How to Add Christmas Character on a Budget

‘Tis the season for trimming the tree and hanging the stockings with care — but is your home lacking the charm and character you want it to have?

Our home, which we built from the ground up, is just a basic cookie-cutter house. So I feel like adding Christmas charm can be challenging. Some years, I would go overboard to make up for what I knew was missing, only to realize that it wasn’t bringing charm, just clutter. That year I studied Pinterest boards and learned the secret to adding charm for the Holidays.

These are my top tips to add character for Christmas on a budget.

1. You’ll Need Garland

There’s nothing like garland to bring life into your space. The greenery brings charm like a Hallmark movie brings the cheese. It’s predictable, it’s traditional, it’s nostalgic — and it will immediately add charm.

Before you go spend your Christmas budget on the trendy decor, make sure there’s room for a fresh wreath for the front door, garland for the front doorway, or other areas of your home.

2. Change Your Lighting

As the evenings get dark sooner, a lot of the winter and Christmas time is spent in the dark. To add charm to your space and create a moody vibe, change your light bulbs to warm and softer tones.

My husband cracks me up when he puts in 60-watt light bulbs because he thinks they need to be as bright as possible. But trust me… when it comes to subtle lamps around your room, a soft, warm light will do the trick.

You can elevate this even more by adding candles.

These candles are the best around. They not only have a neat wick, but they sound like a crackling fire.

3. Smell — The Most Overlooked Decorating Tool

Using your five senses to decorate is a pro tip. Professionals are doing this, and when real estate agents are showing homes, they’re paying attention to what you’re seeing, tasting, smelling — all the things.

Smell is very important.

If you don’t already have a diffuser, I’m telling you: this is where it’s at. This is my favorite scent for Christmas — and this one too.

You’ve probably seen the popular simmer pots. They’re easy to do and usually use things you already have in your cabinet. Put them in a pot, let them simmer, and your whole home will smell like Christmas.

Making sure your house smells like Christmas — or even fresh baked bread — will add instant charm.

4. Ribbon

Bringing in a cohesive ribbon color throughout your home really adds charm through texture and elegance. The ribbon color is something I change every year so I can get a fresh look for just a little bit of money.

These ribbons are my go-to, and this year I’m going thinner than usual. I’ll let you know what I think.

Just in case you’ve missed my Christmas Bundle series, you can check those out here:

1. A Moody Christmas
   
2. A Traditional Christmas
   
3. A White Christmas
   
4. A Whimsical Christmas
   

5. Pillows (But Not the Cheap Kind)

Listen… I love me some throw pillows, and sometimes the price gets me. But in two years max, you’ll be back buying the same pillows again because they’re either too small or aren’t fluffy anymore. They turn into pancakes after being stored away.

If you want charm in your room, do it the right way — like calling Pottery Barn straight into your living room.

I always get the biggest size I can: usually 22×22 or 24×24. And I use a down-alternative insert — the cheapest kind I can find, honestly. They fluff better and look more expensive.

• My favorite inserts on a budget
• I’m buying these pillow covers and these red and white stripe ones.

When I just purchase the covers, it makes storage and switching the color scheme each year that much easier!

If you want to immediately add charm to your living room, change your pillows.

6. Avoid All the Little Decor

Listen girl… I love a good find like anyone else. But you can only add so many little trinkets before your house starts looking like Walmart itself.

Those days are out.

Cluttering your home with tiny things instead of investing in the “boring” things that actually add charm won’t do you any favors. Don’t accuse me of not being a friend. Geez.

I still buy little trinkets like paper trees and blue and white ornaments for fun, but the charm comes from bigger decor items.

When you’re shopping, make sure you know exactly where the focal points are in your room, and focus on buying one big decor item instead of a ton of small things. This brings far more charm and elevates your space more than you think.

7. Forget the Trendy Decor

To add charm to your space, you don’t have to chase the newest, most popular thing on Instagram.

I’m all for sprinkling in trendy items here and there, but charm comes from a classic Christmas, cohesive look that you build over the years.

Charm cannot be made overnight. It comes from years of collecting decor, mixing old with new, adding fresh garlands and candles, and using your senses to decorate.

I don’t want to discourage you from trends, but I do want to encourage you that your home does not need trendy decor to feel charming.

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed my blog post on how to add character for Christmas on a budget.

Remember:

A house with a hostess full of peace and love is a house full of charm.

In the middle of the rushing, the to-do lists, and the busy season, let this be your reminder to pause, breathe, and focus on the birth of our Savior — celebrating His goodness.

A woman who walks with the presence of God fills her home with a charm no one can quite explain or define.

Alright… until next time.