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Decorating a Minimal Christmas Tree on a Budget with Thrifted Finds

By Rachel

published 12/19/2024

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Holiday cheer on a budget! Style a festive and frugal Christmas tree using thrifted decor for a sustainable yet magical focal point.

Let’s talk thrifty Christmas decor. What if I told you there was a way to save tons of money by styling a minimalist Christmas tree using thrifted finds? This holiday season, I challenge you to embrace a budget-friendly and sustainable approach to decorating. In this post, I’m sharing my best tips for decorating a stunning, minimalist Christmas tree using thrifted items. Learn how you can add your own personal touch to make it truly one-of-a-kind!

Decorating a Minimalist Christmas Tree with Thrifted Finds: Sustainable and Affordable Holiday Decorating

Do you find the holiday season to be draining your wallet and cluttering your home? Are you tired of the cheap-looking yet expensive decorations that seem to take over every store during this time of year? Me too!

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The average American spends over $1,000 on holiday expenses, with a large chunk of that going towards seasonal decor alone. That’s SO un-necessary, un-needed, and, in my opinion, way too excessive. Cue thrifting!

You truly do not need to spend thousands of dollars this Christmas season. Through thrift shopping, I’ll share how I spent less than $30 on my Christmas tree decor this year.

Join me for more. Let’s deck our halls for less!

Thrifted Goodies Volume 30: How to Decorate a Scandinavian Inspired Christmas Tree with Thrifted Items

Hello, guys! Merry Christmas!

Welcome, or welcome back, to the blog and to the next installment in the ‘Thrifted Goodies’ series! If you are new around here, welcome! This is a monthly series where my friend MaryJo from the blog Master’pieces’ of my Life and I share thrift hauls, thrifting tips, and general thrift shopping advice.

The past few months, our focus has been on budget-friendly and thrifty holiday decorating. Because, truly, we could all use some extra money in our bank accounts…Am I right?!

MasterPieces of My Life

My partner in this series, MaryJo, is sharing a thrifty post all about some recent thrift finds styled for Christmas. After you are done here, head over to her post and say hello! You may find just the thing you are looking for.

MasterPieces of My Life Social Channels:

Shop the Thrifty Christmas Look!

Secondhand Holiday Sparkle: Transforming Thrift Store Finds Into Beautiful Christmas Tree Decorations

You might be wondering, “Well, Rachel, how do I make my home look beautiful yet spend less this holiday season on things such as tree decor?” Great question!

The answer lies in the world of thrifting or shopping secondhand for needed seasonal decor items. You see, when you opt to thrift for goods instead of buying new, you are not only paying at least half the price of retail for things, but you are also taking care of the environment.

It’s a win-win-win! (for you, the Earth, and for thrift stores)

Best Places to Find Budget Christmas Ornaments and Decor

Obviously, thrift stores are my go-to spot for budget-friendly and unique holiday pieces. Over the years, I have found the most amazing Christmas decor at my local thrift store, paying only a few dollars for each item.

For Christmas tree specific decor, I’ve found things like:

ornaments
ribbon
picks and greenery
Christmas lights
DIY supplies to make my own tree decor

However, there are a few other places that I regularly check for decor.

They include:

Facebook Marketplace
e-Bay
Mercari
vintage or antique shops

Decorating a Minimal Christmas Tree on a Budget with Thrifted Finds

Now, armed with that knowledge, let’s get into how I styled my Christmas tree for the season.

To coordinate with my Scandinavian-inspired Christmas decor this year, my tree looks very different than in year’s past! But, I truly love the simplicity of it.

Sticking with my theme, the tree is filled with colors such as brown, cream, green, and vintage gold, accented with thrifted ornaments, and finished with velvet bows on the tree branch tips. The minimal and neutral colors exude such a peaceful feel.

Creative Thrifted Christmas Tree Decor Ideas

Below are six elements and/or decor ideas that I incorporated on my tree this year. Each one can be accomplished easily using thrift finds or things that you might already have on hand.

