A long standing holiday tradition in my family is getting the Christmas tree. We like to go to our favorite tree farm and cut our own, but if you live in a warmer climate then the local tree lot may be your best bet. Or, you can get an artificial tree that can be reused for many Christmases to come and save a lot of trees from being cut while also making it easier and simpler to get ready for the holidays each year.

Whichever method you prefer, finding the right tree for your home is always a fun and sharing family experience, so we’ve put together some useful information on the many varieties of natural and artificial trees to help you find that perfect Christmas tree!

Pick Your Own Christmas Tree

“The experience kids get from the holiday tradition of going out to the tree farm to cut your own Christmas tree is really special” says Jon Schatz, owner of the Sunny Day Christmas Tree Farm in Sherwood, Oregon. “Spending an afternoon with the family to select and cut the tree is something kids remember for a lifetime.”

A few things Schatz suggests you consider when going to a U-Cut tree farm include:

• Think ahead of time about what type and size tree you need
• Look for a tree with a straight trunk and balanced shape
• Do realize that no tree is perfectly straight and that at least one side will go against a wall anyway
• Be sure the trunk of your Christmas tree is long enough and the right size in diameter for the type of tree stand you plan to use

Some farms measure and price each tree, while most farms sell Christmas trees priced by the foot. Schatz has a unique pricing approach at the Sunny Day Tree Farm; “all our trees are $20,” he says. While customers must go out on the farm and select, cut and load their own trees, its all part of the family tradition. “We keep our costs low so that we can make cutting your own Christmas tree both fun and affordable.”
 

Finding a Perfect Natural Tree

Arizona Cypress – a steeple shaped tree, pale-green to gray-green color. The leaves are tiny and plentiful and lay close to the branchlet surface in a scale like arrangement and about 0.1 inches long. Bark is thin and delicate with a reddish brown color. The cones are spherical in shape and woody. The Arizona cypress has a pleasing aroma.

Balsam Fir – a medium-sized tree, it exhibits a relatively dense, dark-green, pyramidal crown with a slender spire-like tip. It has a dark-green appearance, long-lasting needles, attractive form, and pleasing fragrance.

Colorado Blue Spruce – finding increasing popularity as a Christmas tree, with a symmetrical form and attractive blue foliage. It has an excellent natural shape, requires little shearing, and needle retention is among the best for the spruces. Its popularity as an ornamental also makes blue spruce a good choice to plant as a living Christmas tree after the holiday season.

Canaan Fir – a relative new species in the Christmas tree market, it is similar to the Fraser and balsam firs in growth and appearance.

Concolor Fir (White Fir) – produces a spire-like crown with a straight trunk. Needles are small and narrow in rows, usually 1/2 to 1 1/2 inch long, pointed or notched at the tip, bluish-green. The wood of white fir is light, soft and coarse-grained, but lacks distinctive scent or odor.

Douglas Fir – not related to the true firs, the Douglas fir is one of the most popular Christmas tree varieties, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Needles are dark green or blue green, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, soft to the touch and radiating out from the branch in all directions. They have a sweet fragrance when crushed.

Eastern Redcedar – has compact branches forming a pyramidal crown and reddish brown bark, leaves are arranged in opposing pairs along branchlets with a dark, shiny natural green color. Eastern Redcedar is usually available to choose and cut at tree farms only.

Eastern White Pine – the state tree of Maine and Michigan, it is considered the largest growing pine species in North America. The needles are soft and flexible, generally bluish-green to silver green in color, arranged in bundles of five.

Fraser Fir – a uniformly pyramid-shaped tree, the boughs were often used for pine pillows and bed stuffing and this fir grows naturally at elevations above 4,500 feet in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Grand Fir – one of the tallest growing fir species, it is distinguished from other Pacific Northwest firs by sprays of lustrous needles in two distinct rows and needles 1 to 1 1/2 inches long with glossy dark green tops and known for its strong fragrance. Native Americans used this fir to make headdresses, decorative clothing, tea and many other uses.

Leyland Cypress – has become a valued landscape plant and one of the most sought after Christmas trees in the southeastern states. Foliage tends to be arranged in irregularly flat planes with a dark green to gray color, the shoots branch repeatedly in a mahogany color except at the tips. The trees have little aroma. These trees are usually available at choose and cut tree farms only.

