I finally got my Independence Day decorations up! All of these decorations that you see in these photos were either bought from thrift stores, inexpensively from a big box store, or DIYed. So I found them all easily on a budget.

Here all my tips for decorating inexpensively.

1. Go to Hobby Lobby. It usually has decorations for the the next holiday coming up for 40-60% off. I got the flag buntings shown below from there. The photo shows two hanging together, not extended out all the way. Last year I had them extended to each form a half circle and put them outside, under my two front windows, attached to window planter boxes. This year I just wasn’t willing to do all that work so thus I compromised by putting them up inside since that took a lot less work. I didn’t have to stand behind bushes and get prickled to get them attached.

2. Decorate with books! I’m blessed to have ledges above my windows and doors that have grooves. I think they were originally designed for displaying decorative plates. I’m not sure, but I have a vague memory of hearing about that somewhere sometime. I attempted to put a Pioneer Woman platter on one of the ledges but it wouldn’t fit. But I just discovered last night that my books do! Hooray!

When you go thrifting all year round, keep your eyes open for holiday-themed picture books and chapter books. Half of the books in these photos I have found at thrift stores. The others I got from the public library’s used books sales, or I bought full price (gasp– yes I do pay full price sometimes, for homeschooling). I’m excited to switch my books out for every season and holiday. I used to attempt to fit them all on the top of the small bookcase below but now I can spread them around the room above the windows and doorways even!

3. Get banners from Jennifer Flanders of flandersfamily.info here. You can print them at home using cardstock and then tape each piece onto a long piece of string or yarn. I just love the colors and prints she uses with the pennant squares. They just look so crisp and festive! You could also print them at a public library that has computers and printers for public use and Internet access.

4. Make red, and white blue garlands with my post here.

5. Walmart, Target, and Dollar Tree sometimes have decorations that are inexpensive, yet look nice, not cheap and junky. The firework centerpieces above were from Dollar Tree years ago.

6. Use string lights. You can find these at amazon or Hobby Lobby. I love the ones in the shapes of stars.

7. Use paint safe tape or command hooks to hang stuff. I use paint safe Scotch tape from amazon and green frog tape, which is also paint safe. I use the green tape behind stuff so you can’t see it. The Scotch tape is transparent so it’s OK if it’s showing.

8. Watch the video from Teresa Elling below for more tips! You don’t have to have a porch to use her ideas. It shows an easy way to sew a pennant banner. “Sew” pretty!

Happy Independence Day! Go here for more patriotic resources.