Christmas Decorating Tips

Are you looking for some Christmas decorating tips to give your home a little holiday magic? Christmas decorating is a special part of most families’ holiday traditions, but many people have a love/hate relationship with it. After all, the mere words “Christmas tree lights” are enough to make many a grown man weep. The good news is that Christmas decorations can be almost as fun as opening Christmas presents. These Christmas decorating tips will take the sting out of your Christmas décor rituals so everyone will want to come home for Christmas.

Planning Ahead – The Most Important Tip

For such a happy, joyous time, Christmas sure can be stressful. The shopping, the Christmas parties, the visiting in-laws – there seems to be an endless supply of upheaval. Of course, you counteract these stressful intrusions by having a plan. You make lists for your gift shopping, you book the babysitter for the nights of the parties well in advance, and you draw a map to the nearest hotel for the in-laws. You should approach your Christmas decorating the same way. Here are a few things you can do to make sure the actual decorating goes more smoothly for you:

* After Christmas, pack everything up neatly and label the boxes. Target, Wal-Mart, and Kmart all have tons of storage containers designed to organize your Christmas decorating materials. If it is too late for this Christmas, remember this tip when you’re packing up next time.

* Decide on a theme or style for your decorating. Whether your perfect Christmas décor is modern and edgy, or if an Old World Christmas is more your cup of tea, having a decoration theme in mind will help you select the right Christmas accessories.

* Before you buy a tree, a tablecloth, a door wreath, or garland for the railings, take measurements.

* Inventory what Christmas decorating materials you have before you pull out the wallet in the shops for new stuff.

Christmas Decorating Tips

With your plan in hand, you’re ready to put your Christmas decorating tips into action. These ideas should help get your creative juices flowing:
The Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree is the center of most Christmas decorating adventures, and there are a lot of different approaches you can take with your tree. A tree lovingly decorated with handmade ornaments by the kids and overflowing with ornaments gathered over decades of shared Christmases is utterly charming and works in any home. Popcorn or cranberry garland complete the look.

If you prefer to have a more formal Christmas tree, consider using only two colors to decorate it – silver and gold work well. You can use silver and gold bulbs and bows, with white Christmas lights to pull it all together. For a formal tree, a light hand with the amount of ornaments is key.

Two Christmas tree styles that pass in and out of vogue over the years are colored lights and colored trees. Colored lights tend to have regional followings, and so your feelings on these might depend on where you live. White Christmas trees (either trees that are pure white, or trees that are green with fake white “snow”) can be pulled off. If you like kitschy design, a white tree could be your crowning glory. The rule of thumb - don’t sweat it. Pick what you like.

Other Christmas Decorating Tips

These Christmas decorating accessories will make your home a winter wonderland:

* Wreaths – Christmas wreaths can be made of holly, berries, bells, bulbs or even candy. Wreaths work inside or outside, so stock up. Small wreaths look great hanging from bedroom doors.

* Garland – Put your railings to good use and wrap them in garland. Fake pine garland works best for inside – real pine needles will drop anytime someone goes up the steps.

* Lights – What could put you in the Christmas mood more than some soft, warm lighting? Battery operated candles on window sills are extremely popular at Christmas time, but these candles can be used anywhere in the house you want a warm glow. Christmas tree lights can be strung along your railings or run along the ceiling.

* Candles – Battery operated candles are great, but Christmas is also a good time for real candles. Yankee Candle has Christmas themed scented candles that will spread the Christmas cheer throughout your home.

* Windows – Don’t forget to jazz up your windows. Put the kids to work cutting out snowflakes and Christmas characters and display them in the window.

* Christmas Table – If you have a separate dining room table that you don’t use for every day meals, set the table up for Christmas dinner early in the month and leave it that way until the big day.
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