Noble Fir – considered an excellent Christmas tree because of its beauty, stiff branches and because it remains green long after being cut, Noble Fir continues to grow in popularity and comprises 25% and 30% of the fresh tree market in the Pacific Northwest. It is also commonly used to make wreaths, door swags, garland, etc.

Norway Spruce – Most common in Northern Europe and transplanted in North America, the Norway Spruce has dark green needles and drooping branchlets, and a dark green crown with a triangular shape. Leaves (needles) are 4-sided (rectangular in section), is excellent, but needle retention may be poor unless the tree is cut fresh and properly watered.

Scotch Pine – widely planted for the purpose of producing Christmas trees, it is a hardy species easily adapted to many soil and climate types and is known for its dark green foliage and stiff branches, well suited for Christmas ornaments and excellent needle retention characteristics.

Virginia Pine – a staple of the Christmas tree industry in the South East, branches are stout and woody with dense foliage. Virginia pine can be commonly found at tree farms or retail lots.

White Spruce – has a nice cone-shaped crown that extends nearly to the ground, making it a great ornamental variety. Needles are 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, with blunt tips and green to bluish-green. With its light grayish-brown bark, excellent foliage color, short stiff needles, natural shape and good needle retention, the White Spruce makes a very good Christmas tree.

Finding a Perfect Artificial Tree

Traditional Unlit – often very realistic in appearance and with built in tree stands, unlit trees offer you the ability to choose the style and color of your lights or even change the lights to give your tree a different look each holiday season. And just think; no needle loss or watering to worry about! Many people are converting to the artificial tree these days with environmental issues and convenience in mind. Lower quality, inexpensive trees often use thinly shredded strips of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) resembling a bottle brush tightly twisted between two tightly twisted wires to form the branches.

Realistic – with branches created out of molded plastic, higher quality artificial trees use molded branches and needles made from Polyethylene (PE). Branches cut from a real tree are often used to create molds, giving the tree a more realistic appearance.

Prelit - the most convenient tree available, some models can have hundreds of lights, carefully arranged for that perfect look when unfolded. At the end of the holiday season, just fold the branches carefully and store it away in the shipping box.

Specialty – available in many shapes, sizes and colors, you can find a specialty tree for almost any purpose or location in your home, whether you want a large tree for the family or living room, a table top tree or topiary-shaped tree.

Flocked – white is the traditional color for Christmas tree flocking, but you can also find pink, red, gold and many other colors. Flocked artificial trees are also available unlit or prelit and in a variety of types and sizes.

Many of us will be ‘nesting’ this holiday season and that means a greater focus on seasonal decoration and getting your home ready for holiday entertaining on the cheap, so we’ve put together a few ideas on how to decorate for the holidays without spending a fortune this year on your Christmas décor.

Creating Family Holiday Traditions

If you want to save money this holiday season, start by creating family traditions that shift the Christmas focus away from material goods and gifts. If you really think about it, which Christmas decorations and gifts stand out most in your memory? Is it the most expensive ones or the ones that started long-standing family holiday events and activities?

Adding a special Christmas angel as a tree topper, some special Christmas bells to adorn the fireplace mantel and letting the kids ring the bell each night at dinnertime or making your own special Christmas greeting cards can create new family traditions you’ll cherish for years to come without racking up huge credit card charges.

While the kids may not be getting all the fun stuff they put on their Santa wish list this year, you can make the holidays more fun than ever by starting some new traditions or reviving ones from your own childhood.

One of my favorites as a child was always marking the days until Christmas on the Advent calendar and another was our annual outing to cut the tree, which always involved having lunch together at a certain family restaurant and visiting the same tree farm where we knew the owners, who always had some special events such as riding the tractor around the farm and milking the cow. For a suburban kid, these farm activities certainly created vivid lifelong memories.

Another family Christmas tradition you might like to start this year is Collecting Christmas Ornaments & Vintage Decorations.

Old-Fashioned Rustic Christmas Theme

One way to keep the cost down this Christmas is to return to the simpler times of old, when families traditionally trimmed the Christmas tree with homemade ornaments. When people had little they relied on their own handcrafted stitchery, baking and woodworking skills to adorn their homes for the winter holidays.

