13 Inexpensive Ways to Decorate for Christmas with Things You’d Usually Throw Away

There’s nothing more comforting than sitting by the fire and making some decorative crafts during the holiday season, but sometimes making this décor can be just plain costly! That’s why we have some incredibly thrifty tips for you to help you make some pretty Christmas crafts. Rifle around that recycling bin, break out that hot glue gun, and get ready to add some yuletide spirit to your home!

  1. Snowman Clothespins

    Clip these cute snowman clothespins to a string on your mantelpiece, or even to the lights on your Christmas tree. We love attaching our favorite pictures from the past year to these handy little holders.

  2. Hot Cocoa Ornament

    This tasty ornament works as a great last-minute holiday gift! Simply add your favorite hot cocoa ingredients (don’t forget those mini marshmallows!) into a clear ornament, and you’re good to go!

  3. Stained Glass Poinsettias

    Can you believe that the toilet paper roll at the top of this article is the “before” picture for this craft? Better yet, all you need in order to shape these pretty flowers is the tube, coffee filters, and adhesive. A great one to do with the little ones!

  4. Holiday Rag Rug

    Rag rugs make a perfect gift for that shabby chic lover in your life. If you want yours to be more in line with a holiday theme, simply switch out those blue and white rags for red and green ones. So cute!

  5. No Sew Sock Penguin

    This adorable sock penguin is made primarily from upcycled children’s clothing. This project is particularly simple—you can complete it in under 10 minutes and it requires NO SEWING! A Christmas miracle!

  6. Chip Bag Christmas Decorations

    You’d be hard-pressed to find a thriftier holiday décor hack than this one! All you need is scissors, glue, and some empty chip bags to give the delicate ornaments some shine. You’ll never look at that bag of Doritos the same way again!

  7. Vintage Book Paper Ornament

    This is a seriously creative way to show some love to all of those bookworms in your family. The best part about this craft is that it consists of almost entirely upcycled materials. What a great way to display your favorite page-turner!

  8. 3D Paper Christmas Trees

    This craft can be easily completed by grabbing some craft paper, scissors, and a pencil. And don’t worry; you hardly need to be an origami master to make these cute paper trees!

  9. Pop Top Wreath

    Here’s yet another craft that will have you digging through your recycling bin! Make this eco-friendly upcycled wreath using aluminum soda pop tops! These mini wreaths will really add some shine to you Christmas tree!

  10. Decorative Sleep Mask

    If you’ve been stumped on new stocking stuffer ideas, look no further than this cute sleep mask. It’s no sew, and all of its materials can be crafted from old clothing.

  11. Pallet Christmas Tree

    Though this particular upcycle craft is a bit more involved than the others on this list, we just had to include it because the results are so stunning! Make your own pallet Christmas tree, and add paints, lights, and stains to make it your own.

  12. Melted Crayon Ornament

    Every parent knows about the dreaded “crayon graveyard” that rests at the bottom of every child’s craft drawer. Luckily, we found a unique way to use those stubby Crayolas. We’ve definitely never seen ornaments like these before!

  13. Light Bulb Ornament

    Finally, a way to make use of those burned-out light bulbs! There’s plenty of ways to make these ornaments your own. Paint ‘em, draw on them, add some string—each one can be tailor-made for your own tree.

Be sure to click on the accompanying links for instructions on each project. Happy holiday crafting!

What do you think of these holiday décor hacks? Which one are you going to try? Do you have any special crafts that you like to complete during Christmastime? Tell us all about your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!