How to decorate outdoors for Christmas on a budget
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Today I am sharing how to decorate outdoors for Christmas on a budget. Christmas is my favorite time of year and I love driving by houses decorated for christmas outside at night and looking at all the Christmas lights. Whether you are looking for small front porch christmas decorations, Christmas front door ideas or decorating for Christmas with outdoor lights, I am going to share how to create an outdoor winter wonderland on a budget.
2022 has been the craziest year and it’s hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner. Many of these outdoor Christmas lights were purchased over the past couple years either at The Christmas Tree Shops, Big Lots, Amazon or Walmart. The Big Lots outdoor Christmas decorations in our area along with Walmart have huge displays and many times, I find Christmas net lights 50% off so I tend to stock up.
This year we are hoping to hang Christmas lights from the roof and attach to the stucco which will be a huge undertaking. I’m not sure how to hang Christmas lights from the stucco but there has to be a way! I think houses with Christmas lights lining the roof line are so pretty!
How do I decorate my home for Christmas on a budget?
I love shopping the stores year round for holiday sales but Christmas time is extra special. Decorating with lights outdoors not only adds a magical feel but also provides functionality. Our walkway and patio is typically dark but the Christmas tree lights on the shrubs provides a nice lite walkway.
My biggest tip for how to decorate outdoors for Christmas on a budget is to gather up all of your previous years outdoor lights and see what works and what does not. Each year, I end up tossing old lights and I purchase a few new ones. This way, you are not purchasing Christmas lights and decor unnecessarily.
This year I picked up 12 new boxes of Christmas light nets (these are 12’x5′ and waterproof!), 5 boxes of solar powered spot lights for our walkway and a couple new spot lights for the front door area. I prefer a warm light color but they have many colors available. These spotlights for Christmas (or halloween – just change the light color!) are perfect to shine on your front door, outdoor Christmas tree or reindeer and sleigh.
Whether you want a classic white Christmas light show, a rustic Christmas with vintage lights or a colorful blinking red and green light display, decorating outdoors can be fun if you make a day of it! Sipping hot chocolate, listening to Christmas music and decorating for Christmas is one of my favorite times of year.
DIY Outdoor Christmas decorations 2022
I tend to lean more towards the clear white Christmas lights along with a sleigh and reindeer display but if large inflatable outdoor Christmas decorations are more your speed, they have those too!
We have a system when it comes to hanging the outdoor Christmas lights, my dad lays out the lights and tests them to make sure they work and I place them near the shrubs where they need to be hung.
This year Jim helped us hang the Christmas lights and his response was, “Jess, dating you is like having a second job.” -ha.
Related: See our Christmas staircase nook decorated with The Christmas Tree Shops 2021
Cheap Outdoor Christmas Decorations
One of the biggest tips I can share when it comes to outdoor Christmas lights is to take your time packing them away when the season is over. Here are some of my favorite outdoor Christmas lights you can purchase online and are cheap!
Dealing with a pile of tangled Christmas lights the next season is not fun!
You can pickup cheap outdoor Christmas decorations that will last year after year if you put them away neatly each year and be mindful of not crushing the lights when packing away.
Putting small indoor Christmas trees in your windows is a great way alternative to window candles (here are the window candles I have). I have a 4′ Christmas tree in front of the french doors with the balcony but you can always add a smaller tabletop Christmas tree as well in front of your windows too.
A very cool outdoor lighting kit that we picked up last year lines our walkway and it’s on a remote! These outdoor walkway lights and edison bulb string lights by Enbrighten are very fun and change color!
Our outdoor reindeer and sleigh are on sale and look great under a tree or in between shrubs along a walkway.
We have a handful of outdoor reindeer scattered across our front walkway that look so cool at night!
If you have a tree outside, here is another option of edison bulb string lights that we purchased last year as well (they do not have a remote) .
Whether you are adding small or large outdoor Christmas light display, your decorations do not need to break the bank! Have you already started outdoor decorating for Christmas ?
Looks great!! I LOVE Christmas Tree Shop and am missing it so much. They dont have any on the west coast!!
I love this!! Very elegant and lovely.
Thank you 🙂
When are you coming to do my house, lol! Seriuosly, this is absolutely beautiful and you make it look so easy. Have a blessed holiday!
Thank you!! 🙂 You too!