It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Is your home decorated yet? If not, don’t fret.
Now is the time to collect items and ideas that will become your holiday décor. You might even find some of them in your own back garden.
Or you may like to stroll through stores to see the newest themes in the holiday displays and use them in your own. If you’re really creative, you can transform some of your older decorations into newer treasures by using a bit of imagination, a can of spray paint here, a new ribbon there. Whatever the case may be, know that your decorating theme should suit your lifestyle, not what is “in vogue” this year.
This piece is devoted to imagination and creative ideas for your home, no matter what your taste: traditional, French, early American, or contemporary.
There is a little bit of something for every style of decorating. Don’t be afraid to tie in your Christmas decorating with your home’s everyday decor, i.e. pick up the colors in your patterned drapery or upholstered furniture, don’t just follow trends.
For example, if your interior is based on white or ivory tones, you may want to complement it with tiny white lights, flowers, cream-colored candles and natural greenery. Perhaps you may want to add crystals or glass ornaments to give extra sparkle. If your home is in earth tones, you may want to accent with copper and bronze ornaments.
If your tendency is toward jewel-toned fabrics, emerald green, ruby red, gold, dark purple and sapphire blue ornaments will all complement your theme.
If you have a fireplace, your mantel will become the centerpiece, It’s texture, color, balance and style are all factors to keep in mind. For a contemporary look, use repetition and symmetry. Use simple objects and repeat them several times. For a country look to your mantel, gather some branches, strand branches up in a narrow vase or lay them on the mantel. Hang ornaments on them and complement them with natural greenery.
Traditional mantelpieces look beautiful either swaged or layered with natural greenery, traditional ribbons and bows in satin, velvet or taffeta, mini white lights and artificial, sugared fruit picks.
Tip: Don’t try to put everything on your mantel. Pick a theme and stick to it!
Here are a few simple holiday dinner table ideas you may want to try: Fill a glass bowl with water; add cranberries and floating candles and you have a festive and elegant centerpiece. Create festive name tags with bright ribbon or raffia to gold or silver spray-painted pine cones or Christmas ornaments and use as place cards at your dinner table.
Adorn a simple chandelier with ropes of gold, silver or red beads and attach drop crystals.
Scatter the same bead strands or crystals on your dining table. Take some inexpensive dollar store candles and give them an ornate look by puncturing them several times in a random fashion with in- expensive pierced earrings or wrapping them with headbands or ribbons. Place the candle in the middle of the table and surround with twigs.
So as you’re decorating your home for the holidays this year, be creative, have fun and enjoy every moment! Remember, decorate for your lifestyle, not someone else’s.
“Happy Holidays!”
