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Decorating for the Holidays



Whether celebrating Kwanzaa, Hanukah, or Christmas, the home is one of the major elements of the holiday season. You will be spending many hours there due to the shortened daylight hours and the cold weather (if we are lucky). Perhaps your family will be in town, or you will be hosting a holiday party or two. Either way, most people wish to make this holiday season the best ever, or at least the most memorable. How do you get your home in its peak condition for the holidays?

What's hot and what's not?
As always, holiday decorating centers around warmth, comfort, and sophistication without the fuss. Since artificial greenery and trees are looking more realistic each year, they are becoming a new favorite - there is nothing sadder than your family Christmas tree, all carefully decorated, browning and losing needles well before December 25th. Artificial trees are reusable, do not lose needles, and do not contain allergens that may affect you or your guests.

Another element seen in holiday decorating is ribbon. You can wrap ribbon around anything - a chandelier, your fireplace mantle, wreaths, or even around the trunk of your Christmas tree. The most popular ribbon used recently is the double wired ribbon. This ribbon contains a thin wire running along either side of the ribbon which allows bows to hold their shape.

A new trend in decorating for the holidays is themes. Many people will chose an item or object to decorate around such as angels or an animal. The standard red and green colors are not your only choice - pastel colors are also very popular. Another option is to choose a unique complimentary color scheme such as yellow and violet or orange and blue. So, what do you do with the family decorations if they do not go with your new color scheme? Use them in new and unique ways. Create a garland where you hang family ornaments, or set up a second area of the house in a less formal area to display the precious family memories. You can also create a memory garland where you attach baby items and old family photos.

Don't forget about another major part of the holidays - gifts. Gifts usually fill your home and are on display before the big holiday event, so it is important that they also compliment your home's décor. One idea is to use exquisite designer gift wrap, perhaps handmade. Another idea is to try a very simple solid colored gift wrap with a beautiful bow or toy accent.

My favorite item used in holiday decorating is candles. Candles are intimate, warm, and cozy. It seems that everyone looks better by candlelight. If it is too warm for a fire, put a multitude of candles in your fireplace, or put a candelabra just in front of your fireplace. When using candles, make sure to keep them out of the reach of children and never leave them burning while you are not in the room. These safety precautions will ensure that the holiday season is celebrated without tragedy.

Don't forget about outside
How do you share your traditions with your neighborhood? Decorate the outside of your home. People of all traditions and faiths seem to get into the holiday spirit using the exterior of their home. It seems that as soon as one house on the street gets decorated, the whole neighborhood gets in the spirit of the holidays.

The main element of any exterior holiday decoration seems to be lights. This year you can expect to see mainly the traditional favorite white light, however red, green, blue, and amber lights will also be seen. Light swags, icicle lights, lighted animal sculptures, and light spheres are a very popular. It seems that smaller bulbs are more prominent than larger ones, and rope lighting will be very popular and used in creative ways. Whenever using outdoor lighting, make sure that the lights are UL approved and that you follow the manufacturer's directions.

Perhaps the second most important part of the exterior of your home is the front door. This is the first impression of visitors and should be a preview of what is found inside. Make sure it is well lit. Perhaps add a wreath or decoration to the door. A nice smelling potted plant by the front door, such as rosemary, or a fragrant evergreen will invite guests into your home. Also, make sure that your address is very visible from the street so visitors can easily find your home.

Out of Time
What do you do if you do not have time for all the holiday hoopla? Here are some ideas:
1) Hire someone to do the decorating for you - they are professionals and can have your home decorated to your specifications for your dinner party or before your relatives arrive. Often times they will even purchase your holiday decorations so that you do not have to lift a finger. The best part about it - they also take down everything after the holidays.
2) Hire someone to do your gift wrapping. There are professional gift wrappers that come to your home and wrap all your gifts for you, or you can hire the high school student down the street. Remember that first impressions last, even those of a gift.
3) Plan ahead. Try pre-decorating your home - do not wait until the last minute. If your family tradition is to decorate your Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, get everything ready beforehand. Have the lights, ribbons, and other non-ornament items already on the tree. Get the ornaments down from the attic and ready to be deployed. Make sure your children feel involved in the decorating process.

The most important thing to remember about decorating for the holidays is that it should not be a chore. Have fun, do a piece at a time, and involve the whole family.



For more information on where to find holiday decor, visit the designer resources section of this website.