paint or leave them rustic. Press a handprint into one for a keepsake.

5. Wood Slice Ornaments. Cut thin slices from a fallen branch, sand them smooth, and drill a small hole near the top. Paint a snowflake, a name, or the year, or wood-burn a simple design. If you made the wood slice place cards for your table, use the extra slices here.

6. Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments. Stir together equal parts applesauce and ground cinnamon until it forms a stiff dough. Cut shapes and let them air dry for two to three days. They make the whole house smell like Christmas. (These are for decoration only, not for eating.)

DIY Christmas Tree Decorations

You can decorate an entire tree with DIY Christmas tree decorations for under $15. Garlands and toppers fill the most space, so make those first.

7. Popcorn and Cranberry Garland. Thread plain popped popcorn and fresh cranberries onto heavy thread with a needle, alternating as you go. It’s old-fashioned and charming. When the season ends, hang it outside for the birds.

8. Dried Orange Slice Garland. Slice oranges about ¼ inch thick, pat them dry, and bake at 200°F for 3 to 4 hours, flipping every hour. String them on twine with a bay leaf or cinnamon stick between each slice. The light glows right through them.

9. Rustic Twig Star Tree Topper. Snap five straight twigs to the same length and hot glue them into a star. Wrap the joints with twine and weave a strand of fairy lights around the points. It costs nothing and suits a farmhouse tree perfectly.

For more ideas on styling the room around your tree, see my farmhouse Christmas decor for living room ideas.

DIY Outdoor Christmas Decorations

DIY outdoor Christmas decorations need to handle snow, wind and ice. Here in Western New York, anything flimsy ends up in the neighbor’s field by January, so these are built to last.

10. Tomato Cage Christmas Trees. Flip a tomato cage upside down, bind the top prongs together with zip ties, and wrap it in garland and outdoor string lights. Make three in different sizes and group them by the front steps. Your garden cages finally earn their keep in winter.

11. Sled and Lantern Display. Lean an old wooden sled against the porch wall. Tuck evergreen branches behind it and set a battery lantern at the base. Check farm auctions and yard sales for sleds; I’ve found them for $5.

12. Galvanized Bucket Planters. Fill a galvanized bucket with sand or soil, then stand cut evergreen branches, red twig dogwood and a few birch sticks in it. Top with pinecones. It stays green all winter and handles every storm we get.

DIY Christmas Yard Decorations

DIY Christmas yard decorations give you a big, cheerful display without the inflatable price tag. Scrap wood and a few strands of lights go a long way.

13. Pallet Wood Christmas Sign. Break down a free pallet, nail the boards into a rectangle, and paint a message like “Merry Christmas” or “Fresh Cut Trees.” Stake it in the yard or lean it by the driveway. Many feed stores give pallets away.

14. Lighted Gift Boxes. Wrap old cardboard boxes in clear plastic sheeting or a contractor bag so they stay dry, then wrap them in outdoor lights and add a big bow. Stack three by the walkway. Wood crates work too and last for years.

15. Plywood Silhouettes. Trace a simple shape like a reindeer, star, or nativity scene onto plywood, cut it with a jigsaw, and paint it black or white. Light it from below with a spotlight. One sheet of plywood makes two or three figures.

If you want to dress up the front of the house too, my cheap Christmas decor ideas for your porch pair well with these.

DIY Christmas Door Decorations and Wreaths

The front door is the first thing guests see, so it’s worth a little effort. These DIY Christmas door decorations cost a fraction of a store-bought wreath.

16. Foraged Evergreen Wreath. Start with a $3 wire wreath frame from the craft store. Bundle cuttings of pine, cedar or spruce and wire them on, overlapping each bundle so the stems are hidden. Add pinecones and a plaid bow. Trim the lower branches off your own tree to get the greenery free.

17. Embroidery Hoop Wreath. Wrap a wooden embroidery hoop with a small swag of faux greenery or eucalyptus on one side only. Leave the rest of the hoop bare for a clean, modern farmhouse look. Hang it with a long strip of ribbon.

18. Vintage Sleigh Bell Door Hanger. String a handful of jingle bells on a strip of leather or jute and knot it to a loop. Add a sprig of greenery at the top. It rings every time someone comes through the door, which my kids love.

Foraged Farmhouse Decor: Pinecones, Greenery and Dried Citrus

The cheapest Christmas decor is the kind you gather on a walk. Living on a farm, I forage most of our holiday greenery from the tree line and the woodpile, and you can do the same in any backyard or park where gathering is allowed.

19. Pinecone Fire Starters in a Basket. Dip dry pinecones in melted old candle wax, let them harden, and pile them in a basket by the woodstove or fireplace. They look beautiful and they’re useful. Tie a few in a bag with twine for a free neighbor gift.

