B eneath a hulking pine tree on church grounds, interior designer Amal Kapen collects conifer cones for her holiday table.

"It’s everywhere; you just have to pick it up," said Kapen, of Amal Kapen Interiors & Decorations in Cold Spring Harbor. "People were going to throw it away, and, here you are, you can use it."

Creative ways to keep holiday season costs low are top of mind for Long Island homeowners at a time when budgets tighten and shopping lists grow. The key to creating a warm holiday space at minimal cost is time, Kapen said.

"If you have the time, there’s lots of sources and places for you to find things that can make your home feel more festive," Kapen explained. "It doesn’t, and it shouldn’t have to be a lot of money."

Spending on holiday decorations is projected to decrea

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