Holiday Decorating and Entertaining on a Budget

I love a good bargain, absolutely love it.  I love the thrill of the search and the satisfaction that comes with a good find.  I can spend hours in a store looking top to bottom for the best deals or hours in multiple stores pulling together what I need for that low price.  When it comes to event (and holiday) decor on a budget, my time as a nonprofit events manager has definitely taught me a thing or two...

1. The Dollar Tree, the 99 Cents Only Store and other dollar stores are your friends.  I routinely trust these stores to turn up great decorating and entertaining items such as chargers, candles, candle holders, fillers such as river rock or glass beads, frames and much more!  With the holiday season, trust in these stores to bring out some great holiday decorating and entertaining finds.  I've purchased chargers with holiday-themed china, ornaments, candles and candle holders, ribbon, garland, gift wrap, holiday cards, cookie platters, and much more for my holiday needs.  An easy and inexpensive decorating tip: pick up ornaments (these stores typically have a great selection) and fill a vase or bowl you already have on hand.  Set a few candles around it and you've got yourself a centerpiece!  

Photo courtesy of The eBay Classifieds Blog: Home and Garden

2. Be sure to stop in some of your favorite discount clothing retailers for your decorating and entertaining needs: Ross, Marshalls and TJ Maxx.

3. Other locations I've always trusted for inexpensive decorating and entertaining finds: Ikea and Tuesday Morning.  From my perspective, Tuesday Morning tends to be a bit more on the expensive side (in comparison), but you can find some great items there.  It just may not be the place to buy in larger quantities.  On the flip side, Ikea is the place to buy in bulk.   Prior to hosting a large event, Ikea would often be my go-to spot for items needed in large quantities.  The great thing about it is you can stock up on vases, candles (and much more) for a low price and then reuse them for many events to come.  Also consider Ikea for holiday gift giving.  It is my favorite place to create gift baskets.  Giving someone a nice bottle of wine?  Visit Ikea for the accompanying wine glasses and other fun products.  Decorating tip: purchase vases of varying sizes and floating candles in bulk from Ikea, fill them with cranberries (purchased at your local grocery store) and water.  Float the candles and viola, you've got centerpieces galore!  This can also be done with votive or pillar candles, no water.

Photo courtesy of www.thegardenerseden.com

Photo courtesy of www.designedtothenines.com

4. Be sure to have a hot glue gun and Mod Podge on hand! 


When things are done on a restricted basis, often the creative need to amplify the creativity and turn on the resourcefulness.  I've always found this process to be fun - it poses a challenge: where can I get the most for my money? and how can I create something that gives the impression it came from a Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn when in reality, it is a dollar store project?  The bottom line is that holiday decorating and entertaining does not need to cost you a fortune.  


Here are a few links that share additional tips on holiday decorating and entertaining on a budget:

Food, Wine and Mod Podge: Christmas Decorating on a Budget

The Budget Decorator: Holiday Decorating on a Budget

The Decorating Diva: Holiday Decorating on a Budget 

Enjoy this wonderful holiday season!

Kate Sepe joins Let's Party Magazine.com as the Event Trends Blogger with a background in nonprofit event planning and management. Kate is currently a Special Events Manager with the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona. Kate is a board member with the International Special Events Society (ISES) of Arizona. She expresses a true love and passion for the event industry and is thankful for the opportunity to share unique ideas and popular trends with readers.