Embrace festivity on a budget with DIY Christmas decorations. Why splash out on expensive products when you can make them at home?
We've got 24 fun and cheap Christmas decoration ideas for you, with a focus on sustainability. You'll find many of these are natural Christmas decorations, so you can save your pennies and the planet.
DIY decorations can also be fun and creative Christmas crafts, especially if you have kids.
From choosing a tree responsibly and making your own baubles to discovering the best green brands, let's dive into our favourite Christmas decoration ideas.
Recurring materials
Sustainable Christmas decorations are often made of natural materials, so before you get started, here’s a quick list of common items we’ll be suggesting:
Forage: pine cones, evergreen foliage, berries, rosehip, holly, eucalyptus, flowers, herbs
Upcycle: glass jars, paper, fabric, old Christmas cards, wire coathangers
Buy: oranges, cinnamon sticks, ribbon, coloured string, twine
Hanging decorations
There are lots of homemade Christmas decorations for your house and your tree that are charming and eco-friendly. Here are some of our favourites, with purchase alternatives if you’re not too crafty.
1. Bunting
Bunting is a classic homemade Christmas decor, as it doesn't need to be perfect to look good. Gather up old fabric or clothing, or pick some up at your local craft supplies store or haberdashery. You can opt for festive patterns or simply stick to plain reds and greens.
Recycled & handmade bunting: Paper High, Natural Collection, Etsy, Oxfam Online Shop, &Keep
2. Pine cone garland
Hang a string of pine cones from your fireplace or around your tree for a cheap and easy piece of home decor. Collect pine cones for free in your garden or local park, which you can hang early for an autumnal decoration.
3. Dried orange slices
To create dried orange slices, you need to bake them in the oven for a while, so it makes sense to make a couple of trays’ worth for energy efficiency. A dried orange garland looks great hung as Christmas ornaments hanging from your tree or strung together as a garland from your fireplace.
4. Knit your own
If you love to knit or crochet, combine your hobby and your decorating for some homemade hangings. These can be as simple or complex as you like, from baubles and stars to stockings and snowmen figures.
Yarn supplies: Hobbycraft
Buy it new: Sourced by Oxfam collection, &Keep, Natural Collection, Ethical Superstore
Get £15 cashback for joining TopCashback
We secured this exclusive offer, but our content stays unbiased.
Spend £15+ at Paper High, Natural Collection, Nkuku or any of 5,000+ brands to get £15 back
It's really simple: our site takes just 30 seconds when you buy online.
You do the shopping, we'll track your purchase, and then you'll get cashback in your account to withdraw to your bank or as a gift card.
Here's how to get your £15 offer;
- Click: Click the green button
- Join: Create an account
- Shop: Browse brands on our site
- Buy: Click Get Cashback then make a purchase
- Enjoy: We'll add £15 to your account once we track your purchase
How does TopCashback benefit? We make money when you buy from supported brands, which allows us to offer cashback with no hidden fees.
5. Bake your own
Budding bakers can make cheap Christmas decorations from the comfort of their kitchen. Create Christmassy shapes using salt dough (plain flour, table salt, water) then paint once cooled.
Make sure to add a little hole at the top before they’ve set so you can loop through some twine to hang from your tree or wherever you like.
You might also like: 2024 Christmas savings schemes in a nutshell
6. Upcycle old cards
If you’ve kept old Christmas cards from past years, you can cut out designs from the front and add some string. Hang from your tree, mantlepiece, or wherever you want for super simple and cheap hanging decorations.
Becca at TopCashback makes her own Christmas decorations:
"For the past couple of years, I've made my own plastic-free Christmas decorations using wooden slices, acrylic paints and velvet ribbon. This is a particularly nice crafty activity to try out if you like making small, intricate things like I do.
Not only will these be a nice addition to my Christmas tree, but I'm also planning to gift them to friends and family. This means I'm saving money while also giving a more heartfelt gift."
7. Origami stars
Origami stars are easy paper Christmas decorations to make, especially with children. Gather your old newspapers, magazines, wrapping paper, paper bags, and random scraps for an afternoon of crafting. Once you’ve made your stars, paint them how you like or leave them as is.
Make them: YouTube tutorial
Buy it new: Etsy
8. String lights
LED Christmas lights might be more expensive upfront, but they’re cheaper over time as they last 25 time longer than halogen bulbs and 40 times longer than incandescent. You’ll also save on electricity as they use less energy [around 2p per hour for a 6W bulb]. They’re a simple way to brighten up your tree or home, and you can buy them almost anywhere, both online and at supermarkets.
9. Cinnamon stick bundles
Add a piece of string or twine to create small bundles of cinnamon sticks. These are simple natural Christmas decorations for your tree which look great and add a subtle seasonal smell to your home.
Room & table decorations
We’ve got lots more homemade Christmas decorations so you can adorn tables, mantelpieces, bannisters, and windowsills on a budget.
