As an interior designer, I always tell people the same thing: a tight budget, or no budget at all, does not mean your home cannot feel beautiful for Christmas. Free printable Christmas decorations are one of my favorite little secrets. A few clicks, a little ink, and you have art that looks like it came from a boutique.
Below, I have rounded up my favorite cottage farmhouse, vintage, and watercolor designs. Grab your favorites, and let's get your house feeling like Christmas.
What Are Free Printable Christmas Decorations?
Free printable Christmas decorations are digital art files. You download them, print them yourself, then frame or display them just like store-bought art. Most come as a PDF or JPG, sized for a standard frame like 8×10, 11×14, or 16×20.
Pro tip: Once you save the file, you can print it again and again. So reprint it smaller for a gift tag one year, then bigger for a framed piece the next.
Why Printables Are the Budget-Friendly Way to Decorate
A single piece of framed Christmas art at a home decor store can easily run you $30 or $40. A printable, on the other hand, costs you nothing but paper and ink. Plus, you can swap it out the moment you get tired of it.
How to Print, Frame, and Display Christmas Printables
Getting a printable to look like real art comes down to two things: good paper and the right size frame. So do not skip either one.
For an even more elevated look, try printing on canvas paper for an authentic gallery feel. Or, decoupage your paper print onto a surface for a hand-painted, artist-stroke effect.
Best Paper and Ink for Printing at Home
First, skip regular copy paper if you can. A matte cardstock in the 65 to 80 lb range holds ink better, and it feels closer to real art paper, or try canvas paper.
Pro tip: If your home printer struggles with color, take the file to Walgreens, Staples, or a local print shop instead. Most can print an 8×10 for just a couple dollars. It is also worth keeping an eye out for coupon codes, especially at Walgreens.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
First, the biggest mistake I see is printing a design at the wrong size. It comes out blurry, or it just does not fit the frame you already own. So always check the printable's listed dimensions before you print.
Also, skipping the mat board is the other common mistake. A simple white mat inside a plain frame makes even a free printable look like it came from a gallery.
Note: Some printable art I am sharing is from friends, with links to their blog posts, but you'll find any I created in my Free Printable Library. Simply subscribe to my newsletter to get access to over 40+ designs and more added all the time.
Now for the fun! Let's find a print for your house. Keep reading.
Cottage Farmhouse Christmas Printables
If your style leans cottage or farmhouse, start here. My friend over at Hip2Save has a set of four beautiful farmhouse-style Christmas printables: Merry & Bright, Sleigh Bells Ring, Joy to the World, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
First, they come in both PDF and JPG, sized at 8×10, so they are ready to frame the second you print them. I love grouping two or three together on a shiplap wall or a mantel for that classic farmhouse look. And if you need help putting your gallery together, check out my gallery wall post.
Vintage Christmas Printables
This look is my sweet spot, and I have a whole little collection of vintage-inspired designs just for you.
Vintage Christmas Gift Tags
Why buy gift tags when there are so many wonderful free ones you can make yourself? Especially since these free vintage Christmas gift tags are one of my most popular downloads. There are two pages worth, ready as soon as you subscribe to my newsletter.
For example, tie one onto a wrapped gift, turn it into a mini ornament, or tuck it into a card as a keepsake bookmark.
Christmas Fiat Vintage Car
This sweet little European car print, Dashing Through the Snow, has become a reader favorite. So frame it on its own, or pair it with my Peace on Earth printable below for a cozy vintage vignette.
If there is a year we need peace on earth, it is this one. Especially since this Peace on Earth free printable was the perfect addition to our mantle. I share more on how to print it large and frame it in that post.
Printable Vintage Christmas Trees
For a little extra investment, my set of four printable Vintage Christmas Trees mixes beautifully with the free prints above. Also, each tree is illustrated in watercolor. I love layering these with the free vintage car and gift tag designs on a gallery wall.
Here is a photo of them styled in my decorating with candles post. We placed a ribbon behind two prints and hung them as a wall decoration in our entryway.
Watercolor & Buffalo Check Christmas Printables
Soft watercolors and cozy buffalo check both have a permanent place in my holiday decor. Especially because these free finds do not disappoint.
