When I was at Deseret Industries the other day, the man behind me in the checkout line said, “Wow! I never thought to buy Christmas stuff here before! You found some cool things!”
This man joined the ranks of those who know that shopping at thrift stores is one of the best ways to save money on Christmas decor. Here are a few of the best Christmas decorations to look for and how to spruce them up with some holiday cheer.
Start with the basics. Christmas trees can be one of the most expensive holiday decorations, but you can find them at thrift stores for low prices. Check out my find!
Christmas picks and greenery can be put together in amazing combinations to deck the halls of your home inside as well as your wonderland outside. You can find all sorts of beautiful greenery and picks at thrift stores.
What you need to make something like this:
Arrange the poinsettias and pine branches in the watering can. You can use different-sized branches to add variety and even spray-paint the watering can a holiday color.
You can also make Christmas garlands using thrifted greenery and branches.
What you need to make something like this:
Don’t let a dated floral arrangement fool you. With some rearranging, adding, and subtracting, you can create something modern and beautiful.
What you need to make something like this:
My favorite things to look for at DI are vintage items I can repurpose or use in unexpected ways.
Last year, I bought a pair of white ice skates for a few dollars, and the decoration I made with them is one of my favorite for the wintertime.
What you need to make something like this:
There are all kinds of neat vintage items you can find at thrift stores, and the decoration possibilities are endless.
I've purchased a lot of Christmas ribbon at DI through the years. This sparkly green ribbon was used to decorate both my mantelpiece and my Christmas tree.
Extra ribbon? Use it to wrap presents or save it for next year!
Thrift stores have lots of wooden holiday crafts, both finished and unfinished. Sometimes the finished wooden crafts might seem a bit dated, but a fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference.
Keep an open mind!
Cute Christmas dishes are fun to display in a china hutch or on open kitchen shelves.
Thrift-store candleholders can make a beautiful centerpiece for a Christmas Eve dinner. They are an inexpensive way to make the night even more memorable and special.
What you need to make something like this:
Arrange the items together any way you like!
Sweaters and clothes can become fun decorative items. You can also buy thrifted pillow forms and make new covers for them.
It’s totally possible to decorate your home for the holidays with thrifted items. All it takes is a little creativity, a lot of Christmas spirit, and a few trips to DI!
Jennifer Voelkel is a craft maven, savvy shopper, and DIY pro who blogs at The Craft Patch. When she’s not blogging or dreaming up her next project, Jennifer can be found gardening, running, reading, teaching music lessons, or playing kickball with her three kids.