7 Areas You Can Save On Without Sacrificing the Look

It’s easy to feel like you have to spend big to have a pretty home at Christmas, but most of the “wow” comes from a few smart choices repeated around the house—not from expensive everything. There are places where cutting corners will show and places where nobody will notice.

Here are some spots where you can spend less and still have the house people comment on in a good way.

Throw pillows and blankets

You do not need new pillows every year. What you actually need are pillow covers. They’re cheaper, easier to store, and still change the whole look of a room. Slip them over inserts you already have and suddenly your everyday couch fits the season.

Same with blankets: pull out throws you already own in deeper, warmer colors and layer them on chairs, beds, and benches. You get that winter feel with zero spending, or maybe just one new cover instead of a whole stack.

Greenery and stems

Real greenery can get pricey if you’re buying multiple bundles. You can save a lot using clippings from your own yard—pine, cedar, boxwood, magnolia—or trading with a neighbor who has different trees. Tuck them into basic vases, pitchers, or jars you already own.

For faux, skip specialty pieces with lots of built-in decor and go for simple garlands and stems. Plain greenery is easier to reuse and dress up with ribbon or pinecones each year, which stretches your dollars.

Candles and candleholders

You don’t need the fancy $40 candle in every room. One or two nicer scented candles for the main living areas is plenty. Everywhere else, use unscented candles or LED candles in holders you already have. The glow is what people notice, not the label.

Save on candleholders by reusing clear jars, old glassware, or thrifted pieces. A group of simple glass holders can look expensive when you use them together and keep the rest of the surface clean.

Gift wrap and ribbons

Designer wrap is pretty, but it gets ripped off in seconds. Plain kraft paper or solid-color rolls are much cheaper and actually look more pulled together when you add your own touches. Use simple twine or one roll of ribbon for all your gifts.

Create variety with tags, greenery sprigs, or a favorite stamp. You get that “coordinated under the tree” look without three different $8 rolls that never get finished.

Table decor and place settings

Fancy place settings are nice, but most guests remember warm food and comfortable chairs. You can save by using your everyday plates and flatware, then dressing the table with things you already own: a runner, a couple of candles, and a simple centerpiece.

Instead of buying holiday-specific chargers, napkin rings, and glassware, pick one element to upgrade—cloth napkins, a neutral runner, or a nicer serving bowl. That one swap delivers the look without rebuilding the whole table from scratch.

Holiday-specific dishes and mugs

It’s fun to have a few Christmas mugs. It’s less fun to try to store twenty. Holiday dishes take up a lot of space and only come out for a few weeks. Spending big here is almost never worth it.

Keep everyday white or neutral dishes as your base and add a small set of seasonal dessert plates or mugs if you really want them. They’ll still feel special, but you won’t be spending and storing multiples of everything you already own.

Seasonal wall art

Buying framed prints, signs, and big wall pieces for every season adds up fast. Instead, reuse your existing frames and swap out what’s inside. Print free or low-cost seasonal art, simple quotes, or even family photos from past holidays.

Store the extra prints flat in a folder with your decor bins. You get a seasonal update for a few dollars in prints instead of a closet full of signs you’re tired of by January.