Christmas Decorating Strategies

With so much decorative choice at Christmas, a strategy is needed to ensure that whatever is done looks organized, well arranged and beautiful. By doing some basic or traditional decoration, along with trying creative and different ideas, a beautiful and pleasing Christmas decorating environment can be created in all homes with a wide range of budgets.

Wreaths

Traditional Christmas decorating ideas usually begin with wreaths for doors or entranceways and on a wall with an unobstructed view. Choose from among your favorite types of berry, grapevine, poinsettia or snow. The berry wreath will have small clusters of red berries, holly leaves with features like a gold tint, pine cones and needle styles. A grapevine wreath has a vine-like look and may have pine sprigs and clusters of red berry. Poinsettia wreaths showcase leaves that are red or different shades of red. Fruits such as pear, apple and grape clusters may appear throughout as well. Snow wreaths have an icy look from pine cones that are sprinkled or covered with snow.

Lights

Using Christmas lights outdoors along the frame of houses and icicle shaped ones to decorate the roof lines of homes have become very popular. Icicle lights are just as easy as regular lights to put in place and they create a pleasing display for the holidays. Adding colors and patterns can also make the displays look more spectacular.

For indoor lighting, candles are an attractive Christmas decorating staple, lighting up the night in a subdued, beautiful manner. Candles create a pleasing look when displayed at windows, particularly in a vertical pattern. Electric candles are safer alternatives, especially around children and pets. Battery-operated candles can be used in places where there aren’t any electrical outlets.

Garlands & Ribbons

Garlands are a traditional favorite that can be placed along surface where they can be hung vertically or horizontally. Bows made from holiday ribbons provide a festive look when pinned onto curtains. Christmas lights wrapped along with garlands on a stair railing can add a twinkling Christmas look.

Other Hanging Decorations

Christmas stockings, even without stuffers for Christmas morning, make perfect Christmas decorations. A collection hung on the mantle or wall will look just as beautiful as those that are often seen in stores. Mistletoe can also be hung just about anywhere with or without Christmas lights. If the tale about mistletoe is believed however, then hang it with room underneath where two people can have a friendly holiday kiss or hug. Fake snow sprinkled on garlands, mistletoes and wreaths will further enhance their appearance. Like curtains, houseplants can also be dressed up for the holidays. Small Christmas ornaments gently placed on houseplants give porches and patios a surprising Christmas decorative look.

Recycled Decorations

Pictures from old Christmas cards make great decorative collages once glued onto a poster board. They can be framed or hung as is on a wall. Dulling Christmas cookie cutters can be a simple and creative decorative item at Christmas time. Take a little ribbon and string cookie cutters to be placed on the Christmas tree or a window as decorative ornaments. And to borrow a decorative feature from department stores, old boxes can be wrapped, piled in a corner from floor to ceiling to make a gift pillar decoration.