Christmas Holiday Flair

Bows can give the simplest of objects a festive touch. Tie ribbons on plants and other household accessories to add holiday flair

Some years, you manage to get a jump on Christmas and handle all the chores with ease. Other times, you handle the shopping and fall short on decorating. If that describes your pattern, or if you just want to add a few special decorating touches before friends and family arrive, you can do so quickly and easily.

No time for a tree?

Gather up some fallen branches in the yard, spray paint them gold or silver and stick them in a vase. Add simple balls and twinkling lights and you have a Christmas tree on the fly. Or, using a stack of gift tags with fabric hangers, turn your vase of branches into a wishing tree festooned with family Christmas or New Year's wishes. You can also let houseplants or other existing greenery stand in for a Christmas tree. Decorate your indoor ficus or palm tree with lights and ornaments. As an added bonus, neither will drop needles.

When speed decorating, go for convenience.

Don't think twice about buying lots of fresh-cut wreaths, swags and garlands. They look great, smell wonderful and are easy to hang. And don't forget the ribbon! Bows can quickly transform the simplest of objects into something festive. You can easily dress up a doorknob, lamp, or household plant by tying on a cheery red bow.

To tie a pretty bow, simply wrap ribbon around an object and tie. Then make two loops of ribbon in each hand, as you did when you were learning to tie your shoelaces. Cross the loops over each other and pull tight for a nice bow with a pretty knot. A roll of red ribbon can give your whole home a quick holiday lift.

Another fast decorating device: Create a Christmas scene.

If you have an assortment of snow globes, nutcrackers, or Santas, you can pull a vignette together in less than a minute. Find a clear area and put down a string of lights. Add cotton snow, then place your objects between the lights and the snow. By massing them together, you have a pretty scene with big visual impact.

If you feel crafty, or want to get the kids involved, use glitter.

Adding glitter to ornaments and other objects around the house is a fast way to add holiday sparkle. Sprinkle glitter on pinecones, acorns, branches, leaves, or simple glass objects.

Be sure to add Christmas touches in unexpected places, too.

Place a pine swag on a bookshelf, hot-glue wide ribbon around your chandelier chain and then bunch it up to give your dining room a festive touch. You can even enlist your presents for decorating duty. Artfully place wrapped gifts on a table at various heights and surround with pine branches to make an instant arrangement that won't require storing after the holidays.

You don't have to spend a lot of time or money to give your home a fast holiday lift.

 

Available at Amazon.com:

Cut Your Energy Bills Now: 150 Smart Ways to Save Money & Make Your Home More Comfortable & Green

It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living

 

 

For more Home Decorating, Interior Design, Home Renovation & Improvement (Click Here)

For more Home Decorating, Interior Design, Home Renovation & Improvement (Click Here)

 

Copyright © 2010 Kathryn Weber. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.