Easy and inexpensive Christmas DIY ideas to create a cozy holiday home.

10 Easy and Inexpensive Christmas DIYs for a Cozy Holiday Home

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Create a cozy holiday home with these easy and inexpensive Christmas DIYs. 10 affordable decorating ideas that will make your home feel warm and inviting.

Holiday crafting on the kitchen island with a roll of twine and scissors to make easy Christmas DIYs.
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If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that some of the best Christmas decorations don’t come from the store.

They actually come from your own two hands.

Every holiday season, I pull out my craft supplies with the same intention, to keep things simple.

But somehow, what starts out as a few ideas quickly turns into an afternoon of crafting with our kitchen island covered in ribbon, twine, hot glue, and some dried fruit.

The thing is, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

There’s something about creating by hand that makes Christmas feel more meaningful whether it’s a homemade ornament for the tree or wrapping paper you designed yourself.

So, I thought I would share some of my favorite Christmas DIYs I’ve made through the years.

Every DIY project in this post is simple, budget-friendly, and most importantly, adds coziness to your home.

What You’ll Love About These Christmas Crafts

  • SIMPLE – These are easy projects that you can do in an afternoon. There are no complicated steps or fancy tools required.
  • AFFORDABLE – You probably have most of the supplies you’ll need for these DIYs in your home already. If not, the supplies are inexpensive to buy.
  • FAMILY FRIENDLY – Perfect for a quiet afternoon project with the kids, or a little creative time just for you (my personal fav).

10 Easy and Inexpensive Christmas DIYs You’ll Actually Want to Make for the Holidays

Not all DIYs are worth the mess, but I promise, these are!

Here are ten budget-friendly Christmas projects that are simple, beautiful, and guaranteed to spark holiday cheer.

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Gingerbread Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments

Gingerbread Christmas decoration for the Christmas tree.

These salt dough ornaments look like a gingerbread cookie, but they’ll last year after year.

Made with simple pantry ingredients, they’re easy to make (your house will smell amazing while they bake) and hang on the Christmas tree.

You can also tie them to gifts or string together as garland.

COZY TIP: You don’t need to use a wooden mold to make these ornaments like I did, cookie cutters work just as well. Use your favorite holiday shapes like gingerbread men, stars, or trees.

Dried Orange Garland

Christmas garland with dried oranges for the holidays.

This simple Christmas garland adds a natural, old fashioned charm to mantels, mirrors, shelves, and windows…plus it smells amazing!

To make, dry orange slices in the oven at a low temperature until they’re completely dehydrated, then thread them onto twine or string with a needle.

You can keep your garland simple like I did with just dried orange slices or you can mix in cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, or pine cones.

Sugar Cookie Hand Scrub

Christmas sugar cookie hand scrub in a small mason jar to moisturize your hands during the winter months.

I don’t know about you, but my hands take a beating during the holiday season between decorating, baking, and hand washing.

This sugar scrub is the sweetest way to give them some TLC.

All you need is sugar, coconut oil, vanilla, some festive nonpareil sprinkles.

It smells just like freshly baked cookies and leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth.

COZY TIP: Scoop the hand scrub into small mason jars and tie it with ribbon or baker’s twine to give as gifts.

Bottle Brush Tree Ornaments

Rustic DIY Christmas ornament on a farmhouse Christmas tree.

I love bottle brush trees so I’m always thinking of clever and unique ways to incorporate them into our holiday decorations.

For this DIY, I took small bottle brush trees, carefully cut off the wooden bases, and hot glued each one onto a candle clip that you can clip right onto your Christmas tree branches.

It’s literally the easiest project, but adds the sweetest vintage touch to your tree.

Feel free to mix and match different bottle brush tree colors and sizes to create your own unique ornaments.

I’m Heidi, the heart and hands behind Eleanor Rose Home.

Heidi and her dachshund rescue Eleanor Roosevelt.

I’ll show you that your home can become a place of warmth, comfort, and style with practical tips, creative ideas, and my own journey to help you create a space that feels like you…welcoming, personal, and full of charm.

