So instead of a gift guide this year, I decided I’d focus on a decor guide because the BEST time to score seasonal deals is after the season is almost over. If you’re like me, the only thing you love more than decorating for the seasons & holidays is doing it on the cheap! By mid December and and January, most stores have already moved on to Valentine’s or Spring decor & slashing prices on the current selection!
Every year, I get SO excited & beg Jordan to get the Christmas and winter storage boxes down from the attic. (I rarely go in the attic because it freaks me out, which Jordan thinks is so convenient, lolz) Usually, around Thanksgiving (give or take a week) I get him to cave & drag everything out. I typically make a list of new items I “need” each year & then head out to Home Goods or Hobby Lobby on the hunt for the perfect items.
I should mention before showing pictures, that instead of a traditional bridal shower when I
was engaged, my grandmothers best friend hosted a “Christmas Shower” for me & I was showered with Winter & Christmas decor, ornaments, & gifts. It is still SO fun to look back on those items each year & really gets us hyped up & in the holiday spirit. That being said, we will be celebrating our 8th Christmas this year & have really stocked up on a ton of great, timeless items.
I’m going to share pictures of our holiday decor & my ideas to decorate on a budget! I’ll try to link as many items (or similar items) as I can in case you’re on the look out for something this year, too. Also, if you have any fun holiday crafts or ideas or know of any great budget-friendly items, please share them with me!
So, this first item I got from my sweet friend Allee, this year! She posted she was designing and printing them (11″x17″) & had them for sale for, WAIT FOR IT….. $12!!!! Like, what even is that price? Bless her little designing heart. I snagged this with the perfect spot in mind, right between one of the guest bedrooms and bathroom.
By Allee!
I got this flocked wreath with pinecones a few seasons back at Pier 1 & my mother-in-law just added in the red berries. This year I picked up those big white jingle bells in the Target dollar section for $3 a piece & tied them to the base with twine. I love that they ring when we open the door (which is constant, since Warner LOVES to open & shut things these days)!
I saw those buffalo check layering rugs all over Pinterest, so of course I had to have one! It has been perfect to transition from fall to winter & I love the look of layering another front door rug over the top! When I first got it Jordan was like “no”…. but I think now he gets my vision or at least he doesn’t comment if he doesn’t………(hair flip).
I am in LOVE with this entry way table. I scored it at HomeGoods a few years back & was thrilled none of the glass pieces were cracked, like you typically see at HomeGoods. It’s skinny & perfect for our narrow hallway. I leave the lamp & mirror there year-round and just rotate decor on top of the table & tie on a little wreath in the winter. I was gifted the mercury glass and tall white beaded trees by my mother-in-law a few years ago & scored the gold & silver trees on the Lowe’s mega-clearance aisle at 75% off in 2014. Jordan said he thought the beaded trees would be easy to make with styrofoam cones, glue, & glitter or beads if you guys want to make your own!
This year, one of the things on my wish list was a mistletoe ball. I scored this one on Amazon Prime (linked at the end of the post) & I love the large size. It’s super lightweight & I am hoping I can invite people over & make it awkward soon! 😉
All of the following sprigs shown were half off at Hobby Lobby or JoAnn’s:
I got the large glass candleholder jars at Pier 1 many moons ago on clearance & I switch out the eucalyptus filler for Walmart ornaments during the holiday. I love how festive this look is- another trick from my sweet mother-in-love!
My favorite stocking stand is gold & I ordered it online a few years back. My grandma has always had one of these for our stocking & I love that we don’t have to put nails in the mantle or clutter the fireplace! I found this same one on Amazon, but it is out of stock. Just google “stocking stand” & tons show up! I made the small ornament garland myself & just strung mini ornaments on a glitter twine. I linked the blanket basket & led lights for the mini trees below. I found those little trees at HomeGoods last year & they were such a reasonable price! The beautiful stockings for Warner, Jordan, & I were hand sequined by Jordan’s mom and they are SO ADORABLE (I linked a couple of similar options below)!
All of the holiday items in these shelves were gifted to us at my Christmas themed wedding shower. I love getting these out every year & have seen similar holiday mice at TjMaxx- their dangling legs are darling, aren’t they?
(Pillow & drink table linked below)
Another idea from my MIL was to tie ribbons around the candles to add a little color, which I think is so cute & it was so cheap! I found that silver ornament garland at Gordman’s – I rotate seasonal garlands and flowers around those candles a few times a year & love how it makes the room look!
My mother-in-law found this ornament wreath for us last year at HomeGoods. Don’t zoom in or you will see me in my halloween pajamas trying to get the shot 😉 I linked a similar option, but GO TO HOMEGOODS- way better price! Some of the options to link were like $400- who in TF spends that much money on a wreath that will likely shatter or break? I am appalled!
I couldn’t find any wreaths the size I wanted for our cabinets above the fridge, so I bought a couple of grapevine wreaths ($1.99 each) at Hobby Lobby & hot glued greenery and berries on them & hung with ribbon! Such a fun (aside from burning myself) project & an easy way to carry that holiday look into the kitchen!
Any ideas on where to hang this wooden snowflake? I have the doors pretty much covered & no blank walls! Currently just propped up in the kitchen waiting for a home!
I love this tree so much, but Jordan despises how much glitter comes off every year. This was our first big purchase as a married couple & we got it online after Christmas for 60% off. It’s a Martha Stewart brand pre-lit tree, but some of the branches have burned out & we can’t figure out how to fix them… holla at your girl if you know how to fix some lights- I’ll bake ya some cookies or something! Emily Gemma (EmilyAnnGemma on Instagram) shared her ribbon secrets this year, so I grabbed a few rolls at HomeGoods & tried it myself & it looks so cute!!!! I never wanted to wrap ribbon around the entire tree because I was afraid of it looking too “tight”, but this adds just the right amount of color & texture! All of our ornaments were passed down from my grandma and Jordans parents & we have added a few family ornament each year. The topper is just a bunch of springs stuck it! My grandma made the tree skirt (& a matching dining room table runner) for me & it is SO bright & cheery & I will keep it forever and pass it down to my kids one day. I will post pictures of that another time when it isn’t covered in presents!
That’s all, folks! Or at least, those are the parts of the house that I had cleaned enough to take photos of 🙂 Send me your favorite holiday decor items, especially if you make them yourselves! I am always on the hunt for new ornaments & garlands! Let me know if you want to know where anything is from, but it was likely HomeGoods!
Below are some of the linked items I could find or a similar one!
