Decorating your home with holiday cheer is supposed to be a delightful activity. But for many of us, holiday cheer equals endless shopping, party hopping and attending children's pageants. The last thing we want to do is pull out all the stops to decorate our home. So before you add another item to your Holiday To Do List take a look at these quick, simple ideas to add more sparkle and less stress to your Holiday Season.- Bring in the Greenery: If you like the smell of a Christmas tree but not the mess, consider using natural wreaths and boughs as decorating options. Just be sure to mist them lightly throughout the month to prevent the needles and leaves from drying and falling out.
- Play Your Cards: With a simple basket or card-holder to display greeting cards, you can add a festive touch to any entryway. And here's a tip: Place some tape and a small pair of scissors (child proof if you have small children in the house) near your greeting card display. As you receive cards from friends and relatives, use the scissors to cut the return address from the envelope and tape it to the back of the card. This way when the holidays are over, you'll be able to update your card list with correct addresses.
- Tie on a bow: When you put bows on everything from candlesticks to chair backs and doorknobs, you'll add a festive look and tie together a decorating scheme throughout the house. Plus, they are simple to make. (See our EASY BOW TIE INSTRUCTIONS.) Purchase a bolt of ribbon that coordinates with your home. For example, if you have a lot of blue furniture, you might want to choose a Christmas plaid with red, green and navy. If you don't have a predominant color in your home, you may want to stick with a solid red, silver or gold. Simply cut and tie as many bows as needed. Then use a small piece of floral wire slipped through the knot of the bow to attach them to wreaths, along the banister—anywhere else that needs a little touch of the season.
- Grow a Gift or Two: Looking for a gift that will provide a little decoration before you give it away? Try forcing bulbs of heavy-scented, trumpet-shaped Amaryllis or Narcissus, also known as paper-whites, in a colorful container. Fill the container with decorative stones. Plain stones, gravel, and soil will work, but the decorative stones allow you to display your creativity. Set bulbs onto the stones, pushing them down just far enough so the bulbs are supported in an upright position. You can put several of them together without having to worry about crowding. Add water just to the bottom of the bulb. (If the water covers too much of the bulb, they can rot.) Place them in a cool place for one to two weeks. When the roots have begun to take hold, and the plant has sprung from the bulb, bring the container into a brightly lit room. In about four to six weeks, your flowers will be in bloom for your recipient.
- Give Little Gifts: Have you thought of all those little gifts for people like your hairdresser, teachers, neighbors, party hosts, or the mail carrier? Some ideas to consider are scented candles, restaurant gift certificates, homemade cookies or cakes, or personalized ornaments. You can make the task easier by buying multiples of the same gift. When you have the gifts, spend one evening wrapping them and place in a basket near your front door. Not only will they add a cheerful touch to your entryway, but they'll also be easy to grab as you walk out the door.
- All That Sparkles is Wonderful: It's easy to add a little sparkle around the home. Simply fill a glass jar, bowl or vase with shiny ornaments for a quick centerpiece. If you don't have a Christmas tree, hang ornaments from houseplants or indoor trees. With a bit of fishing line or clear twine, you can even hang a group of similar ornaments, such as silver bells, from a high ceiling or near a window for bit of concentrated shimmer.
- Bring on the Food: If you have a traditional menu, you may know exactly what you'll be serving when your guests arrive. But, if you're planning on trying something new, it's a good idea to test the recipe a couple of weeks before hand so you can adjust for your taste. For a little extra fun, consider using holiday-themed serving dishes. When you use special serving pieces you'll add a distinctly festive touch to the meal.
- Don't Forget the Linens: Adding special holiday linens to your dining room table can transform the room from everyday to holiday in a flash. If your table becomes too large for your usual tablecloth when you add the leaves, don't fret, just layer. You can get creative by using a tablecloth of one color for the bottom layer and place a coordinating tablecloth over it at an angle so both cloths, and your creativity, can be seen. Another quick way to transform your table is with a runner. At a fraction of the expense of many tablecloths, you can have one for almost every holiday.
- Light the Way: Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, candles are an easy way to set the mood. For a simple centerpiece with a big impact, create a candle garden. Arrange a group of three to nine pillar candles of varying heights on a tray, platter or wooden board to avoid getting candle wax on the table linen. Then decorate the base of the arrangement with fresh pine boughs, fake snow or sparkly glitter. Use groups of smaller votive candles to decorate bathrooms and guest rooms.
- Add Some Tunes:For instant holiday cheer, just add music. Around the holiday season many of your favorite recording artists put out Christmas albums. Find inexpensive holiday CDs in the bargain bin of your neighborhood music store. For timeless music that is sure to put you in the spirit, old standbys like Bing Crosby are the best bet.
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