String popcorn and cranberries to make homemade garland, bake cookies and hang them on the tree as edible ornaments and use candlestick tree lights to give your Christmas tree a truly old-fashioned, rustic look. We always made our own ornaments from clay and painted them ourselves when I was a kid; while they may not have been as pretty as Radkos, we were always proud to point out the ones we had created to friends and guests.

Look in dollar stores for inexpensive rustic tree ornaments or rummage through your old boxes of Christmas decorations for ornaments your parents or grandparents may have handed down. Your home will feel comfortable and a little “retro” for the holidays with the old-fashioned decorating approach. This may be just what the doctor ordered during this period when comfort is what we most seek to give some holiday respite from the day-to-day news of financial crisis and hard times.

Many people have stopped using these family-heritage Christmas decorations because they don’t always blend well with the “designer” trees of more recent times, but the old-fashioned Christmas décor should be eclectic, adorning your home with homemade ornaments and sentimental family hand-me-downs in favor of expensive, ornate store-bought decorations.

If you want to give your home a country Christmas feel you’ll want to read Have Yourself a Charming Country Christmas for great ideas and examples of home crafts and decorations for the country style décor.

Modern Holiday Home Theme

If you’re like me, you may prefer the understated holiday decorating approach where less is more. You can give your home a festive look while keeping with the contemporary style so many of us favor when it comes to home décor these days.

The key to modern home holiday decorating is keep things simple and subtle. A good starting place is to forego the traditional natural Christmas tree and buy an artificial tree instead. For more ideas see our story Finding the Perfect Christmas Tree.

Your holiday decorating colors should complement the color scheme of your home interior; if you have a neutral wall color you’ll have a lot of freedom in choosing colors for your holiday decorations but if you have painted the walls with some brighter color scheme, you’ll want to use holiday decorations that accent that scheme and do not clash or compete with the room décor.

Holiday lighting can really warm the modern home interior. White lights are always a great choice for the more contemporary look, but you can also go with all red, blue or green lights on the Christmas tree to add some color.

Putting out Christmas photos from Christmases past can give the modern Christmas theme a cozier look; you can buy inexpensive photo frame ornaments and hang pictures of family members on the tree or create a family Christmas album to put out on the coffee table. This is also a great way to spark conversation and story telling when you entertain during the holidays.

You can always use a few boughs clipped from the Christmas tree to create a holiday tablescape or decorate the fireplace mantel. The scent of fresh pine needles is sure to set the holiday mood. Add some pinecones, winterberries, ribbon and a candle votive to create a simple holiday arrangement. And of course, a fresh wreath on the front door will welcome your guests into your home for holiday events.

However you decide to decorate your home this holiday season, make it your own and have fun with the project, getting everyone involved. Trimming the tree and putting out the Christmas decorations should be fun for the whole family. Have a very happy Christmas!

It is a thrilling moment when the Christmas tree is set up, for it is the centerpiece of the home Christmas celebration. Yet, every year life seems to become more and more hectic, time begins to run out on the countdown to Christmas and you may not have given any thought as to how you intend to dress and display your Christmas tree.

Never fear, our Christmas tree decoration guide covers all the necessary considerations from choosing the type of tree you want, to fresh decorating ideas and reminders of how to look after it.

Selecting Your Christmas Tree

Finding the Perfect Christmas Tree begins a quest for some of us. Others prefer a simpler approach. You may already have an artificial tree in which case you don’t need to consider this point. If you are a traditionalist and prefer a live tree, there are several options for you to choose from. If you have the time, you might want to plan ahead a visit a specialist grower or tree farm to select and cut your own special tree.

Christmas tree growers typically offer you to choose from several species of Christmas tree in a huge variety of sizes from 2ft to 10- 12ft. You will also be able to stand back and inspect the tree’s shape, form and color before making your final choice.
If you don’t have time for this, you will probably have to buy a tree from a high street shop or street seller. To help you with your decision, check out our detailed Christmas Tree Guide to find out about the different types of Christmas tree.

Caring For Your Christmas Tree

Remember to water the tree if at all possible. It was once a living thing and its sap will only nourish it for a short time. Many Christmas tree outlets sell purpose-made tree stands, which hold water, where the tree trunk can be clamped between “teeth” by standing on a pedal or lever.