10. DIY candle jars
Glass jars are so useful and multifunctional, especially for Christmas crafts. Empty wine bottles also make great holders for taper candles.
Make sure your jars are de-labelled and cleaned up, then pop in a candle and add some simple decorations like twine, ribbon, bows, cinnamon sticks, or whatever you’d like. If there’s a particularly stubborn label residue, you can even hide it with some thick fabric tied around the jar.
11. Reusable advent calendar
A traditional advent calendar made from fabric can be anjoyed year after year. If you’re feeling particularly inspired, you can make your own, or pick up handmade (and even personalised) ones online. They don’t have to be fabric either, as there are plenty of wooden alternatives. Add your own treats to each of the pockets or drawers for an easy, plastic-free, and pretty decoration.
Filling suggestions: foil-wrapped chocolates, home-baked goods, mini cosmetics, seed packets.
You might also like: 31 sustainable gifts for eco-conscious people in your life
12. Natural DIY garlands
Evergreen foliage makes a great addition along your mantlepiece or tied to your bannister for an easy DIY garland. You can also use sprigs of eucalyptus then add in some well-placed pine cones, dried cranberries, and whatever you fancy for a pop of colour.
You can forage for most of these items then prep them at home, or ask your local florist for supplies or offcuts.
13. Table centrepieces
If you have managed to pick up some offcuts from your florist or your foraging activities, use the leftovers for easy centrepieces. A simple few sprigs of eucalyptus, pampas grass, or dried cranberries in a vase or wine bottle can look very pretty.
14. Raid local charity shops
Charity shops start their Christmas displays early and their stock is often changing with fresh donations. Head to your local ones from October onwards to pick up old Christmas decorations. Give a new life to an old plastic decoration (which is always better than buying new) or pick up things like vases, boxes, ribbons, pretty bowls, candles, and candlesticks.
15. Ask family members
People store old Christmas decorations for years without throwing them out. Ask around your friends and family to see if there’s any taking up space in their loft they’ve been meaning to get rid of. You never know what vintage treasure you might find.
Christmas wreaths
Christmas wreaths can get quite expensive, so if you’re looking for cheap alternatives, we’ve got you covered.
16. Make your own
The great thing about making your own Christmas wreath is that you don’t have to be too precise or neat and you can get really creative.
Buy a wreath base or make your own from branches and sticks or wire from an old coathanger.
Add in the same natural elements like berries, flowers, herbs, dried orange slices, and fabric scraps for more texture and colour. Use twine, ribbon, or more wire to keep everything secured together.
You can get as creative as you want here; other ideas include wreaths made entirely of paper baubles, dried hydrangeas, burlap, and half-wreaths.
Wreath base: Hobbycraft, Etsy
17. Attend a wreath-making class
Support local florists and sign up for a wreath-making class. Not only will you come away with a professionally-guided wreath, but the experience can double up as a Christmas present. Invite along someone you’ll know who will enjoy it and treat them to a wreath-crafting afternoon together.
18. Wreath alternatives
You can buy Christmas wreaths made from materials like paper, metal, and fabric for a reusable alternative. They’re about the same price as a floral or traditional wreath, so it’s a sustainable and money-saving alternative you can enjoy year after year.
Brands we love: Nkuku, Paper High, Natural Collection
Christmas crackers
Regular Christmas crackers are for one-time use and contain lots of bits of plastic that are not so planet-friendly. Swap out throwaway options and embrace reusable or recyclable ones this year.
19. Reusable
Reusable Christmas crackers can be made from fabric or cleverly constructed cardboard. They are pricier than the options you’ll find in supermarkets, but work out cheaper when you factor in their lifespan.
It’s up to you to add the little gifts inside, which can be things like foil-wrapped chocolates, seed packets, home-baked goods, sewing kits, hair accessories, and mini cosmetics. Use scrap paper to add your own jokes, riddles, and paper hats.
Fabric crackers have no pulling and snapping action; instead, you untie the ribbon to reveal the gifts inside. Cardboard crackers can be pulled apart and come with snaps that can be recycled or composted. You can buy replacement packs of snaps.
Brands we love: &Keep, Not On The High Street, Etsy
20. Plastic-free
Plastic-free Christmas crackers are much more easily found, even at your local supermarket. Brands like to make it clear on the packaging if it’s plastic-free and 100% recyclable, so these are very accessible alternatives. You can pick these up at Mark & Spencer, Asda, Tesco, and Sainsbury's.
21. Homemade
Sustainable Christmas crackers are surprisingly easy to make at home, mostly using simple supplies you already have. You’ll need paper (kraft, wallpaper or wrapping paper scraps), cardboard tubes (toilet roll holders), ribbon or string, snaps, and some craft equipment like scissors and glue.
Short on time? You can pick up a DIY cracker kit with all the items you need included. Then all you need to do is add your own fillings.
