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Cheap Ideas for Decorating a Christmas Tree

Decorate your Christmas tree on a budget & make it look amazing! Create a cozy, lodge-inspired themed tree, by scavenging your home & kitchen for everyday items.

Holiday and seasonal magazines are filled with pictures of gorgeous, professionally decorated trees that evoke images of Victorian Christmases, holidays in the country, or even Renaissance seasonal celebrations. One common factor with each of these displays, is that expensive, vintage, or one-of-a-kind ornaments are used, which increases the decorating budget astronomically.

However, you can create a beautifully decorated Christmas tree that delivers a theme, without blowing your budget. Follow these simple guidelines, capitalize on your own passions and collections, and get ready to receive the compliments!

Basics & Tree Foundation

Whether your tree is real or artificial, begin your display by securing your tree in the holder, leveling the tree and securing the upper branches if the tree is top heavy and likely to tip. Finally, cover the tree holder with a tree skirt or a length of fabric in a color that coordinates with your theme.

In this article:

  • Basics & Tree Foundation
  • Take Inventory of Your Belongings
  • Try This Simple Northwoods Lodge-Inspired Christmas Tree:
  • 25+ Simple and Creative Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
    • 1. How to Decorate a Christmas Tree from Start to Finish
    • 2. How to Put Ribbon Garland on a Christmas Tree
    • 3. Christmas tree ribbon garlands 4 ways
    • 4. Night-time Christmas tree
    • 5. Black and White Christmas Tree
    • 6. Elegant white and gold matte Christmas Tree
    • 7. Holiday Charm
    • 8. Decorate Christmas Tree in 5 Simple Steps
    • 9. Christmas Tree Ribbon
    • 10. Cottage Christmas
    • 11. Chic Modern Minimalist Christmas Trees
    • 12. Decorating Your Holiday Tree Like a Pro
    • 13. Small Christmas Tree
    • 14. Glam Metallic Farmhouse Christmas Tree
    • 15. Non-serious Christmas Tree
    • 16. Rustic Glam Christmas Tree
    • 17. Urn Christmas Tree
    • 18. DIY The halls
    • 19. White Christmas Tree
    • 20. Metal Christmas Tree Skirt
    • 21. French Farmhouse Christmas Tree
    • 22. DIY Christmas Tree Collar
    • 23. Woodland Christmas
    • 24. Recycled Tire Christmas Tree Base
    • 25. How to decorate your Christmas tree beautifully and affordably
    • 26. Scrooge-less reclaimed wood Christmas tree and star
    • 27. Wall mounted Christmas tree
    • 28. DIY Rosetta Tree
    • 29. Christmas Paper Trees
    • 30. Vintage Sheet Music Christmas Tree
    • 31. Foam Christmas Tree
    • 32. Ruler Christmas tree
    • 33. Christmas tree ornament mobile
    • 34. Burlap Christmas tree
    • 35. Trio of Trees Part Trio
    • 36. Rolled rosette Christmas tree craft
    • 37. Pinecone tree
    • 38. Stick Christmas tree
    • 39. Christmas tree with spindles
    • 40. Christmas tree light
    • 41. DIY Wood Slice Christmas Trees
    • 42. Make a Fun and Festive Space-Saving Christmas Tree
    • 43. DIY Balsa Wood Christmas Tree
    • 44. DIY Alternative Christmas Tree
    • 45. Mini Christmas tree stand
    • 46. Christmas pinecone tree
    • 47. Golden tree
    • 48. Christmas tree stand from old tractor grill
    • 49. Succulents and Christmas tree
    • 50. Large reindeer topper
    • 51-63. More Christmas trees
    • 64. Christmas tree trends in 2019

Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & Decorations
Fill in any bare spots and along the length of the trunk with crumpled lengths of wired ribbon. Shop at your local Hobby Lobby, Michael's, or Joanne Fabrics to find the best holiday ribbon at a sale price. Select the ribbon of your choice, making sure it has the following qualities:

  • 3 to 4" in width
  • Wired edges
  • Neutral color (i.e. not bright red, blue or green)
  • Glitter or metallic quality to create shimmer and reflection off of the tree lights

To fill in the bare spots, cut the ribbon into pieces that are 2' to 3' in length. Crumple and stuff in the ribbon into the "holes" or to hide the pole that acts as a trunk for artificial trees.

Twist the ribbon, curl it back onto itself and play around with the edges, to create more angles from which to bounce the light. Don't forget to string a lot of lights on your tree. Multi-color or monochromatic are both good choices, but use the small light bulbs to draw attention to your decorations and NOT to the lights.

Take Inventory of Your Belongings

If you are a pig collector, you likely have many unique, conversation-starting pig decorations. Be clever and figure out how you can safely attach the pigs to the tree branches. You may find that twist ties, cable ties, and ribbon are extremely helpful here.

