Interactive: How to save on holiday décor without skimping on your setup

Prices are up. Nearly half of Americans plan to spend less on holiday décor this year. Find out exactly how much you can save with the right strategy. Forty-five percent of consumers plan to spend less on holiday décor this year, and 30% aren't buying any new decorations at all — and given that prices have climbed 10% in the past year, it's hard to blame them. Tell us about your holiday setup and we'll show you where the real savings are hiding — from the type of tree you pick to how you shop for the rest of your décor. 45% — Planning to spend less 10% — Price increase 91% — Growers holding prices If your holiday budget is feeling the squeeze, you're not imagining things. Tariffs and rising diesel costs have driven artificial Christmas tree prices up between 10% and 15% over the past two holiday seasons. Add a broader 10% jump in holiday décor overall, and it's easy to see why nearly half of Americans are rethinking how much they spend this year. But here's what the experts want you to know: the best deals aren't necessarily the cheapest options on the shelf. 'They're not necessarily looking for the cheapest,' said Chris Butler, CEO of National Tree Company. 'They're looking for best value and the thing that comes with the best functionality.' That distinction — cheapest versus best value — is the key to spending smarter, not just spending less. They're not necessarily looking for the cheapest, they're looking for best value and the thing that comes with the best functionality. Chris Butler, CEO of National Tree Company Real vs. Artificial: Which Tree Wins for You? Real Tree Budget Artificial Mid-Range Artificial Upfront Cost Typically lower than mid/high artificial $50 and up at Walmart Higher upfront investment Annual Cost Repurchase every year Spreads across many seasons Spreads across many seasons Setup Time Assembly required Varies by model Some pop into shape in under 1 minute Price Trend This Year 91% of growers not raising prices Up 10–15% over 2 seasons Up 10–15% over 2 seasons Extras Available Natural scent and look Basic options Rotating bases, switchable lighting If you already own an artificial tree that's still in good shape, the smartest move may be to keep it. Adding a few new ornaments or a small secondary tree in another room can give your home a genuinely fresh look for a fraction of what an entirely new setup would cost. That's the real savings strategy hiding in plain sight this season. For shoppers who do need something new, real trees have a price stability advantage right now — the Real Christmas Tree Board found that nine out of ten wholesale growers aren't planning to raise what they charge retailers. That doesn't guarantee your local lot holds the line, but the supply side is cooperating. Where Americans Are Cutting Holiday Décor Spending Planning to spend less this year: 45 Not buying any new decorations: 30 Real tree wholesale growers not raising prices: 91 How Holiday-Smart Is Your Shopping Strategy? Five questions. Find out if your habits are helping — or costing you more than you think. Artificial Christmas tree prices have risen by what amount over the past two holiday seasons? About 2–5% — The increase was steeper than that — tariffs and diesel costs pushed artificial tree prices up 10% to 15% over the past two seasons. That's a meaningful jump for a purchase that can run well over $100. About 10–15% — Exactly right. Tariffs and diesel costs drove artificial tree prices up 10% to 15% over the past two holiday seasons — a key reason nearly half of consumers are planning to spend less on décor this year. About 25–30% — The real number is lower — 10% to 15% — but that's still significant when stacked on top of broader holiday décor price increases of about 10% this year alone. Prices have actually dropped — Not quite — prices are currently 'relatively steady,' but that follows a climb of 10% to 15% over the past two holiday seasons driven by tariffs and higher diesel costs. According to the Real Christmas Tree Board, what share of wholesale growers are NOT planning to raise prices this season? About half — The number is much higher — 91% of wholesale growers surveyed said they don't plan to raise their prices, giving real-tree shoppers a rare piece of good news heading into the holidays. About two-thirds — Close in spirit, but the actual figure is notably higher. The Real Christmas Tree Board found 91% of wholesale growers aren't raising prices — a strong signal for retail price stability. 91% — Correct. Nine out of ten wholesale growers surveyed by the Real Christmas Tree Board aren't planning a price increase — good news for the millions of Americans who prefer a real tree each year. Less than a quarter — The real number is far more encouraging — 91% of wholesale growers said they're holding prices steady, suggesting most shoppers won't see real tree price spikes at the lot. One of the biggest selling points for newer artificial trees, according to National Tree Company CEO Chris Butler, is what? They're significantly cheaper than older models — Price is actually secondary. Butler said shoppers today prioritize value and functionality over raw cost — and the top feature they want is convenience: easy, fast setup and takedown. They last longer than previous generations — Durability wasn't the focus. Butler identified convenience — specifically trees that can be set up in under a minute — as 'number one' for today's holiday shoppers. They can be set up in under a minute — Right. 'That's number one — people are really looking for that convenience. The ease of setting up and taking down,' Butler said. Some newer models essentially pop into shape without branch-by-branch assembly. They are made from eco-friendly materials — That wasn't the selling point Butler highlighted. The top draw is speed and ease — trees that set up in under a minute are driving buying decisions more than material sourcing right now. According to Chris Butler, what's one of the best ways to save when decorating multiple rooms? Buy everything right after Christmas when it goes on clearance — Post-holiday clearance is a real strategy — but Butler's specific recommendation was about buying coordinated collections rather than individual items to get better value per piece throughout the season. Buy a coordinated décor collection rather than individual pieces — Exactly what Butler recommended. 'There's probably money to be saved if you buy a collection rather than individual items, for sure,' he said. Collections like the My Texas House line at Walmart bundle trees, wreaths, doormats, and tree skirts together. Only decorate the main living room — Butler actually suggested the opposite — adding small secondary trees in other rooms can freshen the whole house for less than replacing your main centerpiece tree. Replace your main tree with a larger one — Butler specifically advised against this as the first instinct. Adding smaller trees in a bedroom or dining room gives a fresh look across the house for far less than buying a new centerpiece tree. Among savvy holiday shoppers, which of these approaches is cited as the most effective way to avoid overpaying on decorations? Sticking to one store to earn loyalty rewards — Loyalty programs have value, but the core advice is simpler: compare prices across multiple retailers before buying to verify that a 'sale' price is actually a good deal — not just a marked-up starting point. Only shopping on Black Friday — Black Friday deals are real, but the deepest discounts on holiday decorations actually drop after the holidays end. Black Friday is a good opportunity, but not the only or necessarily best one. Comparing prices online before buying in-store — This is the foundational advice. Checking several retailers online before heading to the store gives you a baseline so you can tell whether a sale price is actually a deal — or just normal pricing with