Christmas Decorating 101

Christmas Decorating
Doesn't Have to be a Pain!

Like Christmas cleaning, your Christmas decorating can be quick, easy and spread a little holiday cheer throughout the entire house! It doesn't have to be elaborate, but if you do your decorating room-by-room, your home will be fun and festive in no time!

When we deck the halls here, I divide the house into sections when I decorate for the holidays. There are the 'public rooms' - those rooms that guests will spend the most time in. Then there are the 'private rooms' such as the bedrooms and office. The kitchen gets its own heading, and so does our bathroom.

I also use themes to decorate. There are dozens of ways to go with this idea. You can create a fantasy Victorian Christmas, choose a specific country and decorate the way they do there, or even choose a different theme for each room! When it comes to indoor Christmas decorating, my philosophy is: Buy some, make some, and plan even more for next year! This is my absolute favorite part of the holidays!! The sky is the limit - and the idea is to have some fun!

The Christmas Tree

For real trees, the choices are species and size. Fir, pine, spruce and cedar are all good choices - it depends on how you wish to use them. We have information on caring for your tree as well, so you can be sure it will last for the entire season. Whether you put the Christmas tree up before December 1st or on Christmas Eve, there are certain things you can do to be certain the beauty will last. You can cut your own, buy a cut tree, or even purchase one in a soil ball so you can plant it in the yard after the holidays!

These days, what with rising prices, global warming and all the other concerns we face, another decision is about how to have a Green Christmas. There are lots of ways to make your decorating earth friendly these days, and there is an article at the link above which can help.

Christmas Ornaments

The history of Christmas decorations and ornaments is interesting as well. Fortunes have been made and lost, and as we all know, Christmas decorating is big business, even in the smallest of towns!

Let there be (Christmas) Lights

Most department stores carry a dizzying array of different light sets. There are the tiny lights in white and all sorts of colors. There are bubble light strings, balls, star lights (and lighted stars!), even tiny Christmas trees on strings!

Specialty Christmas lights can be spectacular in certain areas, highlighting a single vignette Christmas village scene, or a crèche under the tree. There are different ones for outdoors which can turn your yard from an average suburban lot into a spectacular winter wonderland!

There are thousands of lighting options for both indoors and out! There are a few things that all Christmas lights have in common, though, and safety is among the first on the list.

Christmas Candles

Scented Christmas candles can enhance the holiday cheer in many ways. One thing to watch out for is tapers. Taper candles, especially those which will grace your holiday dinner table should not be scented!

The reason that scented tapers are hard to come by is that traditionally, these candles are used on the table to provide lighting for intimate dinners. Since one would not wish to overpower the aroma of the food offered, most candle companies do not scent taper candles!

Creating displays using different colors, sizes or types of candle can be a lot of fun, and will look very elegant presented on a mirror or glass top table. Single candles can highlight a picture, a card or even a plate of cookies on a tray.

I have even seen an entire nativity scene, made completely of candles! There are santas and snowmen, angels and reindeer, even pine cones and Christmas tree candles! The selection of Christmas candles available is truly astounding.

Because candles are, by definition, open fires, there are special safety considerations that must be taken into account. If you have children, pets or older family members, please be sure to check out our page on candle safety!!

Outdoor Christmas Decorations

Christmas decorating outdoors can be a lot of fun. Decorating the trees in the yard for wildlife is a wonderful holiday tradition at our house. We always put out food for the birds and squirrels, but they get special Christmas treats, too!

There are hundreds of outdoor holiday decorations, from simple silhouettes to inflatable santas. My Dad loves to get a new pre-lit deer each year, and even has pre-lit display trees to create a small forest for them. From simple and elegant to bright and gaudy - every style is covered when it comes to outdoor Christmas decorating!

And, speaking of outdoors, nearly every home has at least one wreath. For most people, their Christmas decorating would not seem finished without one! Many charitable organizations sell them at the holidays, every store has a fantastic selection, specialty Christmas shops will make custom wreaths, or you can even create your own! We always hang two: one on the garage door, and one to welcome guests at the front.

Along with wreaths, both real greenery and the artificial ones, go all of the other greenery-type Christmas decorating ideas, from garlands to centerpieces for the table. We'll help you weed through the choices, and even give directions for creating some of your own for a very personal touch!

Don't limit yourself to outdoors, either... Specialty wreaths can be wonderful gifts, and individually tailored to each person on your gift list!

Its easy to feel overwhelmed by all the choices available - but - you don't have to do everything there is! Start small and keep it simple! Pick a couple ideas, plan to add next year, and have some fun!! Its not a race, there is no competition unless you want it. (There are Christmas decorating contests, though, and they can be fun, too!)