Finally, add the one item that will give your tree extra punch. In the pig-inspired example above, the one extra item could be a pig plush toy or a special ornament from the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Try This Simple Northwoods Lodge-Inspired Christmas Tree:

String white Christmas tree lights throughout the tree and use silvery, metallic ribbon to fill in the bare spots. Fill the tree with dozens of pine cones collected from nature.

Hot glue a loop of red ribbon to the base of the pinecone and use the loop to suspend the cone from the tree. Add bundles of cinnamon sticks or birch twigs, which have been tied and looped with the same red ribbon throughout the tree. Finish with a generous supply of traditional candy canes and your cozy Christmas tree, done on a budget, is complete!

25+ Simple and Creative Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

1. How to Decorate a Christmas Tree from Start to Finish

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree from Start to Finish | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

2. How to Put Ribbon Garland on a Christmas Tree

How to Put Ribbon Garland on a Christmas Tree | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

3. Christmas tree ribbon garlands 4 ways

Christmas tree ribbon garlands 4 ways | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & Decorations

4. Night-time Christmas tree

Night-time Christmas tree | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

5. Black and White Christmas Tree

Black and White Christmas Tree | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

6. Elegant white and gold matte Christmas Tree

Elegant white and gold matte Christmas Tree | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

7. Holiday Charm

Holiday Charm | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

8. Decorate Christmas Tree in 5 Simple Steps

Decorate Christmas Tree in 5 Simple Steps | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

9. Christmas Tree Ribbon

Christmas Tree Ribbon | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

10. Cottage Christmas

Cottage Christmas | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

11. Chic Modern Minimalist Christmas Trees

Chic Modern Minimalist Christmas Trees | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

12. Decorating Your Holiday Tree Like a Pro

Decorating Your Holiday Tree Like a Pro | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

13. Small Christmas Tree

Small Christmas Tree | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

14. Glam Metallic Farmhouse Christmas Tree

Glam Metallic Farmhouse Christmas Tree | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

15. Non-serious Christmas Tree

Glam Metallic Farmhouse Christmas Tree | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & Decorations

16. Rustic Glam Christmas Tree

Rustic Glam Christmas Tree | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

17. Urn Christmas Tree

Urn Christmas Tree | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

18. DIY The halls

DIY The halls | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

19. White Christmas Tree

White Christmas Tree | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

20. Metal Christmas Tree Skirt

Metal Christmas Tree Skirt | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

21. French Farmhouse Christmas Tree

French Farmhouse Christmas Tree | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

22. DIY Christmas Tree Collar

DIY Christmas Tree Collar | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

23. Woodland Christmas

Woodland Christmas | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

24. Recycled Tire Christmas Tree Base

Recycled Tire Christmas Tree Base | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

25. How to decorate your Christmas tree beautifully and affordably

How to decorate your Christmas tree beautifully and affordably | Best Way to Decorate Christmas Trees on a Budget: Inexpensive or Free & Easy Holiday Ornaments & DecorationsSource

26. Scrooge-less reclaimed wood Christmas tree and star

Scrooge-less reclaimed wood Christmas tree and starSource

27. Wall mounted Christmas tree

Wall mounted Christmas treeSource

28. DIY Rosetta Tree

DIY Rosetta TreeSource

29. Christmas Paper Trees

Christmas Paper TreesSource

30. Vintage Sheet Music Christmas Tree

Vintage Sheet Music Christmas TreeSource

31. Foam Christmas Tree

Foam Christmas Tree

32. Ruler Christmas tree

Ruler Christmas tree

33. Christmas tree ornament mobile

Christmas tree ornament mobileSource

34. Burlap Christmas tree

Burlap Christmas treeSource

35. Trio of Trees Part Trio

Trio of Trees Part TrioSource

36. Rolled rosette Christmas tree craft

Rolled rosette Christmas tree craftSource

37. Pinecone tree

Pinecone treeSource

38. Stick Christmas tree

Stick Christmas treeSource

39. Christmas tree with spindles

Christmas tree made from spindlesSource

40. Christmas tree light

Source

41. DIY Wood Slice Christmas Trees

DIY wood slice Christmas treesSource

42. Make a Fun and Festive Space-Saving Christmas Tree

Make a Fun and Festive Space-Saving Christmas TreeSource

43. DIY Balsa Wood Christmas Tree

Christmas Trees Balsa WoodSource

44. DIY Alternative Christmas Tree

Source

45. Mini Christmas tree stand

46. Christmas pinecone tree

47. Golden tree

48. Christmas tree stand from old tractor grill

Source

49. Succulents and Christmas tree

Source

50. Large reindeer topper

Source

51-63. More Christmas trees

64. Christmas tree trends in 2019

Cheap Ideas for Decorating a Christmas Tree

Source: https://farmfoodfamily.com/christmas-tree-decorating-ideas-2/