Thrifty Thinking

By adopting a simple yet classic color palette, your handmade Yuletide creations will stand out as merry and bright decor that your family will adore.

Matthew Mead shares tips for creating budget-friendly themed holiday decor.

If you page through Christmas decorating books or magazines or visit a professionally styled home on a holiday house walk, you will notice that designers love to create themed seasonal decor that runs throughout the rooms. You can easily put together a seasonal motif for your home, at minimal cost, that will rival those big-budget looks.

An effective way to accomplish this is to choose color as your theme. We decided on red and white for a classic country Christmas look. To ensure that your style is cohesive, you may want to select a color scheme that is already woven throughout your everyday decor. Add to your palette with ornaments, ribbons, gift wrap, and natural or faux berries, pairing them with staples such as crocks, bundt pans and bowls. Put your own creative stamp on your trimmings by creating decorations from salvaged fabric, leftover scrapbook paper and bits of ribbon. Once you combine all of these likecolored items, you’ll have everything you need to create a united look that flows from room to room.