40 Easy 4th of July Decorations to Get You in the Holiday Spirit

Front Porch Decor

Don't splurge on expensive store-bought outdoor 4th of July decorations; decorating your front porch on a budget is easy, even if you don't have a blue or red front door (like this one)! We love the way the white wreath (perfect for other holidays, too!) ties together the simple DIY planter rocket in the plants.

Pretty Bar Fans

Fans help guests stay cool on a hot day, but they can also double as DIY 4th of July decorations. Find tinted fans at a local crafts store or dip-dye plain white fans in red and blue dyes. Then hang fans on a length of twine above your bar and add a spread of patriotic cocktails. Our free printables make it so easy to set up the bar area!

Patriotic Treat Tags

Turn ordinary picnic items into adorable Fourth of July decor with simple paper accents. For example, we love how these fun words and phrases turn ordinary ice cream cones into festive Fourth of July desserts. Simply print onto plain paper and cut to fit your ice cream cone, then secure with a small drop of glue.

Patriotic Paper Lanterns

Red, white, and blue paper lanterns ($9, Walmart) become bubbly 4th of July decorations over your dining table. Use a long piece of sturdy string and tie each lantern onto it. Fold the string in half before hanging it to create a layered look. If you're preparing for a star-spangled soiree, our free printable checklist will help you make sure you have everything you need.

Buy It: Multi-Size Paper Lanterns ($19, Target)

Starry Night Decorations

Give your lawn the star-spangled treatment for a 4th of July party. Focus the stars near the entrance to your yard for a dramatic welcome. To make, cut a star shape from a piece of cardboard, or buy a reusable star stencil ($7, Walmart). Place the stencil on the lawn and spray the grass lightly with water. Leaving the stencil in place, use a flour sifter to lightly fill the shape with flour. Remove the stencil and repeat.

4th of July Buckets

Share your patriotic sentiments with guests by labeling oversize buckets with large vinyl letters ($4, Walmart). Fill the buckets with ice to keep beverages cool during a hot 4th of July barbecue, or use them to hold boxes of sparklers.

Printable Patriotic Banner

A bright 4th of July banner is a quick decor fix for any Independence Day gathering. Our free printable makes it easy to hang for a patriotic celebration—just print, cut, and string! Add an extra pop with red, white, and blue confetti ($6, Walmart).

Flag Centerpiece

Make the flag the star of your 4th of July decorating with this easy outdoor centerpiece. Tuck an American flag around the edges of a clear glass vase. Then fill with your favorite red, white, and blue 4th of July flowers. A base of fresh, juicy fruit doubles as a serving platter and adds pretty color.

Rockets Centerpiece

Paper rockets blast off from a shiny sand-filled bucket in this fun 4th of July craft.

To make each rocket:

1. Roll scrapbooking paper into a tube and glue.
2. For the nose cone, cut a slit to the center of a paper circle; overlap ends, and secure them together using glue.
3. Glue a ribbon strip inside the rocket to resemble a fuse, and glue a long dowel inside the tube to support the rocket.

Mini Flag Banner

A simple flag banner is always a classic 4th of July decoration, perfect for any style of gathering! Purchase or print out small paper flags, and use clips or clothespins to attach the flags to a long piece of twine or ribbon.

Paper Pinwheel Wreath

Make a bright and fun 4th of July pinwheel wreath in just minutes! Make small pinwheels from double-sided scrapbook paper, then use glue to attach the pinwheels to an embroidery hoop. Hang the finished wreath on the front door, or use it as a festive piece of wall decor.

Sparkler 4th of July Decorations

Dress up sparklers ($15, Walmart) and set them out as table decorations. Our free printable tags are fun additions to this 4th of July staple; just print, cut, and attach to the sparklers. We love the way they look mixed in with red and blue confetti!

Sweet Spoon Stamps

Make digging into the 4th of July feast a touch sweeter by decorating plain wooden utensils with red and blue ink stamps of stars, stripes, and other patriotic designs.

Fireworks Bucket

Make a colorful container for carting treats to the fireworks display. Cover unused paint cans ($19 for 6, Walmart) with red, white, and blue scrapbooking paper, and supply the kids with stickers and markers to personalize their cans. Line the inside of the can with a large plastic bag before filling it with homemade snack mix or another easy finger food.

Patriotic Bandana Wreath

This 4th of July bandana wreath is simple to make, and it's pretty inexpensive. You only need red and blue bandanas (2 for $4, Target) and a plain hoop wreath. Plus it's easy for the kids to help, so you can keep them busy while you prepare for the holiday.

Flag-Theme Centerpiece

About 300 miniature flags make up this eye-catching centerpiece. It's easier to make than you might think. Just wrap a foam wreath form in crepe paper, then insert flags until the wreath is covered for this simple 4th of July decoration.

Red, White, and Blue Picnic Servers

Spruce up recycled containers (oatmeal containers work well) with scrapbooking paper to make simple utensil holders. Cut paper to size, and use a glue stick to adhere to the outside of each container. Purchase a small amount of chalkboard paint ($7, Target) to make easy labels.

Editor's Tip: Short on time? Use premade chalkboard labels ($6, Walmart) instead.

Dessert Decor

Add a little pizzazz to your treats table with festive toothpicks. Look for premade picks at a grocery or crafts store. Or make your own by printing shapes on cardstock, cutting them out, and taping to the tops of toothpicks. These little red, white, and blue flags are also great for differentiating your patriotic desserts this holiday.

Red, White, and Blue Flowerpots

Add patriotic pops of color to your 4th of July bash. Fill painted pots with red, white, and blue summer flowers, and line them up on your front stoop or deck.

