8 DIY Dollar Store Christmas Decorations Every Home Needs

Christmas decorating does not have to mean spending hundreds of dollars.

If you love a festive home but also want to keep your holiday budget under control, the dollar store can be a great place to start. 

With a few inexpensive supplies, some ribbon, faux greenery, ornaments, jars, and a little creativity, you can make decorations that look much more expensive than they actually are.

The best part? You do not need to be an expert crafter.

Most of these projects are simple enough to finish in an afternoon. You can also change the colors to match your existing Christmas decorations. Think classic red and green, elegant gold and white, cozy buffalo plaid, or a simple neutral Christmas theme.

Dollar-store Christmas decorating is also popular because basic items such as ornaments, wreath forms, mason jars, faux greenery, ribbon, mini trees, and LED lights can be turned into completely different decorations. 

So, if you are ready to make your home feel festive without blowing your Christmas budget, here are eight ideas worth trying.

1. DIY Christmas Ornament Wreath

A Christmas wreath is one of the first things people notice when they walk up to your home. You can make yours look full and festive without buying an expensive premade wreath.

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Start with a simple foam, wire, or grapevine wreath form. Add inexpensive Christmas ball ornaments in two or three coordinating colors.

Red and gold look traditional. Silver and white create a wintery feel. Green, red, and gold work beautifully if you want something classic.

What you need

• Wreath form
• Plastic Christmas ornaments
• Faux greenery
• Ribbon
• Small Christmas picks
• Hot glue
• Scissors

Arrange the larger ornaments around the wreath first. Then fill the empty spaces with smaller ornaments, greenery, berries, and ribbon.

Do not worry about making everything perfectly symmetrical. A little variation makes the wreath look fuller and more handmade.

One helpful trick is to use ornaments in different finishes. Combine shiny, matte, and glittery balls instead of using only one type.

Dollar-store wreath projects commonly use inexpensive ornaments, garland, ribbon, faux flowers, and wreath forms, so you can easily adjust the design to whatever your local store has available. 

Hang it on your front door, above the fireplace, or even inside your home above a console table.

Learn how to Christmas Wreath using local materials.

2. Frosted Mason Jar Christmas Lanterns

This is one of those projects that looks surprisingly pretty once the lights are turned on.

You can transform inexpensive glass jars into frosted Christmas lanterns using glue, Epsom salt, ribbon, greenery, and flameless LED candles.

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What you need

• Mason jars or clear glass jars
• White glue or Mod Podge
• Epsom salt
• Faux greenery
• Christmas ribbon
• Twine
• Flameless LED tea lights

Brush a thin layer of glue around the outside of the jar. Sprinkle Epsom salt over the glue while it is still wet.

Allow the jar to dry completely.

Then add a small piece of faux greenery and ribbon around the top.

Place a flameless LED tea light inside.

That is it.

The finished jar gives you that soft, snowy Christmas look without much effort. Similar dollar-store projects use Epsom salt, greenery, twine, and flameless tea lights to create holiday lanterns for tables, mantels, and porches. 

You can make three or five jars and arrange them together for a beautiful centerpiece.

Tip: Use flameless candles rather than open flames inside decorated jars.

3. DIY Christmas Mason Jar Snow Globe

If you want a Christmas decoration that looks cute on a mantel, bookshelf, kitchen counter, or entryway table, try a mini snow globe.

You do not need a traditional glass snow globe. A regular clear jar works beautifully.

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What you need

• Clear jar with a lid
• Mini Christmas tree
• Small Christmas figurine
• Faux snow or Epsom salt
• Ribbon
• Hot glue
• Small faux greenery

Glue a miniature tree or Christmas figure to the inside of the jar lid.

Pour some faux snow or Epsom salt into the jar.

Carefully screw the lid back on and turn the jar upside down.

Now you have a tiny winter scene.

For an even prettier display, make several jars using different little trees, snowmen, houses, or deer.

This idea is especially good if you have limited space. You get the look of a Christmas village without needing a large display.

A similar dollar-store tutorial uses jars, bottle-brush trees, small decorative houses, hot glue, and salt or Epsom salt to create miniature snowy scenes. 

Check out these cozy Christmas front porch decor ideas that don’t cost much.

4. DIY Christmas Tree Garland With Ornaments

Your mantel, staircase, dining table, or entryway can look completely different with one simple garland.

Instead of buying an expensive decorative garland, start with inexpensive faux pine garland.

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Then make it your own.

Add Christmas ornaments, ribbon, pinecones, bells, berries, and small bows.

For a classic look, use red ornaments with green greenery and a few gold accents.

For something softer, try white ornaments, silver ribbon, and frosted greenery.

You can also make an ornament garland from individual plastic ornaments and twine or string. Similar DIY projects use inexpensive ornaments and twine to create decorative garlands for trees, mantels, and windows. 

Easy styling idea

Place the garland across your mantel and let a few sections hang slightly lower.

Then tuck in ornaments and ribbon throughout.

The trick is not to cover every inch. Leave some greenery visible so the decoration does not look too crowded.

You can also use the same garland down the center of your dining table.

Add three mason jar lanterns from the previous project and you have an easy Christmas centerpiece.

5. DIY Christmas Candle Holder Centerpiece

Christmas candles instantly make a room feel warmer and cozier.

You can create a beautiful centerpiece with inexpensive glass candle holders, greenery, ornaments, and ribbon.

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Start with two or three clear glass candle holders.

Arrange them on a tray or long plate.

Add faux pine branches around the base. Then add a few red berries, pinecones, small ornaments, or Christmas picks.

Place flameless candles in the holders.

For a more elegant look, stick with gold, white, and greenery.

