Decorate on a Dime

If you love the holiday season like me, you’ve probably been planning your décor since the week after Halloween. At our house, the holidays are a time for lights, laughter and celebration. My husband often tells me he loves our house at Christmas time because I love decorating. This is a joyful time of year for our family, so I want our home to reflect that joy.

I’ve built up a good selection of Christmas decorations over the years, acquired from my mom, my mother-in-law and several years of married life. But like a comfortable sweater, some of them were starting to look a little worn and hodge-podge. Then I discovered Goodwill. Their holiday décor season has rapidly become a much-anticipated event for my family. Even my husband gets into it!

You too can create a beautiful and uniquely you holiday look for your home for a fraction of the cost by shopping at local second hand and thrift stores. Here are my top tips to get you started:

Pick a color scheme

Do you have a color scheme in your everyday home décor, such as your furnishings and curtains? Select a palette of shades that complements those colors.

Your décor will have a more unified appearance if you choose a central color scheme. If you like southwest colors, stick with earthy tones of tan, green, blue and turquoise. If you like country chic, think of subtle pastels, white and ivory. I myself love the vintage Christmas look, as those colors blend well with my furniture and wall colors. So I select decorations that are in more muted burgundy, green and ivory, rather than the vibrant 1950s Coca-Cola red.

Plan your theme

You want to feel comfortable in your home and have it reflect your personality and style. Do you like the country chic look? Do you have affinity for a country cabin or an elegant modern apartment? Pick a central theme and decorate around that. Only pick up items that blend well together. For example, if you like the old-world Christmas look, stay away from mirrored balls and tinsel trees.

Don’t stop at your entryway

It’s easy and quick to just decorate your entryway. But once you step into the rest of your home, you have left the holiday merriment at the door. Choose a few pieces and some small touches to carry your décor throughout your home.

Involve the whole family

My husband and kids really enjoy decorating with me for the holidays. Some of my fondest memories are of the laughter and joy of decorating together and picking out our decorations together too. We look through the boxes every year, and reminisce about where we got certain decorations. My kids definitely know which decorations are “theirs” and belong to their rooms.

Keep it simple

The adage “less is more” really is true. The holidays aren’t about extravagance. If you flock your home with too much décor, it feels overwhelming. Again, pick a few key pieces and decorate around those. Then sit back, dim the lights, light a few candles, pop some popcorn and enjoy a beautiful, and inexpensive, holiday season. Save your money for those things that are really important, like helping a neighbor, making someone smile and creating memories.

As I look at my stack of boxes in the garage in preparation for holiday decorating this weekend, I realize that I have acquired many of those decorations at a fraction of the cost simply by shopping at Goodwill. In addition to assuaging my wallet-guilt, shopping at Goodwill has added extra joy to my holidays because I know that I am supporting important programs in my community. Over the years I have met many individuals whose lives were changed because they received job training, employment assistance, housing, or other services through Goodwill.

Wishing you goodwill and cheer through your holiday season.

#homeessentials