Turn Ho Hum Into Ho, Ho, Ho
Decorations That Stand The Test Of Time
Written by Glen Peloso
Read Glen Peloso's Bio

Plan the décor of the house – too often we create holiday décor
based on the “Gee – what’s in this box?” method of holiday
decorating. Create a plan and stick to it – it will make the shopping
for new items and the execution much more pleasant.

First thing’s first, cull through the old décor –
your tastes change over the years – get rid
of the stuff you no longer like.

1. Create vignettes or areas of holiday
décor – when it is overdone the house can
start to look like a mall, – not a home. 
Also, don’t fret too much – it all only lasts for a
couple of weeks and is meant to bring joy to kids
from 1 to 92!

2. Choose two colours to work around – This year for instance you will see a great deal of metal tones like copper, silver, and gold in the ornaments. Choose one other colour, perhaps purple, citrus greens, or deep midnight blues and let that be the colour scheme for the tree and the house.

3. Use things that are natural – real boughs of cedar, holly berries, oranges, cloves, etc., are beautiful to see but also fantastic to smell! Who needs room freshener when you have the real thing to give you a hand?

4. Change the feel of the room by changing the accessories to holiday themed items – changing the dish towel, the candles to gold ones, and themed bowls with fruit can give you all you need to create the feelings of the holidays.

5. Don’t decorate the things that have to be used for function. Having the hand rail of the staircase decorated with cedar isn’t the best idea as people need the railing to walk. Perhaps use the spindles instead.  Hanging mistletoe in a door jam so the door can’t be closed is perhaps also an idea to be rethought – besides, your chances of getting an accidental kiss in the middle of the room are far better than a doorway!

6. Focus your room around the holiday item. For instance, make sure the furniture is focused on the Christmas tree (if you have one), as opposed to the television.  The idea of the season is to connect with family and friends so perhaps move the television to another room!

7. Create a room that can be designated as a bar. As homes rarely have that ‘ol basement wet bar’ any longer. Having a table in the corner of one room, ready with eggnogs, punches and wine, make entertaining in a snap an easy thing to do.