Pretty 4th of July Pinwheels

Swirling red, white, and blue pinwheels mimic the fireworks you'll see later in the day. These decorations are perfect for lining a walkway or filling a tall vessel. They also make great DIY party favors! Our free pinwheel pattern makes it so easy to create these decorations.

Bicycle Decor

Don't limit your 4th of July decorations to your home or backyard! We love how a few simple stars transform an ordinary bicycle into a fun, patriotic display. Cut stars from colorful cardstock and weave them through the spokes of your bike. Secure with a strip of tape. Perfect for a 4th of July parade or jut a ride around the neighborhood!

Bandanna Table Runner

Give your picnic table a 4th of July makeover with patriotic table decorations. A runner of neatly pressed bandannas in hues of blue and white looks fresh, especially when paired with pretty floral centerpieces.

4th of July Napkin Ring

Upgrade your 4th of July summer dinner table with patriotic place settings. Attach one end of a 12-inch piece of festive striped ribbon to the flat side of a D ring; secure with glue. Layer a box of sparklers on top of a dinner napkin, and wrap it with your ribbon loop.

4th of July Water Bottles

Wrap small flags around water bottles for an incredibly simple way to add 4th of July decorations. Plastic or fabric flags work best—paper flags will wither as the water condenses.

4th of July Flowers and Candles

Top your July 4th tablescape with a few patriotic decorations—like these homemade candleholders and vases. Make these centerpieces your own with red, white, and blue patterned paper. Attach to the clear vessels using adhesive.

4th of July Chair Cover

Add July 4th flair to your chairs with cloth napkin slipcovers. To make, fold a napkin in half and iron to crease. Cut four pieces of red, white, and blue ribbon ($13, Walmart), then glue one inside each napkin corner. Tie to close. Hot-glue or stitch red cording to spell "4th," and you're done!

Editor's Tip: Use any cording scraps to add firework bursts to your chair covers.

Blue Glassware Centerpiece

A collection of blue bottles and drinking glasses makes a charming 4th of July centerpiece, especially when filled with red, white, and blue flags or flowers. Tie the look together with a colorful table runner and fresh berry pie!

4th of July Lantern Table Setting

For unique DIY 4th of July decorations, spray-paint matching antiques or thrift store finds with metallic red, white, or blue paint. Pair them with American flags and color-coordinated flowers for a table setting that's ready in no time!

USA Letters

Show your American pride with these colorful letters. Buy plain wooden letters ($5, Michaels) and get creative with red, white, and blue acrylic paint. Mix and match solid colors with stars and stripes.

Editor's Tip: Looking to save these for years to come? Coat the letters with polyurethane for durability.

4th of July Lanterns

Illuminate the outdoors with festive 4th of July decorations. Search for fireworks-pattern lanterns, or create your own with stencil designs atop large white paper lanterns ($18, Michaels).

Editor's Tip: Unfold the lantern a day in advance to stretch it out for easier decorating.

Labeled Serving Buckets

Get your red, white, and blue on at the dinner table this year—even plain buckets can get dressed up with 4th of July decorations! Use sticker labels or make your own with fun sayings like Yum! or Enjoy! Attach a label to the front of each bucket. Fill the buckets with whole fresh fruits, or use them to display delicious strawberry dessert recipes.

Flag Napkin Ring

Create a fun and easy 4th of July table setting with purchased miniature American flags ($12 for 12, Walmart). Just wrap each flag around a table napkin, pin it, and your party place setting is ready.

4th of July Flags

Make your own 4th of July flags! Purchase wooden skewers and a spool of flag-print ribbon at your local crafts store. Wrap a 3-inch length of ribbon around the top of each skewer; secure with tape.

DIY Bunting

Add bunting to your porch to welcome guests this 4th of July. Buy several yards of patriotic-pattern fabric (determine length based on where the bunting will hang). Starting at one end, gather the fabric about every 24 inches and secure the gathers using red, white, or blue yarn. Use the same color of yarn to attach the patriotic bunting to a porch rail.

Patriotic Table Edging

Turn a plain table into something special for your 4th of July celebration. Add double-stick tape to the table edge to hold a red, white, and blue crepe paper streamer ($17, Walmart) in place.

Editor's Tip: Pleat the streamer by pinching the top of it all around the table. If necessary, secure the pleats with tape.

Three-Vase Patriotic Centerpiece

Transform red-white-and-blue striped paper lanterns into 4th of July centerpieces for your table. Just slip each lantern over a clear glass, and tuck a handful of white blooms inside.

Editor's Tip: A solid background—such as a blue table runner—will make these decorations pop.

Red, White, and Blue Fan Favors

Paper fans help guests keep cool at outdoor summer parties. These darling ones add patriotic flair to any event. Insert sturdy straws or dowels between the ends of opened mini decorative paper fans. Glue a circle of firework-pattern paper in the center.

Editor's Tip: Find fans at a local party supply store; look for fans intended to hang by a string.

4th of July Flower Centerpiece

Your 4th of July decorating ideas don't have to be complicated. This fun centerpiece takes just minutes to pull together. Fill a clear Mason jar with fresh red, white, or blue flowers, and add a miniature American flag to finish.

Festive Flag Wreath

This rustic summer wreath adds instant patriotic charm to your front door. Wrap rope around a lifesaving ring or wreath base using hot glue to secure. Then add a few American flags for a touch of U.S. decor.

Lemon Boat Place Cards

For any gathering that includes a meal, consider adding this fun 4th of July serving idea for each guest as part of your decor. These lemon boats are too cute for words—make one for each place at the table, or set them out at the drink station. Guests can use the lemons to squeeze into their beverages, and they'll love the red and blue touch!