20. Dried Orange and Pinecone Jar. Layer dried orange slices, small pinecones and cinnamon sticks in a large glass jar. It smells amazing and costs next to nothing. I share the full tutorial in my DIY dried orange and pinecone jar post.

21. Birch Log Candle Holders. Cut a fallen birch log into 4-inch rounds and drill a shallow hole in the top of each to hold a tea light. Group three on a tray with sprigs of cedar. Never leave real flames unattended; battery tea lights are the safer choice.

Foraging tip: Bake pinecones at 200°F for 30 to 45 minutes before bringing them inside. It opens the scales and gets rid of any bugs hiding in them.

Mason Jar Christmas Decorations

If you can, you already have a cabinet full of the most versatile Christmas decor there is. Mason jar Christmas decorations are cheap, sturdy, and easy to swap out once the season ends.

22. Mason Jar Snow Globes. Hot glue a small bottle-brush tree and a tiny figurine to the inside of a jelly jar lid. Fill the jar with distilled water, a few drops of glycerin and a spoonful of glitter. Screw the lid on tight, flip it over, and shake.

23. Mason Jar Luminaries. Fill pint jars a third of the way with coarse salt or fresh cranberries and water. Tuck in a sprig of rosemary or pine and float a tea light on top. Line them up the porch steps or down the middle of the table. My mason jar Christmas candle centerpiece walks through the full table version step by step.

24. Painted Mason Jar Vases. Spray paint jars in matte white or deep red, then lightly sand the raised lettering so the glass peeks through. Fill with greenery, holly or a few stems of red berries. Wrap twine around the rim for a finished look.

Dollar Store DIY Christmas Decorations

Dollar store DIY Christmas decorations are where the frugal magic happens. A few $1.25 supplies and a glue gun can make something that looks like it came from a home decor boutique.

25. Dollar Store Lantern Upgrade. Buy a plain plastic or metal lantern and spray paint it matte black or galvanized gray. Fill it with battery fairy lights, faux greenery and a few ornaments. Two of these by the door look like a $50 pair.

26. Ornament Wreath. Hot glue cheap shatterproof ball ornaments onto a foam or wire wreath form, packing them tight in a mix of sizes. Stick to two or three colors so it looks intentional, like red, white and gold.

27. Wood Bead Garland. String unfinished wood beads from the craft aisle onto jute twine and tie tassels on each end. Drape it over a tree, a mantel or a stack of books. It costs about $3 and you can reuse it every year.

For more cheap finds, check out my easy Christmas decor ideas from Dollar General and my tips on how to find Christmas decorations on a budget.

DIY Christmas Decorations for Kids to Make

DIY Christmas decorations for kids keep little hands busy on snow days and fill the house with personality. Set out a tray of supplies and let them create.

28. Handprint Reindeer Canvas. Paint your child’s hand brown and press it onto a small canvas or cardstock, fingers up, for the antlers. Add a red pom-pom nose and googly eyes. Write their name and the year on the back so you’ll treasure it for years.

29. Paper Chain Countdown. Cut strips of red, green and white paper and loop them into a chain with 24 links. Kids tear one off every morning in December. Write a small activity on each link, like “make hot cocoa” or “drive to see lights.”

30. Pinecone Christmas Trees. Have kids dab the tips of pinecones with green paint, then glue on tiny pom-poms or beads for ornaments. Set each one on a wooden spool or bottle cap for a trunk. A row of them makes a sweet windowsill forest.

Bonus: DIY Christmas Table Decor

Once the house is decorated, don’t forget the table. Christmas dinner is where everyone gathers, and a few handmade touches make it feel special without spending much.

I’ve written a whole series on setting a frugal farmhouse Christmas table:

• Christmas table decor ideas: covers the full table from runner to centerpiece.
• DIY mason jar Christmas candle centerpiece: a glowing row of jars filled with cranberries and greenery.
• DIY twine napkin rings: rustic rings made from jute and a sprig of pine.
• DIY wood slice Christmas place cards: name cards that double as a take-home ornament.

You can mix and match the jar luminaries, wood slices and foraged greenery from this list with those projects for a table that ties into the rest of your home.

Make This the Year You DIY Christmas

You don’t need a big budget to have a house that feels like Christmas. You need a few jars, some twine, a walk outside for pinecones, and an afternoon with your favorite people.

Pick two or three ideas from this list to start. Next year, add a few more. Before long, you’ll have a whole collection of homemade decorations that mean more than anything you could buy.

Which one are you making first? Tell me in the comments, and don’t forget to pin this post so you can find it again.