Buy a kit: &Keep, The Cracker Company, Hobbycraft, Etsy
Cracker snap replacements: &Keep
Check out our sustainable gift guide which includes a section on eco-friendly wrapping options.
What kind of Christmas tree is best?
Lastly, some tips on what kind of Christmas tree you should buy. Real versus fake: which is more eco-friendly? It’s not quite as straightforward as you might imagine.
Artificial trees
As the saying goes, the most sustainable item is the one you already own. So even if you own something that’s made of cheap plastic, it’s better to keep that than buy something new. Got a fake tree that still has plenty of life in it? That’s your greenest (and cheapest) option.
Buying a new artificial tree is not all that kind to the environment. Even though they are reusable, they are made from chemicals and plastics that emit harmful dioxins when produced. Most artificial Christmas trees are shipped from China, which means huge amounts of carbon emissions,.
Real trees
Real Christmas trees are usually grown on Christmas tree farms, so you don’t have to worry about harming forests. Choose a local one to collect and you’re cutting out a large amount of transport emissions. You’ll also be supporting local businesses whose employees work all year.
For every tree that’s harvested, a new one is planted. In the time it takes to grow to its full height – about 10 years – it’s soaking up carbon, emitting oxygen, and providing habitat for wildlife.
Once it’s reached the end of its life, you can recycle your tree by registering with your local council collection service. If your council doesn’t offer one, try reaching out to charities that offer collection services for a small donation. Real Christmas trees are then shredded and turned into soil, chippings, compost, and mulch for use in parklands nationwide.
So in a nutshell, the most sustainable Christmas tree is usually a real one.
Get £15 cashback
Save money at 5,000+ top-named brands
22. Grow your own
If you’re somewhat green-fingered, you could plant and grow your own. This is only recommended if you plan to stay in your house for years to come as trees don’t grow fast. But you can keep it in your front garden and start decorating at any height you like, and you’ll save £££s every year.
Alternatively, you can buy a potted Christmas tree that still has its roots. Keep it outside year-round (bringing it in for Christmas), and re-pot it as it grows. Once it’s too large for inside your home, plant it in a permanent spot in your garden.
23. Rent a Christmas tree
Keep a Christmas tree alive by renting one every year. Renting a Christmas tree is about the same as buying a real one in terms of budget, but the price will include delivery and collection.
Rental trees are best when under 5ft for them to be kept alive after the festive season. The smaller the tree, the more budget-friendly it is, so you can opt for a 2ft–3ft one for a price range of around £40–£70 including the deposit.
24. Christmas tree alternatives
DIY Christmas trees? It can be done! The triangular shape of Christmas trees means it’s fairly simple to recreate your own from almost anything: a stack of books, upcycled fabric, pieces of wood, corks, and even string lights. Many of these options can even be hung from a wall for a space-saving option.
If you’re not that crafty, you can buy handmade Christmas trees from people who are. Explore options on marketplaces like Etsy and Not On The High Street to buy from independent businesses. You’ll find they’re usually quite a lot cheaper than a real tree, and a more sustainable option for one you can reuse every year.
Bonus money-saving tip: Green Cashback
We have a dedicated section of our site for eco-friendly brands where you shop for sustainable stuff. Many of the brands we’ve mentioned like Nkuku, Natural Collection, and Paper High are on there, meaning you can earn money when you purchase from them after being redirected from us.
You can find many more than the brands we’ve mentioned, covering categories like Health & Beauty, Food & Drink, and Gifts. All of our Green Cashback brands are vetted using the Ethical Consumer database and guidelines – no greenwashing here!
So how does cashback work? Think of us as a connection between you and the retailer. We recommend a retailer, you click on our referral link, buy something from the retailer, and we get a little commission for sending you. Instead of keeping the commission, we give it all to you – this is your cashback.
Your cashback goes to your account where it takes a little time to be confirmed, then you can withdraw it. In the meantime, you can shop and earn cashback at other brands to let your stash build up a little. Did we mention it’s free?
Example: If we offer 12% cashback for Paper High and you click through and spend £30, you’ll get £3.60 in your cashback account for free.
Get £15 cashback
Save money at 5,000+ top-named brands
Sleigh the waste
We hope this guide has inspired you with all sorts of fun, easy, and cheap Christmas decorations to try this year. Here’s a quick rundown of the main points to keep in mind:
Get creative and crafty: if you can’t find what you want for the price you want, make it yourself!
Use what you have: have a dig around in your loft, keep hold of useful materials, and sift through your recycling.
Raid charity shops: from pre-loved decorations to simple vases and bowls, they’re a treasure trove of Christmas items.
Go foraging: some of the best materials are natural ones, so take a stroll in your garden, local park, or wooded area for freebies.
Ask family members: discover retro ornaments and give new life to unused decorations hidden away.
What are some of your favourite DIY Christmas decorations? Let us know in the comments below what homemade creations you’ve started as your seasonal practice.