'Tis the Season!

If you’re anything like me, you’ve already started decorating for the season…or at least started to think about it.  Holiday time with my family is very similar to the image created in all the children’s books about the North Pole.  There is enough holiday music, eggnog and decorations to make any Santa, Sinterklaas or Saint Nick proud; even our dogs are transformed into miniature elves during the season.  If growing up with this has done anything for me, it’s taught me how to decorate, how to avoid common decorating blunders, and how to entertain during the holidays.

Don’t know where to start when it comes to decorating?  Have you thought about a theme?  Stores have a way of causing us to experience sensory overload this time of year, it can be difficult to figure out what you want because everything looks so appealing.  Take some time to figure out what type of theme you like, because holiday decorations are an investment.  You will use them year after year, and even pass some down throughout the generations of your family.  I grew up with a very rustic Christmas, real garland and berries everywhere.  Now that I have my own residence, I’ve noticed I’m attracted to any decoration that glitters or shines, preferably with bright colors.  Maybe you’re a silver and gold type, or how about a winter wonderland type with sparkling white and blue everywhere?  Decide on a theme and focus only on that while you’re shopping for your decorations.

- classic silver and gold -

- fun and funky white and blue -

- maybe rustic is more your style -

Just starting to build your collection?  Let’s talk about some staples when it comes to holiday decorating.  First and foremost, you’re going to need a tree; now the question is do you buy real or artificial?  I understand both sides of this argument.  For years I absolutely had to have a real tree and would not accept anything less.  My opinion changed quickly when I moved out on my own.  When it comes to affordability, care and maintenance, the fake tree wins every time.  Did I miss the smell of my usual Blue Spruce?  Absolutely, but thanks to Bath and Body works and their room sprays, I never have to miss their smell and I can change it up whenever I want.  Along with the tree, you will need a wreath and some garland.  I recommend this for any theme that you decide on.  You will have to purchase your greenery every year to keep it fresh, but stores like Costco have great deals on these products.  Why do I recommend it for every theme?  Because you can go to your local craft store such as Hobby Lobby, Michael’s or Flowerland and purchase some floral picks to fit in with your style.  Lastly, a staple that everyone should have for the holidays is spray paint.  Every year, I decorate the table my family gathers at on Christmas.  One year when I was younger, my mother told me I was only able to purchase things from the dollar store to do so, seeing as how she did not want to spend any more money on decorations.  I accepted the challenge and went on my way to the store.  When I had returned, I had with me some glass candle stick holders, white candles and silver spray paint.  I then went outside to see what nature had to offer me; low and behold were some dead purple onion flowers.  I picked the flowers and used my spray paint to turn them into a beautiful center piece.  Think of all the things you can transform!

Moving on to common decorating mishaps and mistakes…let’s talk lights.  Are you putting lights on the outside of your house?  This is the first year that I plan to…my home is currently being transformed into a gingerbread house; what better way to do so than with white icicle lights?  My advice to you with lights is pick one type, and stick with it.  Every year I drive by house after house with the most random pattern of lights I’ve ever seen.  I will forever think of my brother as the perfect example of holiday lights gone wrong.  Firstly, you must understand that my brother is an electrical engineer; lights are kind of his thing.  However, all of the genes that allow for an understanding of design skipped right over him and went straight to me.  One year my parents allowed him to decorate the outside of our house for the season.  We let him do his thing while we spent the day Christmas shopping and running errands.  When it was time to come home, we soon realized that you didn’t even have to be on our street to see the light coming from our house.  It really was like the scene from ‘Christmas Vacation’.  There were icicle lights, white lights, multi-colored lights, twinkle lights, individual colored strands of lights, not to mention our porch lights were replaced with red and green bulbs.  As hilarious as this sight was, you can avoid this lighting disaster by sticking to simplicity and choosing one type; I recommend choosing between colored and white and going from there.

- mixing white lights and colored accessories is another way to go -

Don’t have a fireplace for those stockings?  No worries, you just have to think about things a little differently.  At one of my old apartments, I had no idea what I was going to do.  My stocking always hung from the mantle in my parent’s house.  After some contemplating, I realized that over my open doorway of about a six foot width would be a perfect place for those socks to dangle!  Now that I have moved again and now have no fireplace and no large open doorway, I’ve found that my picture window will be yet another place for my stockings to hang.  I’ve learned that things just need to be thought about a little differently.  Change has always been something that is hard to adjust to, especially when you’ve been accustomed to something for so long.  But ‘tis the season to start some new traditions with some new decorating styles and methods!

- coat racks double as stocking hangers -

Happy holidays!