Container Options for Your Christmas Tree

Toddlers are fascinated by the lights and glittering decorations as well as animals, so it is as well to consider how the tree is contained. You don’t have to be boring. We’ve got some imaginative ideas to help you mask the inevitable soil- or stone-filled bucket with something other than a last minute piece of crêpe paper.

• Seasonal colored cloth – Drape a large tall basket with seasonal red and white thick colored cloth in a swaged fashion and knot it on the side; a very effective look that only takes minutes to achieve.
• Jute hessian – Use jute hessian to cover an old bucket. The lovely earthy color and natural fibers combine wonderfully with the tassel from a curtain tie-back that also can be found made in jute. Twist a long narrow strip of hessian around the top of the bucket or use anything in the same color, such as a clothes line made from natural fibers or a short piece of rope would be just as attractive.
• White and gold paper – On any suitable tree container, even an old coal holder, wrap good-quality, thick white paper to cover the surface. Pretty it up with a wide, wire-edged white and gold ribbon tied in an attractive bow.
• Terracotta – Use a sizeable garden urn made from plastic but with a convincing terracotta finish. Make sure it’s large enough to disguise whatever packing you need to use to anchor the tree.
• Enamel tin – An old enameled bread tin, painted in sage green and white, is perfect for a smaller tree. A checkered effect looks great in a contemporary setting.

Christmas Tree Decorations

Once you have the Christmas tree lights untangled, tested and placed on the tree, it's time to focus on the decorating elements. In part this always depends on your existing store of ornaments, but you can also mix things up with different garland, ribbons, a new tree topper, homemade ornaments, etc.

Christmas decorations are now big business and it’s no longer a seasonal trade; some Christmas shops stay open all year round. So there’s every opportunity to build up a treasured collection of glittery baubles and other trinkets. Once you’ve amassed many different tree decorations, you can play it two ways.

Either mix and match baubles, stuffed and embroidered shapes, beaded decorations for an eclectic, global look. Alternatively, choose a theme each year and use just part of your collection. A single color could be a starting point, or you might choose a particular shape or motif as the basis for a decorating theme.

Baubles, beading and tinsel are only the starting point for a collection of Christmas decorations. More and more ornaments come onto the market each year, allowing you to add to your treasure chest of decorations. Look out for unusual wooden figures, paper ornaments and other novel decorations at Christmas craft markets and fairs: a great many are made in Eastern Europe, though some come from as far away as Sri Lanka, India and Japan.

XMAS Tree Decorating Themes

Today’s Christmas tree can be dressed in so many ways. Some like to hang a diverse assortment of ornaments, glass balls, jolly Santa Claus figures, felt mice, and yards of colored lights, all collected over the years.

Others prefer to restrict their decorations to a particular theme, embellishing the tree with only white paper doves, shiny foil fans, or beach-gathered shells; these trees are especially elegant and sophisticated even when the ornaments are simple paper cutouts.

The purists may forgo any adornment at all. To them, the sweet spicy scent of the pine boughs and their velvety green beauty are adornment enough. However you choose to decorate it, the Christmas tree is a wonder and delight to look forward to every year. Here are some ideas:

• Traditional Tree – A traditional-style Christmas tree can take plenty of decorations, but resist the urge to overdo things or you will conceal the shape and color of the tree itself. Think along the lines of baubles in three different sizes but the same shade of rich scarlet. Supplement them with tiny white crackers, fairy lights and the occasional discreet sparkle of gold.
• Bows – For an elegant, festive and very subtle look simply tie shimmering ribbons in large double bows. A very effective look on a smaller Douglas fir tree in a country setting.
• Gold and Silver – Gold and silver can make a shimmering spectacle beautifully suited in modernist styled surroundings. Adorn the tree in plenty of fairy lights to set of the sparkle of the ornaments. Look for gigantic silver and glass ornaments such as silver stars, glass globes and crystal icicles. Match it evenly with anything gold like large golden pears and golden baubles.
• Natural Ornaments – Nature is a limitless source of Christmas ornaments: Thistles, yarrow, ram’s horns, spiral tops, lotus pods, shells, dried leaves and cane fruit can be sprayed gold or silver and transformed into lusty sculptures. You can make natural-looking decorations also wrapping hops and honey suckle vines into small circular shapes. Be inspired by your kitchen too! Dry cut oranges, lemons or pink ruby grapefruit in an oven for 1 ½ hours at 250degree Fahrenheit. You can also cook some cookies and hang them on ribbon for a tasty treat on Christmas day.

