Decorating for the Festive Season

The leaves are changing, the days are getting shorter, and pumpkin spice lattes are in full bloom. Yes, Fall is here, and that means one thing...it’s time to start planning for Christmas! You may think, “Well, isn’t it too early”? To that I say it can never be too early to decorate your home for the best holiday of the year. Here are some handy tips for Christmas decorations around the home his year.

Make a good first impression

Whether it’s the in laws coming, or a friend you haven’t seen in a long time, start off with a good impression with a well decorated entrance. One way to do that is with an array of paper luminaries, lined up along front walks for a brilliant welcome. Simply pop some tea lights into old jam and bell jars. You can go a step further with snowflake patterns or a holiday message painted on the jars. Just be sure to blow the flame out when no one is around.

Don’t forget the mailbox

The mailbox is often forgotten when it comes to holiday decorations, but it shouldn’t be. A simple red bow adds a distinct, but subtle, flair to your mailbox. If you have a square mailbox, top it with a bouquet of winter plants. You can even have it look like a Christmas tree by tucking in ornaments and pinecones into the bouquet.

Match the windows

This is a case where a little goes a long way. Matching windows, whether it’s an evergreen wreath hung with a simple red ribbon, or color coordinated lanterns, lend an elegant appearance to any home.

Use a basket as the tree base

Your tree and home will be tastefully decorated, but what about that eyesore of a metal stand? Clean up that look with a woven basket to hold your Christmas tree. You’ll likely still need the metal base, but at least it’s hidden inside the more aesthetically pleasing woven basket.

Christmas is a time for family and good cheer, and a well decorated home adds to the experience. Plus, by starting early, you’re able to save more money to spend on presents and seasonal food.

Image by Daniel Nugent, used under the Creative Commons license.