Raising seven children has made Cortney and Robert Novogratz of 9 By Design total pros at throwing a festive holiday celebration while sticking to a budget. The designers are out with the book Downtown Chic and suggest re-purposing your favorite things with a holiday twist to keep down costs. "Thanksgiving or any holiday, don't over-complicate things," Robert advises. "It's all about family, friends and reflecting on the year." Get some of their tips below!

Use pumpkins and natural elements for decorations. Give your home a more unique seasonal look by mixing in white, green or grey pumpkins to your decorations. For the centerpiece, take your favorite vase and fill it with cinnamon sticks, or pine cones and acorns from the backyard.

Also, if you have a birch tree you can collect branches to use as table decorations. Cut them into pieces of different heights and paint them in your favorite color. You can place your own candles on top of the wide branches or simply line them along the table.

Plan arts and crafts for the kids so you have time to cook. "Take construction paper and ask them to write down in the center what they're thankful for," Cortney suggests, "and they can wear it as a crown throughout the day!"

Get the whole family involved in your holiday cards. Start planning in advance of the holidays when you have more free time and ask your kids how they would like to be photographed for your cards. They are bound to have creative ideas that won't cost a lot of money!

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