10 Budget-Friendly Ways to Refresh Your Home for the Holiday Season

As the holidays approach, it’s the perfect time to add a little magic to your home without breaking the bank. Here are ten affordable, creative ways to give your space a new look and impress your guests.

1. Revamp with Rearranging
   One of the easiest (and free!) ways to refresh your home is simply to rearrange your furniture. Consider swapping pieces between rooms or even shifting the focal point. Moving your sofa to a different wall, for instance, can make your space feel brand new. Experiment with different layouts to create a cozy flow for holiday gatherings.

2. Update Your Walls
   Adding a fresh coat of paint in a new shade or even an accent wall can make a big impact on a room’s ambiance. For a quick and budget-friendly update, try peel-and-stick wallpaper on a feature wall or behind open shelving.

3. DIY Seasonal Centerpieces
   Seasonal centerpieces instantly lift a room’s holiday vibe. Fill a bowl with pinecones, berries, or ornaments, and place it on your coffee or dining table. You can also create simple, elegant wreaths with fresh greenery, eucalyptus, or dried flowers, for an all-natural festive look.

4. Swap Out Pillows and Throws
   Changing your throw pillows and blankets is a quick way to transform the color scheme and feel of a room. Look for rich, cozy textures in holiday hues like deep greens, burgundy, and gold. Stores often have budget-friendly options this time of year, or you could swap covers on your existing pillows for a fresh look.

5. Revitalize with Rugs
   Rugs can anchor a room and give it warmth and style. Try layering a smaller, affordable rug over a larger one to introduce a new color or texture. You can find budget-friendly options in natural fibers or faux fur, adding a soft, inviting touch for holiday guests.

6. Add Greenery
   Bring in the outdoors with houseplants, which give any space an instant lift. For the holidays, add a few small evergreen trees, poinsettias, or mini rosemary plants, which double as décor and delightful natural scents.

7. Light Up with Candles
   Candles add warmth and ambiance that feel especially festive. Arrange them on shelves, tables, or even along your entryway for an inviting touch. For a low-cost option, grab a few pillar candles in holiday colors or a set of LED lights to keep it safe for family gatherings.

8. Introduce Festive Scents
   Scent is a subtle but powerful way to make a home feel refreshed. Simmer some cinnamon, cloves, and oranges on the stove for a cozy, holiday aroma or find affordable holiday-scented candles. Reed diffusers and essential oils in seasonal scents like pine or peppermint can also add a fresh twist.

9. Declutter and Deep Clean
   Sometimes, the best way to freshen up a space is to remove what doesn’t belong. Clearing away clutter can make a home feel more open and welcoming. Take the time to deep clean surfaces, especially in areas where guests gather like the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms.

10. Switch Up Art and Décor
    Rotate artwork or photos for a different vibe, or consider framing festive wrapping paper or postcards to make temporary, budget-friendly seasonal art. Small décor pieces like ornaments, garlands, or fairy lights in new places—like around a mirror or above a doorway—can add that holiday sparkle.

With these 10 tips, your home will feel cozy, inviting, and ready for the holiday season without requiring a huge investment.

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only. 

Christmas Tree Varieties

With so many beautiful Christmas trees to choose from, it can be hard to pick a type that will suit a family’s home and unique needs. You might not know that some trees are better for kids while others are great for people with allergies. Some have strong branches that are excellent for heavy ornaments while others are much more delicate. Here is my list of the top trees that you’ll find at your local farm or stand, and some of the key differences to help you find your perfect match. 

Balsam Fir

One of the most popular picks for Christmas is a balsam fir, which is loved for its sturdy needles, bright green color, strong scent, and beautiful shape. Because of its popularity, the balsam fir is also one of the more affordable options of all the different tree types. You can’t go wrong with this classic, which grows strong and lasts long. Plus, like most firs it’s hypoallergenic too. 

White Pine

This is another winner but for a much different reason than the balsam. White pines are loved by families for their super soft texture and touchable needles. They can grow very large and they are also inexpensive, which makes them the choice tree for many people with young children. One thing to note about this species is that those soft needles grow from delicate branches, so only go this route if you have lightweight ornaments. 

Douglas Fir

Though called a fir, the Douglas is actually a species all its own. While grown mainly in the Northwest region of the United States, this tree is popular all over the country because it’s tough enough to withstand early cutting and lots of traveling. The needles are soft with a sweet fragrance and the shape is conical, making it easy and fun to decorate without too much precision.

Blue Spruce

The color of this tree makes it the hero of any holiday decor. Those beautiful bluish needles are easy to fall in love with, but decorator beware - those babies are sharp! If you have a good set of gloves, they will be well worth using to get this tree in place. But once it’s decorated, you can rest easy as pets tend to keep their distance. 

Concolor Fir

The concolor is a favorite in my house because it has all the wonderful characteristics of the fir species - great shape, good color, strong branches, and long needles. The difference is the smell. Unlike most Christmas trees, this variety offers a beautiful citrus scent, keeping the house bright and fresh smelling through the holidays. 

What type of tree does your family love? Is there one I have missed that makes its way into your house year after year? I’d love to hear from you - shoot me a message on Facebook at facebook.com/odonnellbros. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

A Quick Guide to Christmas Tree Varieties

With so many beautiful Christmas trees to choose from, it can be hard to pick a style and species to suit a family’s home and unique needs. You might not know that some trees are better for kids while others are great for people with allergies. Yet other varieties are good for certain types of heat and can withstand warmer, dryer temperatures for longer. So without further ado, here is my list of the top trees that you’ll find at your local farm or stand, and some of the key differences to help you find your perfect match. 

Balsam Fir

One of the most popular picks for Christmas is a balsam fir, which is loved for its sturdy needles, bright green color, strong scent, and beautiful shape. Because of its popularity, the balsam fir is also one of the more affordable options of all the different tree types. You can’t go wrong with this classic, which grows strong and lasts long. Plus, like most firs, it’s hypoallergenic too. 

White Pine

This is another winner but for a much different reason than the balsam. White pines are loved by families for their super soft texture and touchable needles. They can grow very large and they are also inexpensive, which makes them the choice tree for many people with young children. One thing to note about this species is that those soft needles grow from delicate branches, so only go this route if you have lightweight ornaments. 

Douglas Fir

Though called a fir, the Douglas is actually a species all its own. While grown mainly in the Northwest region of the United States, this tree is popular all over the country because it’s tough enough to withstand early cutting and lots of traveling. The needles are soft with a sweet fragrance and the shape is conical, making it easy and fun to decorate without too much precision.

Blue Spruce

The color of this tree makes it the hero of any holiday decor. Those beautiful bluish needles are easy to fall in love with, but decorator beware - those babies are sharp! If you have a good set of gloves, they will be well worth using to get this tree in place. But once it’s decorated, you can rest easy as pets tend to keep their distance. 

Concolor Fir

The concolor is a favorite in my house because it has all the wonderful characteristics of the fir species - great shape, good color, strong branches, and long needles. The difference is the smell. Unlike most Christmas trees, this variety offers a beautiful citrus scent, keeping the house bright and fresh smelling through the holidays. 

What type of tree does your family love? Is there one I have missed that makes its way into your house year after year? I’d love to hear from you - shoot me a message on Facebook at facebook.com/odonnellbros. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.