For a farmhouse Christmas feel, add burlap or buffalo plaid ribbon.

For a traditional Christmas table, use red berries and green pine branches.

The great thing about this project is that you can use the same pieces separately after Christmas. That makes your inexpensive decorations more useful instead of being something you only bring out once a year.

6. DIY Christmas Present Boxes for Your Porch

Want something bigger for your front porch?

Make oversized decorative presents.

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This is such a fun way to make your porch look festive without buying large outdoor decorations.

Use empty cardboard boxes in different sizes. Wrap them with inexpensive Christmas wrapping paper.

Then add wide ribbon around each box.

You can stack two or three boxes together to create a small present tower.

For outdoor use, protect the boxes from rain and snow, or place them in a covered area. You can also use plastic containers or lightweight foam boxes if you want something more durable.

Add a large bow to the top.

For a classic look, use red wrapping paper with gold ribbon.

For a farmhouse look, try kraft paper with black-and-white buffalo plaid ribbon.

You can also place the finished presents beside a Christmas wreath, small tree, or planter on your porch.

This is an especially good project if you want your front entrance to look decorated from a distance.

7. DIY Christmas Ornament Tree

You do not always need a traditional Christmas tree to create a festive display.

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A small ornament tree is perfect for a kitchen counter, coffee table, bathroom shelf, bedroom dresser, or entryway.

You can make one using a foam cone, small faux greenery, or even a simple decorative tree form.

Cover the shape with ornaments, ribbon, and small Christmas picks.

Use one color for a clean and elegant look.

For example:

All gold: glamorous and warm.

Red and green: traditional and cheerful.

White and silver: snowy and elegant.

Red and black: cozy and modern.

If you have several small trees, create a little Christmas forest on a console table.

Add a few pinecones and battery-operated lights around the base.

This is also a great way to use leftover ornaments that do not fit on your main Christmas tree.

Check out these cozy Christmas Wreath ideas for Front Door you will in many homes this Holiday.

8. DIY Christmas Picture Frame Decor

This might be the easiest project on the list.

Pick up an inexpensive picture frame and turn it into Christmas wall decor.

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You can remove the glass and place Christmas scrapbook paper, fabric, wrapping paper, or a simple holiday message inside.

Then decorate the frame with faux greenery, miniature ornaments, bells, pinecones, or a ribbon bow.

Another idea is to place one large Christmas ornament in the middle of the frame.

You could also create a simple sign that says:

Merry Christmas

Joy

Believe

Let It Snow

Make three matching frames and hang them together.

They can go above a console table, on a gallery wall, near the fireplace, or even in your kitchen.

If you want a coordinated look, use the same ribbon and greenery on all three frames.

This is one of those projects where inexpensive materials can look much more polished when you keep the color palette simple.

How to Make Dollar Store Christmas Decor Look More Expensive

The secret is not buying more.

It is styling better.

Here are a few simple tricks that can make inexpensive decorations look beautiful.

Stick to two or three colors

Do not use every Christmas color at once.

Choose a palette such as:

• Red, green, and gold
• White, silver, and green
• Cream, gold, and brown
• Red, black, and white
• Navy, silver, and white

A consistent color palette makes different inexpensive pieces look like they belong together.

Add ribbon

Ribbon can completely change a basic decoration.

Wrap it around jars. Add it to wreaths. Tie it around greenery. Put bows on Christmas trees.

A beautiful ribbon can make a very simple project look finished.

Mix textures

Combine shiny ornaments with matte ornaments.

Add soft ribbon to rough pinecones.

Mix glass jars with faux greenery.

These little contrasts make your decorations more interesting.

Do not overcrowd your displays

This is important.

You do not need to fill every surface in your home.

Choose a few areas and decorate them well.

A beautiful mantel, front door, dining table, and entryway can be enough to make your whole home feel ready for Christmas.

Also remember that dollar-store inventory and prices can vary by store and season, so treat these projects as flexible ideas rather than exact shopping lists. 

Final Thoughts

You do not need a huge Christmas decorating budget to make your home feel warm and festive.

A few inexpensive supplies can go a long way when you combine them thoughtfully.

Start with one project. Maybe the ornament wreath. Or the frosted mason jar lanterns.

Then look around your home and see where you can repeat the same colors, ribbon, greenery, or ornaments.

That is how you create a Christmas home that feels coordinated without spending a fortune.

And honestly, there is something special about looking around your home during the holidays and knowing that you made some of the decorations yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some easy DIY Christmas decorations from the dollar store?

Some of the easiest projects include ornament wreaths, mason jar lanterns, Christmas garlands, ornament trees, framed Christmas signs, and simple candle centerpieces. Most require only a few basic supplies and simple assembly.

How can I make dollar-store Christmas decorations look expensive?

Use a consistent color palette, quality-looking ribbon, faux greenery, and a combination of different textures. Avoid overcrowding your displays. 

Grouping several simple decorations together can also make them look more intentional.

What can I make with mason jars for Christmas?

Mason jars can become frosted lanterns, miniature Christmas snow scenes, candle holders, centerpieces, or small Christmas gift displays. 

Adding greenery, ribbon, faux snow, and LED candles can quickly give them a holiday look. 

 What are the best dollar-store supplies for Christmas DIYs?

Look for Christmas ornaments, wreath forms, faux greenery, ribbon, mason jars, glass candle holders, mini trees, pinecones, Christmas picks, picture frames, and LED candles. These basic items can be used for many different projects. 

 How can I decorate my house for Christmas on a budget?

Choose a few high-impact areas instead of trying to decorate every room. Focus on the front door, mantel, dining table, entryway, and main living space. 

Then use inexpensive DIY decorations and repeat the same colors throughout the home for a coordinated look.