Red and white Christmas living room with small tree and paper decorations

41 budget Christmas decorating ideas - affordable ways to create a fabulously festive home

There's no need to spend a lot to create a magical home this Christmas, as our low-cost ideas and tips prove

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    • Small living room Christmas decorating ideas

    Ideal Home's 12 top air fryers – we've tested over 30 air fryers to find the very best on the market

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    Top Stories

    • Mulled wine with orange slices and cinnamon sticks

      What home fragrance experts use to make their homes smell amazing at Christmas

      We ask fragrance experts how they scent their homes for the holidays

    • Pale pink living room with frosted faux tree with pastel pink and blue ribbons, neutral baubles, star on wall and in fireplace, candles, falala garland, presents under tree

      10 Christmas tree ribbon ideas – try the hottest festive decorating trend this year

      The ultimate look for your Christmas tree, all tied up

    • A house with a green lawn

      When to scarify your lawn to make the grass thicker, healthier and greener

      And what to do if you missed the window of opportunity this season

    • Rear exterior of a detached house with frosty garden and wintry trees

      7 plants you need to bring inside now before the end of November to protect from frost

      It’s getting colder, so it’s time to start protecting your plants

    Ideal Home Experts

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      Heather Young

      Editor in Chief, Ideal Home & Style At Home
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      News hound and Ideal Home's Deputy Editor Digital
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      Molly Cleary

      Ideal Home Ecommerce Editor for appliances and cleaning
    • Amy Lockwood

      Amy Lockwood

      Ideal Home Ecommerce Editor for furniture and homeware
    • Charlie Luxton

      Charlie Luxton

      Architectural Designer & Ideal Home's Renovation Expert
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      Ideal Home's Contributing Editor and Wellness Expert
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      Sarah Handley

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      Sarah Raven

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    Room Decor

    • Christmas colour schemes forest green dining room

      16 Christmas colour schemes to inspire the festive spirit in your home

      You can't go wrong with red and green, but there's a whole host of Christmas colour schemes to spruce up your decor

    • dining table in kitchen with exposed brickwork

      I'm an interiors writer and these are the 6 things I love to see in a country kitchen

      Combine rustic details with timeless essentials to get the look of a country retreat, no matter where you are located

    • A kid's bedroom painted pale blue with yellow accents, including a bedside lamp, zebra cushion, lion tapestry and alphabet poster

      Small kids bedroom ideas – 30 ways to maximise your child's tiny bedroom

      Add fun and function to your little one's room, no matter how awkward or petite the space

    • Yellow kitchen with grey cabinetry and marble island

      Beautiful kitchen colour schemes to give your space a new lease of life

      From pared-back palettes to unlikely (but beautiful) shade pairings, these kitchen colour schemes will ignite your space

    • living room with white wall and shelves

      Modern living room ideas to create a contemporary cool space

      Modern living deserves a contemporary design to match - take inspiration from the latest trends for your living room

    • A bow-decorated Christmas tree next to a fireplace

      10 Christmas tree trends that are set to dominate the festive season in 2023

      The styles you’ll be decking your Christmas tree with this festive season

    What To Buy

    • Ideal Home review process

      Explore Ideal Home's expert buying guides & reviews

      Whether you need a mattress, lawn mower, candle or even a pizza oven, our buying guides will help you find the right items for your home.

    • The best mattress, as tried and tested by the Ideal Home team, on a blue background

      Best mattress 2023 – tried and tested hybrid, memory foam, and pocket spring mattresses

      We've reviewed the best mattresses from the biggest brand names, including Emma, Simba, Tempur, Hypnos, Silentnight, and many more. Here's our verdict on which to shop for the best night's sleep

    More From Ideal Home

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    This elegant farmhouse is counting down to the festive season with a show-stopping Christmas tree

    This retired couple wanted to downsize but their building project grew and became a family affair

    • living room decorated for christmas with tree, stockings and santa sacks and fireplace with log burner

      'It's simply magical and epitomises Christmas in our home'

      With its mix of nostalgic decorations, this renovated Victorian home in Bath offers the perfect warm welcome for festive get-togethers

    • Christmas living room with Christmas tree and coffee table

      This living room is the ultimate inspiration for decorating a small space for Christmas

      A super-colourful living room provides the perfect festive backdrop for this Christmas-loving homeowner

    • quiet luxury living room in Hampshire

      A quiet luxury makeover turned this country home into the ultimate retreat

      Replacing colourful carpets and a bright green kitchen with a neutral colour palette transformed this five-bedroom home

