Sweet and simple: How to save on Christmas decor

If you’re a super-on-the-ball person, or even a regular person, you’ve probably gotten your house decorated for Christmas already, or had it that way since the day after Thanksgiving when you were done with your Black Friday shopping.

Your inflatable lawn ornaments are inflated, your outdoor lights are flashing on and off to the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, you’ve choreographed and shot video of your Christmas Jammies rap and your gifts are purchased, wrapped and sitting under the tree.

If you’re me, you’ve done none of those things. At least we have an empty corner of the living room reserved for a tree that has not yet been chosen or purchased (but that’s another story for another time).

Fear not, fellow procrastinators! I bring you good tidings of great joy in the form of tips to save money on decor this year. Or next.

I have many fond memories of decorating the house for Christmas, when Mom would pop open the old trunk in her room that held treasures we only got to handle once a year: The window clings whose scenes my brother and I would rearrange in order to irk one another; the light-up plastic Santa that for some reason was always placed in an inconspicuous corner of the living room; countless other trinkets and baubles that each held a special place in our home and in our hearts.

Now I am Mom, and instead of a pretty trunk, our Christmas decor occupies at least an eighth of our small basement. Every year I try to whittle it down, and every year it fights back. If we set it all out, it would look like the Mount Vesuvius of Christmas erupted in our living room, and it would be Valentine’s Day before I could take it all down.

Because that never happens anyway. Ahem.

If you’re searching for a bit of inspiration for decorating this year or feeling overwhelmed by the stash in your own basement or attic, here are a few suggestions for no-frills decor that will have you feeling festive in no time:

1. Keep it simple. Sometimes less is more. When your mantle is overrun with nutcrackers competing for space with the Three Wise Men while Santa looks on, it’s hard to choose where to focus. With a garland, poinsettia and one of the three aforementioned characters (counting the Wise Men as a unit), the scene should be much less distracting.

2. Use the outdoors. My favorite tools for decorating are outdoorsy things and old books. Use the former to your advantage this Christmas by going for a pine cone hunt or snipping a few evergreen boughs from your backyard — or a neighbor’s, provided you ask permission. These are not only natural and pretty, you can classify them as generic “winter decor” and get away with displaying them until Valentine’s Day.

Not that I would ever do that. Ahem.

3. Use what you already have. Not unlike the item above, scour your closets or usual decor stash for things you can make festive. Arrange a few pretty ornaments (the bulb variety) in a glass vase; set out candlesticks with red, green or gold candles; add a strand of lights to anything and -- ba-da-boom! -- Christmas.

4. Think like a kid. When I was young, my brother and I would make red and green paper chains to count down the days until Christmas. They served not only as a visual reminder of our anticipation, but also as decorations. Even if you don’t tear off a link every night (which would sort of defeat the purpose), you could make a chain of your own to drape across your mantle. Check Pinterest for creative uses for Christmas cards — hang them on ribbons, string them across the mantle, turn them into ornaments.

5. Go decor shopping after Christmas. Your presents are unwrapped; new toys and gadgets are scattered throughout the living room; you’ve just finished breathing a sigh of relief (with a tinge of sadness) because another Christmas is past.

Know what it’s time for? After-Christmas shopping! Scan the ads and scour the deals for wreaths, swags, ornaments and wrapping paper that can occupy your eighth-of-a-basement for 350-something days. That way, come Thanksgiving next year, you’ll feel totally prepared.

Now that you’ve got a bit of inspiration, head out on that pinecone hunt. Perhaps we’ll bump into one another along the way.

If you have insight about a frugal living topic or an idea for a future column, please email me at amroy@nncogannett.com. I’d love to hear from you!

Happy saving,

Abbey