I’ll start at the base of the tree and work my way up to the top.

1. Christmas Tree Skirt with Thrifted Items

Did you know that you don’t need to use a traditional tree skirt to cover the base of your tree?! I know! Cool, right?!

Due to the small size of my living room, I opt to use a skinny Christmas tree. It’s not my favorite tree look in the world but something’s gotta give or we just don’t have enough space and then our room isn’t functional.

SO! To make it aesthetically better, and taller, I always place my Christmas tree on a wooden box. This box happens to be a vintage fruit crate that I thrifted for just $3.00! I roughly place the box where I want to tree to go then simply place the tree stand on top of it.

Then, to up the vintage and neutral look of the tree, I wrapped a vintage lace tablecloth, also thrifted, around the base to act as the tree skirt.

I’ve actually used this method for years! Vintage lace is gorgeous and adds a chic, romantic feel to the tree. For just a few dollars, I consider that a huge win!

I’m sure many of you have an abundance of linens, vintage or otherwise, around the house.

So, if you are looking to spend less this season on a tree skirt, or simply want a neutral, less is more approach, thrifted linens are your best friend!

Shop Vintage Table Linens

2. DIY Ornaments or Tree Decor

The next idea for styling a thrifty Christmas tree is to make or DIY your own decor to decorate it with!

Crafting decorations is, by far, one of the most budget-friendly options. Plus, in doing so, you get to put your own spin on your tree, making it special and one-of-a-kind.

This year, I made two different styles of ornaments to coordinate with the Scandinavian theme.

Dried Orange Slice Ornaments

Dried orange slices are a beautiful, all natural holiday decor item that can be made into so many different things!

For my tree, I simply bought four large oranges, dried them in the oven, and used hooks to hang them as ornaments.

Star Anise and Clove Ball Ornaments

To go along with the natural theme and coordinate with the various brown hues, I also crafted three star anise and clove ball ornaments.

These DIY ornaments not only smell heavenly but, because they are handmade with quality materials, will be able to be used for many years to come.

So, I encourage you to get creative this holiday season and try making your own tree decor. It doesn’t need to be complicated, either!

Try simple ideas such as:

using twine or ribbon, tie cinnamon sticks or foraged pinecones together to make ornaments
string popcorn or wood beads onto fishing line as a tree garland
thrift a roll of ribbon, tie it into a large bow, and use it as a tree topper

3. Budget Friendly Tree Accessories

Other ornaments that you see on my tree including the various brass bells, pinecones, acorns, and straw stars were all thrifted for just a few dollars.

I spotted the acorn and pinecone ornaments in a bag at a thrift store a few months ago, and then, minutes later, found the bag of straw stars. Finding these ornaments at the same store was a total win and really kicked off my natural, minimal Christmas theme.

I honestly couldn’t be happier about it!

Christmas Thrifting Tip: People love to shop for Christmas decor. So, for the best selection, and to ensure you are getting to it before anyone else, start thrifting early for holiday decor.

Clip-On Candles

Another frugal Christmas tree decor option is to use faux clip-on candles!

You guys. These clip-on candles are one of the best holiday purchases I’ve ever made.

1) They are battery powered, meaning that you can use them year after year. And, the candles come with a remote so that you can put them on a timer to go on and off at the same time each day!

2) They cast the most magical, twinkly glow throughout the tree.

3) For just $12, I can’t imagine any other tree filler that creates such warmth.

With a set of 12, there are just enough candles to disperse flickering candlelight throughout the tree. And, the candles are the perfect size to fill in any open gaps. For a cozy Christmas, place faux candles on your tree. You’ll thank me later 🙂

Velvet Bows

Velvet ribbon tied into bows is, by far, my most favorite tree decoration that I’ve ever tried. I want to use velvet bows on my tree tips forever and ever, amen!

