Deck the Halls
by Mary Lou Sanzobrin
Let me be frank, I like Martha Stewart. O.K. I LOVE Martha Stewart and her Holiday decorating ideas! But, the last time I looked around my house I did not have a staff of fifty people available to help me decorate. Plus, with me being a stay-at-home mom I have to be wise with my decorating budget. And Holiday decor can be pricey. I love to decorate but I would rather spend money on gifts for my child then décor for the holidays.
For those of you who may be like me who chant the mantra “Less is more” let me share some quick, easy, and inexpensive Holiday decorating tips.
- First things first. Set a plan or a theme
for your Holiday decorating. It doesn't cost a thing to have a
good plan, and when you are working with budget ideas, this is
what pulls your ideas together, and makes everything you do look
purposeful, and personal. Some theme ideas for the Holidays?
- Decide on 3 to 4 areas you will focus
on decorating this year. Here are some choices: the front door,
the front yard, the entry hallway, the kitchen table, the dining
room table, the living room, the patio, the bathroom, or the bedroom.
There are other areas you could consider as well. But if you want
quick and dirty, then focus in on only 3 to 4 of the areas for
decorating this year. Anyway, you can select other areas next
year for a change.
· Santa Christmas
· Star of David Hanukkah
· Fruit and Vegetable themed Kwanzaa
· Rustic lodge
· Toyland
· Countries around the world
· Victorian
· Country
· Snowmen
· Angels; the list goes on and on! - Take down your pictures and wrap them like a gift, then hang
them back on the wall for great holiday cheer! You don't have
to do this all around the house, how about just in the entry,
or maybe the dining room?
- Greenery- Tie greens or ornaments to the chandelier
with a little Christmas ribbon; just make sure they don't hang
low enough for any candles on the table to catch them on fire.
- Bows – These are a godsend. Tie them on everything.
They are a great little item to help unify your decorating theme.
Add bows to: houseplants, banisters, candlesticks, drapery tie-backs,
doorknobs, or wreaths.
- Wreaths – Add them everywhere too. Front door,
back door, mantle or in all your front windows
- Candles – Burn candles that smells like cookies
or eggnog. Did you know research shows your house can look pleasant
and inviting but if there is a strong odor (garbage not taken
out or litter box not cleaned) that negative sensation will cancel
out the positive and what will be remembered is the smell not
the eye-pleasing décor? Something to think about!
- Gingerbread House – Make one and use it as
a centerpiece. There are great easy kits you can buy at Target
now. They’ll be a hit!
- White lights – String them around plants. String
them everywhere. They are festive and give your room just the
right amount of sparkle.
- Poinsettias – Put these everywhere too. Just
be careful with pets.
- Glass – Display colored glass ball ornaments, beads, or pine cones in bowls in addition to hanging them on your tree.
These are just a few inexpensive ideas for the Holidays. Don’t forget to hit up some truly wallet friendly stores like: Big Lots, Tuesday Morning, Marshall’s, Factory 2 U, Ross, and Garden Ridge. I also love Michaels with my 40% off coupons and Hobby Lobby.
Above all slow down and enjoy this Holiday season. Enjoy old and make new traditions. After all, the meaning of the season is more important than the décor.
For more crafty ideas for Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa please visit the Better Homes and Garden links below. They have some great ideas. For the Martha Stewart in all of you visit Martha Stewart's website for some fabulous ideas to make. Her link is below as well.
Happy Holidays!