Christmas Tree Scent Sticks

Make your own DIY Christmas tree scents sticks for your artificial tree with cinnamon sticks and essential oils.

I love our artificial Christmas tree, but I definitely miss the pine scent of a real one.

These handmade scent sticks are the perfect solution.

They’ll make your house smell like you just brought in a freshly cut fir with cinnamon sticks and essential oils.

Tuck them into your tree, wreaths, or garlands for an easy, all-natural way to bring that cozy, woodsy fragrance back into your holiday season.

DIY Wrapping Paper

DIY custom wrapping paper made with brown paper, stamps, and a white ink pad.

I think there’s something so satisfying about creating your own wrapping paper.

It makes even the simplest gift feel thoughtful and special.

Take a roll of plain brown kraft paper and decorate it using rubber stamps and white ink.

That’s it!

You can choose any stamps, colors, and patterns to match your style or holiday theme.

Air Dry Clay Star-Shaped Ornaments

DIY air dry clay Christmas ornaments for hanging on the Christmas tree.

These ornaments were inspired by a ceramic garland I bought at a craft last year.

I loved its simple look and wanted to recreate something similar for our Christmas tree without the need for any special supplies.

You can make these for your own home or give as a DIY Christmas gift.

Either way, air dry clay ornaments are a great way to add homemade charm to the holidays.

Christmas Potpourri

Homemade Christmas gift idea for hostess gifts or neighbor gifts.

There’s nothing better than the scent of Christmas.

This homemade potpourri is easy to make with just a few ingredients like dried oranges, dried apples, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, pinecones, and essential oils.

It’s beautiful, budget-friendly, and makes a thoughtful gift too.

A winter simmer pot is another great way to make your home smell like Christmas!

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Printable Holiday Artwork

Free christmas printable art on kitchen counter with a bowl of pomegranates with pitchers of wooden spoons.

Decorating for Christmas doesn’t have to be complicated (or expensive).

Printable art is one of the easiest ways to add holiday cheer to your home in minutes.

Just download, print, and pop it into a frame…instant Christmas decor!

You can style the printable artwork on shelves, entryways, or in your kitchen for a quick update.

Free vintage Santa Claus printable Christmas art.

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Email subscribers can skip downloading each printable one by one and grab the entire collection as a single PDF file inside my Freebie Library. If you’re not a subscriber you can…

Dried Orange Ornaments

Dried orange slice ornaments are the perfect addition to the Christmas tree.

Dried orange ornaments are one of those timeless Christmas crafts that never go out of style.

They add a natural warmth and subtle pop of color to your tree that feels classic and effortless.

All you need are a few oranges and some twine.

Thinly slice the oranges, dry them slowly in the oven, and once they’ve cooled, thread them to hang on your tree or tie onto gifts.

Christmas DIY Frequently Asked Questions

What are the easiest Christmas DIYs to start with?
Start with projects that use simple materials you probably already have at home like dried orange ornaments, DIY wrapping paper, or printable art. They’re beginner-friendly and instantly make your home feel festive.

How can I decorate for Christmas on a budget?
Focus on natural elements and handmade touches. Dried oranges, pine cones, greenery from your yard, and homemade ornaments can transform your home without spending much at all.

How far in advance should I start Christmas DIYs?
A good rule of thumb is to start in late November or early December so you can enjoy your creations all season long. But if you’re anything like me, crafting early always puts me in the holiday spirit.

What can I make for handmade Christmas gifts?
Try the sugar cookie hand scrub or Christmas potpourri. They’re easy to make in batches and smell amazing.

How do I make my Christmas DIYs look high-end?
Stick to a cohesive color scheme, use natural materials when possible, and don’t overdo it. Simple, well-made pieces always feel the most timeless and elevated.

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I look forward to sharing more of my home with you and inspiring you to enjoy simple cozy living!

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xoxo, Heidi

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4 Comments

  1. I am a subscriber, and I enjoy seeing all the things you make. I tried to look at the freebies and I can’t find the password. Could you help me find it? Thanks !

  2. You always have such great ideas! I made some of the orange slices the other day, and they are beautiful. Thanks for always sharing!

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