Friday, November 23, 2007

Christmas Decorating Tips

Recommended by Voice Of Dingchao

It's Christmas again, and you're looking at the stacks of decorations you put away last January. It can seem like quite a challenge, especially if you don't think you're very good when it comes to decorating. But Christmas decor is something that will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit. With the tips below, you'll be feeling Christmas cheer in no time.

First, take a good look around your house or apartment. There are a lot of places where a spot of Christmas decor will work wonders. There are the obvious places, like your fireplace mantal, and putting lights along your rooftop, but don't forget about your stairs, your bathroom and yes, even the kitchen!

When you're thinking about decorating your stairs, the first thought that probably comes to mind is winding a garland or a length of greenery around the bannister. To add a bit of flare, find a battery operated string of Christmas lights, and twine that in around your garland or greens. Another nice touch is to place small pots of poinsettias along the edge of alternating steps. (If you have animals, however, be wary about poinsettias, as they have poisonous parts.)

Putting a Christmas wreath on your front door is an easy festive touch, but don't forget that wreaths look good inside your home, too. Mistletoe is lovely in doorways, and makes for great laughs when you're holding your annual Christmas party. You can tie bows anywhere - the backs of chairs, on doorknobs, the corners of your tablecloth - and indoor Christmas lights don't belong just on your tree or around your windows.

You probably put up your Christmas tree in your living room or family room. This season, keep your eye out while shopping for small Christmas trees, and consider putting these smaller trees in other rooms in your house. For example, if your front foyer is large enough, a small decorated tree there makes a perfect Christmas greeting for visitors. A small potted live Christmas tree in your downstairs bathroom will really brighten things up.

One wonderful thing about using smaller trees in other rooms in the house is that it allows you to play around with different color schemes suitable for different rooms - colors that you might not want to use on your main Christmas tree. Have you always pined for a tree decorated with blue and white ornaments only, but know that your kids would be very upset with that kind of "adult" look to the tree? Indulge yourself by buying a smaller tree for the den or the front room, and decorate it exactly the way you've always wanted!

It's fun to decorate a house for Christmas. Keep this in mind and don't try to make things too perfect. Enjoy the ritual of putting up your decorations, and when you're done, turn off the living room lights, turn on the Christmas tree lights, make yourself a cup of hot chocolate or floral tea, and sink into your couch with your loved ones.

By Angela Sofia Rabson

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