Don’t be a Scrooge this Christmas, here’s 5 budget ways to make your house the festive hub of the season.

The time has come when we’re allowed to wrap our houses in tinsel and stick mistletoe above every doorframe while singing ‘Deck the Halls’ and no one can do anything about it.

But if the idea of designing and decorating your place is something you dread and you’d rather be called the neighbourhood Scrooge then be seen putting lights on your house, don’t stress we’ve got you covered.

Here are 5 easy ways to decorate your house this Christmas. Not only are they simple but they’re great if you’re on a budget too.

1. Create your own table centrepiece.

This one is probably one of the simplest things you can make this Christmas. All you’ll need to make these unique centrepieces are glass jars or vases, thick-rimmed candles, rice or faux snow and something to decorate with like cranberries, holly or tinsel. The idea is straightforward, place the rice or faux snow at the bottom of the jar then put the candle in the middle making sure the rice/faux snow is acting like a barrier to stop the candle from sliding around. Then you can put the decorations around the bottom to make them look unique.

If you’re worried about your decorations being flammable you could even use battery operated candles. See, easy right?

2. Use Christmas lights to create a wall decoration.

For this one all you will need is a string or two of Christmas lights in the colour of your choice, some self-adhesive hooks and a blank wall. The concept for this one is simple, all you need to do is map out the outline of the shape you wish to create then place the hooks on the wall so that once the lights are hooked the outline will take form. Think a Christmas tree, star, Santa or presents. The options for this one are endless.

3. Line your garden path with beer bottle lights.

For this one you need to make sure you have outdoor lights, a place to plug them in and clean beer bottles without the labels. All you have to do for this one is to drape the lights along the path you wish to light up and at every metre (or interval of your choice) place a bottle with some of the light length tucked into it. This should illuminate the bottle while lining the path you have created.

4. Create paper-hanging snowflakes.

All you’ll need for this is some white card, clear fishing line and adhesive hooks. Here all you do is cut out some paper snowflakes using a pattern you can find on the Internet. (or go free hand if you’re good with arty things.) Once you have a variety of paper snowflakes in various shapes and sizes, use the fishing line to attach a row of six altogether and then hang them from the ceiling. The clear fishing line will give the effect of floating snowflakes dropping from the sky. Can’t get more Christmassy than that.

5. Create a snowman

We all know that here in Australia we don’t get to experience the joys of having a white Christmas. In fact it’s usually the exact opposite as we swelter our way through the festive season. But even without snow you can create your very own snowman to put in your front yard and wow the neighbourhood. Just get some old tyres, spray paint them white and stack them to your ideal height. Turn the top tyre on its side, fill the hole with white paper, use black pompoms for the eyes and mouth and a carrot for the nose. Then you can dress your newfound friend with a scarf, gloves and buttons. Don’t let the warmer months stop you from having a snowman friend this Christmas.

So there you have it, five ways to easily make your home more festive on a budget this Christmas season. Don’t be caught as the neighbourhood Grinch, be the first to spread the Christmas spirit with some of these ideas and you’ll be crowned the Santa of your block.