The thanksgiving turkey is gone and its time to get ready for Christmas. Time to spend with your family getting the holiday decorations down from the attic, drinking a little eggnog by the fire and get busy putting up the Christmas tree and outdoor lights!

But for most of us, untangling the Christmas lights ranks as the worst task involved in decorating for the holidays. It's such a tedious chore and one you may avoid by just buying new lights if you’re lazy like me. But with a little preparation and knowledge, untangling the lights doesn’t have to be so difficult.

Read on for some simple tips on how to get your lights untangled in a jiffy:

1. Get relaxed and set your mind on the task at hand. Put on your favorite holiday music or Christmas video and pull up your most comfortable armchair.
2. Get all your Christmas decor boxes out of storage and together. Dig out all the lights, separating them by the location each type will be located in or outside the house.
3. If your lights were stored like mine were in years past, start by laying all the strings out on the floor. If you have new lights in the package, you get to skip this step!
4. Make sure everything is unplugged first and try to find a free end to start upon.
5. Try to loosen the knots, unwinding the free end through the tangles. Never force or rush too quickly or you are likely to break bulbs. Take your time and place the untangled part of the strand on the floor, keeping it away from the tangled strands.
6. As you get more of the strand free, be sure the untangled portion trails away from the bunch to avoid re-tangling.
7. Once you have a strand completely untangled, lay it out in a straight line, away from other strands. You will want to plug it in and test it before putting it in place.
8. When hanging lights on your Christmas tree, it helps to have one person do the actual hanging and arranging of lights, while another helps feed the strands to keep them from tangling.
9. When the holidays are over and its time to put your lights away, don’t cram lights into the original packages or you'll have a huge tangle to deal with next holiday season!
10. The best way to prevent tangling is to coil the strands around a stiff piece of cardboard before boxing them. Wind one strand per piece of cardboard.
11. To protect your Christmas lights during storage, you can wrap the winded strands in tissue paper and put each bundle in a bag. Gently set each bundle into a box.
12. If you label the box, then you can quickly find your tree lights, interior decorating lights and outdoor lights next holiday season without dreading the old “light untangling” exercise altogether!

Holiday meals should be special, memorable occasions, a time to polish our best silverware and china dishes, get out the crystal stemware and embellish the table with candlesticks and centerpieces, fine cloth napkins and a festive tablecloth or table runner and placemats.

But what are the elements that make your tablescape warm and inviting for guests during the holiday season, setting the mood for great conversation and the enjoyment of delicious food and beverage together in the company of friends and family?

Read on for a primer on what to do and not to do when getting your dining table ready this holiday season for those special meals.

Tips on Setting Your Dining Table

For those who never went to finishing school or who don’t set a formal table on a regular basis, let’s start with a quick overview on how to set the table:

• Forks should go on the left and spoons and knives to the right of the plate.
• An easy way to remember the correct order to place utensils is that they go in the order in which you use them; so the salad fork goes on the outside left while the larger fork used to eat the main course goes on the inside left. Turn the blade of all knifes so they face toward the plate.
• Place the side plate to the left of your place setting; if you are serving a cold first course such as a salad, the side plate should be set ahead of time, while warm dishes such as soup should be delivered to the table when that course is served.
• Place the wineglass at the tip of the main-course knife. The water glass and any other glasses should be arranged in the order they will be used with the first one on the outside.
• The napkins can go under the knife and spoon or on the side plate. Alternatively, if you choose to use napkin holders or fancy folds, the napkin can go on top of the main plate for a more decorative place setting.
• A nice touch will be to create decorative name cards so that you can strategically decide ahead of time who sits where. Place cards can go at the head of each place setting or on the main serving plate. You can make your own holiday name plates by downloading a free template and use a calligraphy font or hand write the names yourself if you’re good at calligraphy.
• Finally, for an extra special touch your guests will be sure to remember, you could leave a small gift at each place setting. If you shop around in dollar discount stores you can find all kinds of small gift items such as jewelry boxes, Christmas tree ornaments, etc. Wrap them and use ribbon to give them a holiday look. Opening the gifts will make a great conversation starter when everyone sits down at the table.

