As households across the UK begin decking their halls, many are searching for ways to create festive magic without straining their finances. With the cost of living pressing on everyone's minds, a Christmas expert has revealed how to transform your home into a winter wonderland for just pennies.
Meet the Chief Decorating Elf
Janine Tanner, the Visual Merchandising Manager at Robert Dyas, brings a sackful of experience to the table. Known as the 'Chief Decorating Elf', she specialises in creating spectacular festive flair on a strict budget. Her ingenious tips can help you decorate your hallway, living room, and kitchen for a fraction of the expected cost.
Nature's Free Decor and The 50p Wall Art Trick
One of Tanner's most cost-effective suggestions is to head outdoors. Foraging for long, thin twigs from your garden, a park, or the local countryside can yield the perfect base for a beautiful display. Once home, simply drape them with fairy lights, like the Battery Operated LED Firefly lights priced at £2.99, and place them in a vase with some evergreen foliage.
Perhaps the most transformative tip is her clever use of wrapping paper. "Wrap your existing picture frames with wrapping paper and ribbon so they look like gifts," Tanner advises. With a roll of 400cm paper costing around £2.50, you can cover five small to medium frames, bringing the cost per frame to a mere 50p. This creates instant, cute, and unusual wall art that ties your festive theme together.
More Budget-Friendly Festive Magic
For those who cannot afford expensive garlands, multicoloured tinsel is a brilliant alternative. Available for as little as £1 from homeware shops, it can be draped over mantlepieces or wrapped around banisters for a vibrant festive focal point.
Leftover wrapping paper offcuts need not go to waste either. They can be doubled up and turned into classic paper chains, a perfect and inexpensive activity for children to help with.
When it comes to the tree, Tanner recommends opting for an artificial one, such as the 60cm Richmond Tree for £9.99, as it represents better long-term value than a real tree. To decorate it lavishly without the cost, a set of 50 mixed baubles for £9.99 creates a wonderfully full look, which can be complemented with a few special decorations.
Finally, her advice extends to post-Christmas savings. Proper storage is key to saving money year after year. Wrapping string lights around a piece of cardboard or a tube prevents the dreaded tangling, and using a dedicated bauble storage box keeps decorations from breaking, eliminating the need for costly replacements.
