Free Homemade Indoor Christmas Decorations

Most people probably love two things about the Christmas season: giving gifts and filling the home with holiday cheer. But sometimes, when it comes to pocketbooks, achieving the two seems virtually impossible. Here, we'll give you a few simple tricks to making inexpensive or free, creative, quality Christmas decorations, freeing up your budget solely for all the best presents you need to buy.

• Ornaments: One of the easiest ways to decorate for the holidays is with ornaments - after all, they don't have to be restricted to just the Christmas tree. Hang them in windows or doorways, or hang light ornaments on existing houseplants. If you're without ornaments, look for household things that can act as them - hang your favorite cookie cutters, for example, with a pretty ribbon, or make silver ball ornaments with a wad of tinfoil. Look outside for inspiration, too - pinecones are often readily available in winter, and they're perfect for the Christmas homescape.

• Garlands: Ribbons and long scraps of lace make a lovely garland for railings or mantles. Just twist them together and wrap them around a surface; tuck in a candy cane or two for extra festiveness. Or, make an age-old popcorn-and-cranberry garland when you plan to host guests.

• Window decor: If you have children or small neighbors, put them to work for a cup of cocoa - give them a pair of safety scissors and a stack of paper, and before you know it, you'll have a flurry of handmade, high-sentiment snowflakes for windows (or refrigerators). Tie curtains back with pretty colored ribbons.