Decorating Your Dining Table for Holiday Occasions

Now that we have place settings planned and ready to go, it’s time to embellish our holiday table, giving it some holiday color and style. Should you use a formal tablecloth or decorative placemats? Perhaps you’ll want to try a seasonal table runner and matching placemats?

In part the decision rests on whether you want to expose the natural beauty of your wood dining table top or conceal your less formal dining table from view. Here are a few tips on selecting linens and placemats for your holiday dining table:

• Placemats can be in plain, solid colors or patterned, woven or linen. It’s best to choose something that is heatproof to protect the table surface.
• If you use a tablecloth it should drape about six inches over each edge of the table top. Depending on the material, a heatproof protective mat under the tablecloth may be needed to protect the table surface from spills.
• Choose colors and patterns that complement your table ware; solid color linens work well with patterned China sets while a more festive pattern can really highlight white or other solid colored China.
• Although a white tablecloth is often associated with a formal table setting, for the holidays you may want something more festive such as a deep red, green or gold. A patterned table runner, tablecloth or placemats are fine as long as everything is color coordinated and the patterns don’t look too busy or cluttered.
• Placemats in solid colors like red, blue, green, gold or silver are very versatile and can be reused for non-holiday formal meals too; you can use other accents such as the centerpiece to add pattern for a more festive feeling.
• If you are using a tablecloth, take time to remove creases and wrinkles. If you don’t want to bother ironing it, you can try throwing it in your clothes dryer set to “Air” or “Fluff” setting; put a damp towel in with the tablecloth and it should come out nice and wrinkle-free!

Selecting Tableware for Your Holiday Table

Now, if you don’t have a set of formal tableware, you can find some great deals if you shop around; with the economy being so weak this holiday season, expect retailers to offer great sale prices even before the normal after-holiday sales. Look online at Overstock.com, Amazon or on eBay and you can really save money on luxury items such as China, formal silverware and crystal stemware.

A nice touch will be to add decorative chargers to your table setting; if you are using gold or silver as an accent color you can match your chargers to give your holiday a real designer look without spending a fortune. Chargers don’t have to be high quality or expensive to add a special accent to your holiday table!

Try to choose a color scheme and stick with 2 or 3 colors, picking up the colors you have already used to decorate your dining room. Winter colors that work well as a primary color in your holiday dining room décor include deep reds and greens. You can either choose contrasting secondary colors or use two shades of the same color to keep things simpler.

If your walls are taupe or another warm tone, then gold will make a great accent color in your holiday tablescape. On the other hand, if you have gray walls tinted with green or blue then silver makes a great accent color for accessories like candlesticks and napkin holders.

Setting a Holiday Tone in Your Dining Room

OK, so we’ve got our tableware and place setting plans in place; now it’s time to consider some holiday accents and embellishments to really give our holiday dining tablescape the right mood for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. By simply changing a few elements you can achieve a nice progression with subtle changes to your holiday tablescape:

• For Thanksgiving, you might do a simple fall centerpiece with pumpkins, gourds and fall flowers or fruits. Read our complete story on Fall Tablescapes and Floral Arrangements for lots of great ideas. Warmer accent colors help echo the changing seasons and colorful leaves outside in late November.
• As we move into December the progression moves toward winter colors and patterns. Consider a bright red poinsettia, winter berry or holly berry theme for your centerpiece with matching reds and greens for a Christmas feel.
• An elegant approach is to go with a monochromatic color scheme such as winter white, New Year’s silver, gold, Christmas red or evergreen can give your dining table a unique, classy look.
• For a unique holiday tablescape, you could try using colors such as mustard yellow paired with white to create a star theme or silver, light blue and white to create a snowflake/icicle theme.
• Lights are sure to give any tablescape a holiday feel; try working some holiday LED or rope lights on the buffet or hang elegant crystal icicles from your chandelier. A mirror over your buffet will help reflect light and color into your dining room and open it up, giving the illusion of a more spacious room.

The Holiday Dining Table Centerpiece

The one mistake a lot of people make is to overdo the centerpiece; too tall it will only hinder conversation and separate your dining guests unnaturally. A low centerpiece will accent your table without getting in the way. You can even just lay a nice holiday wreath to serve as a simple centerpiece.

Make a centerpiece using real pine boughs, flowers, pinecones, berries or whatever strikes your own fancy; change the centerpiece once after thanksgiving and again after Christmas to help set the tone for each holiday celebration you’ll be hosting.