    House Manual

    • Morphy Richards Easycharge cordless iron

      Best steam irons – our top 10 tested models to make ironing fast and easy

      The best steam irons that we've reviewed so that you can power through that laundry pile, fast

      By Molly Cleary

    • white oil filled radiator

      How much does it cost to run an oil-filled radiator? And how to save money when using one

      This affordable and portable heating option could be the answer to your winter woes

      By Lauren Bradbury

    HOMES DISCOUNT CODES

    Bensons for Beds wooden bed frame

    Bensons for Beds discount codes for November 2023

    Shop mattresses, wardrobes, sofa beds and more without the high price tag with our live Bensons for Beds discount codes.

    • Outdoor garden furniture set outdoors

      La Redoute discount codes for November 2023

      These La Redoute discount codes can bag you great savings on furniture, home accessories, lighting and more.

    • White duvet folded up on bed

      Feather & Black discount codes for November 2023

      Save on mattresses, beds, wardrobes and furniture using these active Feather & Black discount codes.

    • Shark air purifier in lounge

      Shark discount codes for November 2023

      Invest in a new vacuum cleaner without the high price tag using our active Shark discount codes.

    VIEW MORE

    Renovation

    • Christmas wreath on front door with red ribbon

      How to make a Christmas wreath – create your own beautiful wreath from scratch on a budget

      Our beginner-friendly guide to making your own festive wreath to adorn your front door

      By Tamara Kelly

    • Christmas snowflake window decorations hang amongst green foliage

      Christmas window decors to get your home (and neighbours) in the festive spirit

      Don't forget about Christmas window decor ideas - it could be just what your home needs for the perfect festive finishing touch

      By Tamara Kelly

    • Navy front door with Christmas wreath and 27 sticker on window.

      14 Christmas door decor ideas to greet guests with festive cheer

      Give the outside of your home a taste of the Christmas magic with our round-up of seasonal decoration ideas

      By Holly Walsh

    • A sage green front door with a berry-encrusted Christmas wreath on it

      21 Christmas wreath ideas for spectacular front doors and mantelpieces

      Enjoy our creative wreath ideas to make a statement this Christmas, both indoors and out

      By Nicky Phillips

    DIY

    • Air dry clay place settings on tablescape for Christmas.

      How to make DIY air dry clay Christmas decorations for your tree, table and gifts - all for under £5

      Homemade Christmas decorations just got a facelift

      By Holly Cockburn

    • Garland hung around grey door

      How to hang a garland around your front door for some Christmas curb appeal

      Now is your chance to take your doorscaping up a notch

      By Lauren Bradbury

    Gardens

    Indoor herb garden with a butler's sink

    Want a delicious festive feast? Here's how to make your Christmas herb garden work harder than ever

    Because Christmas herbs can make or break a roast dinner

    • greenhouse at Petersham Nurseries

      10 tips to protect plants from killer frosts - the pros use them and you should, too

      When a sudden frost is forecast, take these steps to protect your plants

      By Andrea Childs

    • Pretty garden, grass lawn, black arbour frame, bench seating, cushions

      4 plants to prune in November - prepare your garden for the winter months before it is too cold

      Prune your plants before it’s too late

      By Lauren Bradbury

    • A traditional cottage and its frosty-covered front garden

      You should never walk on grass when it’s frosty – experts agree it's a major lawncare mistake

      Keen to avoid frost damage to your lawn? Here's what you need to remember

      By Kayleigh Dray

    News & Views

    • Nigella Lawson

      Nigella Lawson's clever fairy light trick instantly transforms a kitchen for Christmas – and it's easy to recreate

      It's the glitziest Christmas decor display we've seen, and experts agree

      By Jullia Joson

    • A decorated Christmas tree with Christmas lights in a living room next to a lit fireplace

      Make your life easier and save energy this Christmas with a £9 gadget that lets you control your tree lights

      The smart gadget that will become your best friend this Christmas

      By Tamara Kelly

    • Michelle Keegan

      Michelle Keegan’s Christmas tree features the biggest trend of this festive season – experts love the ‘simple yet elegant' look

      The Coronation Street star goes big and bold this Christmas

      By Sara Hesikova

    • Sophie Hinchcliffe

      Mrs Hinch's Christmas living room decor is among the best we've seen – experts love the 'sleek yet cosy festive look'

      The pared-back scheme even has experts swooning

      By Jullia Joson

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