I know that this decorating idea is something that’s been done for a while but, like, you know how when you try something new and it’s totally amazing?! That’s how I feel about my pretty little bows adorning the tips of my tree!

For my take on festive bows, I went with two different sized ribbons in two different colors.

For some drama, and a tad more color, I chose 1 inch velvet green ribbon. I simply tied it to various branches, making sure to leave plenty of ribbon tails.

And then, to help tie in the brown, tan, and gold colors, I found beautiful khaki colored, velvet ribbon. It’s much skinnier, making it way easier to tie into bows.

The extra-long ribbon tails make my heart sing!

4. Vintage Christmas Tree Decor

Don’t think, for a second, that I forgot about my special vintage Christmas decor! Are you nuts?! Even with this new-to-me-theme, I couldn’t not use some of my vintage Shiny Brite ornaments!

I went through my collection and chose the ornaments that most closely matched the Scandinavian theme. Think silver, vintage (not-so-bright gold), and green.

So, spaced evenly apart from the acorns, pinecones, and bells, I hung my selection of vintage Shiny Brite balls.

I adore how, even in the most subtle way, my love of vintage Christmas shines through.

I’m a big believer in that, if you love and adore a certain decorating style, use it. Own it. Display the things that you love because life is short and no one else can love the things that you love like you!

Shop Vintage Ornaments

5. Budget Christmas Tree Filler Ideas

In keeping with the minimal aesthetic, I didn’t use any specific fillers on my tree.

But, that’s not to say that you can’t!

Christmas tree fillers that can be found thrifted include:

stems, picks, or faux florals
large or wide ribbon
tinsel
feathers
faux bird’s nests and/or glittery birds

6. Affordable Christmas Tree Topper Ideas

Last, but certainly not least, we have made it to the top of the Christmas tree!

For my tree topper, I always have, and always will, use my late Grandma Jean’s angel. This vintage, fabric angel graced the top of her tree for many, many years and will continue to live on my tree top for as long as it holds up.

This simple angel may not look like much to some but she means everything to me!

When it comes to Christmas tree toppers on a budget, there are a plethora of options. And, truly, tree topper accents are where you can let your creativity really shine and think out of the box!

I’ve seen many a traditional tree topper at thrift stores and vintage shops over the years.

However, other tree topper ideas can include:

large ribbon or bows
light-up stars
sticks, branches, birch logs or twigs foraged from the woods
feathers or pampas grass
large Christmas flowers
snowflakes

Thrifted Finds for a Budget Friendly Christmas Tree

With that, we’ve come to the finale of this post on thrifty Christmas tree decorating!

Not having ever deviated from the traditional red and green, this new theme was a big risk. But! Truly, words can’t describe how much I love the way my tree looks all dressed up for the season.

The neutral hues paired with the minimal and natural decor is the epitome of a silent night.

This just goes to show you that trying new things is so worth it!

Closing Tidbits for Decorating a Minimal Christmas Tree on a Budget with Thrifted Finds

With that, this post concludes the Christmas decorating content for the season, you guys! I sincerely hope that you’ve found simple ideas, tips, or decorating elements to try in your own home, whether this season or seasons to come.

Decorating a minimal Christmas tree on a budget with thrifted finds is a creative, sustainable, and budget-friendly way to celebrate the holiday season. By following these tangible tips and tricks, you can transform your tree into a unique and meaningful Christmas centerpiece in a frugal way.

Be encouraged to focus on simple joys this season, finding the true meaning of the season within.

From my home to yours, Merry Christmas!

Leave me a comment! How do you decorate your tree? I love hearing from you!

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If you are new here, I’m Rachel, the writer and content creator here at The Antiqued Journey. I’m so happy to have you! I encourage you to stop by the ‘about me’ page to get to know me a little more.

Here on the blog, you will find loads of inspiration for decorating with vintage and antique decor, simple DIY crafts and many thrifting adventures. If that interests you, I invite you to sign up for my e-mail. You will receive a free digital download as a thank you!