Watercolor Christmas Favorites
Laura at The Turquoise Home shares a winter favorites watercolor design with a boxwood wreath, hot chocolate, and cozy sweaters. It works all winter long, so you get more mileage out of it than a strictly Christmas piece.
Holiday Plaid Letter Art
Joy doesn't end at Christmas time when you grow up, it lasts a lifetime. Yellow Bliss Road's free “Joy” print with its plaid border is one of my favorite rustic-themed finds. Plus, it fits right into any Christmas decor.
Gnome Christmas Free Printable
Clean and Scentsible's gnome printable has so much character. It is a fun way to bring an adorable gnome into your home for the season.
Watercolor Christmas Tree Print Friendly Art
Does your family go to a Christmas tree farm every year to pick out that perfect tree? If so, this Nest of Posies watercolor print will make you hear “heaven and nature sing” every time you pass it.
Buffalo Check Christmas Song Art
Christmas is no doubt “the most wonderful time of the year.” And buffalo check says it best in this Busy Being Jennifer printable. Frame it in black for extra contrast against the plaid.
Christmas Printables for Gift Wrapping & Tags
A few of my printables are not meant for the wall at all. Instead, they are meant for your gift table.
Wrapping Paper Christmas Truck
My printable Wrapping Paper Christmas Truck design prints on legal-size paper. That makes it just right for wrapping something small like a jewelry box or a pair of AirPods. You will find it in my free printable library below.
Printable Decor Crafts: Paper Bag Snowflake Patterns
I love created decor with paper like garlands or these snowflakes. Aren't they pretty?
These patterns turn plain paper bags into the prettiest handmade snowflakes for your tree or your windows. I walk through the whole process in my paper bag snowflake tutorial.
More Free Christmas Printables in My Library
I add new printables all year long, so there is a whole extra shelf of Christmas designs waiting for you that I have not even covered here. To get access to the free printable library, simply subscribe to my newsletter. It is free, and I share loads more home decor fun.
Now, in the printable library, you will find Christmas Wreath Packing Labels, the Wrapping Paper Christmas Truck, and more.
Christmas Wreath Packing Labels
Once the holidays wrap up, packing away Christmas decor is nobody's favorite job. That is why my printable Christmas Wreath Packing Labels make next year's unpacking so much easier. Stick one on every bin so you know what is inside before you even open it.
Shop My Best-Selling Christmas Printables
Finally, before we go, I have to share these bestselling printable decorations from my Etsy shop. They are less than $5 and hugely popular.
Victorian Santa Claus Printable
This vintage Santa Claus printable played a big role in my blue Christmas decorations last year. In fact, he was so loved that we used him twice: once on the mantel, once in the kitchen sitting area.
Santa Claus Reindeer Sleigh Set
This Santa Claus Reindeer Sleigh set of three is a best seller for good reason. It includes one print of Santa and two of an interconnected sleigh and reindeer in a snowy background, all in coordinating red, green, and white. Together, they pair beautifully with the vintage and farmhouse prints above for a gallery wall that looks pulled together, not thrown together.
FAQ
Overall, a matte cardstock between 65 and 80 lb gives you the richest color and the most realistic art look.
Can I get these framed without a printer at home?
Yes. Save the file to a flash drive or email it to yourself, then take it to Walgreens, Staples, or a local print shop.
Overall, a mantel, a gallery wall, or even a bookshelf with a little greenery all work beautifully. I especially love layering a few printables together rather than hanging just one.
Wrapping It Up
Overall, decorating for Christmas does not have to cost a thing beyond a little paper and ink. Mix a few of these free printable Christmas decorations with a piece or two from my Etsy shop, and you will have a mantel or gallery wall that looks like it belongs in a magazine.
If you're looking for more budget-friendly seasonal decor or Christmas crafts ideas, check out these posts:
- How to Make Snowflakes Out of Paper Bags
- Easy Yarn Winter Hat Santa Garland DIY
- How to Make a Christmas Pine Cone Wreath Swag
Do you have any favorite free Christmas printables? Or unique printable ideas? I'd love to hear about them in the comments!
Happy decorating, y'all.
Happy Decorating!
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