Stephanie Mellom has tips for you

Tips for Decorating this Holiday Season

t happens every year, of-

Iten two weeks before Halloween. Love it or hate it, stores are already putting out Christmas decorations at the same time they are selling large bags of candy for trick-or-treating. So, pull those bins down from the attic. Untangle the tree lights. It’s time to decorate for the Christmas holidays. Often a daunting task, here is a list of suggestions to try this year:

Forgo Traditions While red and green may be the go-to colors of Christmas, they often don’t mesh well with the style of your home. Break away from the common holiday color palette and focus rather on coordinating your holiday decorating around your home’s everyday décor. For example, a cream and black plaid may be better suited for a farmhouse style home. Blue and green color combinations are great for beach houses. A palette of turquoise, yellow, and orange in vivid hues sets the tone for a home done in mid-century style. Metallics work for a more glamourous look.

Bring The Outside In On a budget? Fresh greenery, free in your backyard, adds a festive spirit to your home and the wintery aroma is a bonus. Some of the most popular choices available locally are pine, rosemary, and juniper. Cut off the stray branches on a live cypress tree to use as garland on the mantle or dress up a stair banister. Put holly branches with red berries in a vase to use as a centerpiece. Magnolia leaves make a great table runner. Fill a basket with pinecones spray painted white. Light It Up Lighting can really showcase everything from the tree to the mantle to the front door wreath. Place seasonal candles throughout the home. Put battery lights in mason jars and throughout garland to add more sparkle. Add string lights to stair banisters. Don’t forget the outside too. Hang a pre-lit wreath on the front door. Dangle Christmas lanterns from low tree branches. Add fairy lights to tomato cages to create trees.

To Box Or Bag It Gift-wrapped presents are more personal than bags and add a special touch to your holiday décor. Make sure the patterns and designs complement your tree’s theme. Also, lining the stairs with beautiful, gift-wrapped presents is a creative way to show off that space.

Remember To Let It Flow While it is not necessary to decorate every room, adding holiday touches to select areas, other than the living and dining rooms, can spread Christmas joy throughout the home. Place a seasonal hand towel in the kitchen or a holiday scented candle in the bathroom. Drape garland over the foyer mirror. Throw a festive blanket at the foot of the bed. These little holiday touches make a home feel complete.

All done? Sit back and enjoy the holidays. Soon it will be time to pack everything back up to store for next year. In next month’s issue we will provide a list of suggestions on how to tackle that daunting task.