Candlesticks and Candles for Holiday Dining

Candles are a natural element in most traditional holiday tablescapes. Whether you have a set of your grandmother’s silver candlesticks or a matched set of China candlesticks that go with your tableware, candles add warmth and ambience to the table setting.

The Kids Christmas Table

We all remember as kids how boring it was to be stuck listening to adults talk all night long during holiday dinners. But whenever there was a special table for the kids we ended up having a much more memorable holiday dinner.

If you plan to have a lot of kids during the holidays then a kids’ holiday dining table is almost a must-have just for the shear lack of space at the main dining table. You can make it fun for the kids too by dressing up a holiday table of their own.

Use an inexpensive vinyl holiday tablecloth, plastic plates and eating utensils to make things easier. Use a white paper tablecloth and set out a holiday bowl filled with crayons as a centerpiece and let them decorate the tablecloth themselves.

All of these ideas are meant to serve as though starters. Get creative and make your dining room a reflection of your family holiday traditions. Don’t be afraid to go outside the lines and make it unique to your holiday celebration. The only important thing is to have fun and spend time with friends and family while sharing great meals and holiday celebrations together!

Making your own Christmas wreath is easy, fun and offers limitless possibilities for creativity.

You can make your own Christmas wreath can be done in an afternoon, and the kids will love working with the fragrant greens and being able to make wreaths even prettier than store-bought ones.

So clear a large space in your kitchen, put on some great Holiday music, and get ready to have fun.

For a traditional greenery wreath, you will need:

• large bundles of Christmas Tree cuttings. You can use ones from your own tree, or     purchase cuttings from a place which sells Christmas Trees
• 1 bundle of holly
• 1 wreath frame (metal or Styrofoam)
• Garden clippers
• Wire clippers
• Spool of fine green wire (florist wire- can be purchased at craft stores or in craft sections of discount stores)
• 2 yards of wide red or holiday print ribbon

1. Prepare the greenery – Take the large boughs and cut the limbs into many 6- to 8-inch pieces (kids old enough to handle clippers can help). Its okay if there are irregularly shaped pieces; you want a natural look and can use nearly everything except the thick central branches. You may want to cut the holly, too, but keep it in a separate pile. It's expensive, so use it sparingly. Also, cut about twenty 15-inch pieces of wire and put them nearby (I suggest a parent do this job). Watch out–they're easily lost as the clutter spreads. I keep our wire in a plastic rectangle container so it doesn’t get lost as easily.

2. Begin to make bunches of evergreens – You should use the sturdy pieces from the base of the branches for the back of your bunch; they provide support but are fairly well hidden. You'll see that the tips of the branches are symmetrical and prettier because they haven't been cut. As you gather, say, four or five pieces for your bunch, place these sections near the front where they will be the most visible. Better yet, offer them to your kids because they look so nice and work with the less desirable pieces yourself.

3. Wiring your wreath – When you have formed a nice, thick bunch of greens, hold them down against the frame with one hand and take a piece of wire in the other. Place the greens in position and lay the wire across the bundle, about two-thirds of the way from the top. Now, holding the bunch in place with the wire (one end in each hand), carefully turn over the frame and tighten and twist the wire. That is the tricky part for kids; it can result in moans of frustration, so be ready to help. If you are using a metal frame, clip off any excess wire. With a Styrofoam frame, you can simply press it into the Styrofoam.

4. Adding the holly – Attach the second bunch of greens in the same way, except add a sprig of holly in the front where it can easily be seen. You can create your own patterns with holly; adding it to every bunch or every two or three. (I don't recommend forming bundles entirely from holly; it's prickly to handle, costly, and the result will probably not be as full as your bunches of evergreen.) Place the bundle in the same direction as the first one; the second overlaps the first so that only about a third of the underlying bunch is visible. If kids put the bundles farther apart in their haste to cover the frame quickly, they'll end up with a thin wreath that has an uneven circumference.

5. Closing the circle – Repeat steps 1 to 3 as many times as needed to work my way around the wreath. A frame 16 inches in diameter will require about 12 bunches. Where my last bunch meets up with my first, there is often a spot that is less full than the rest of the wreath. It's an ideal place to tie a ribbon.

6. Folding the bow – I like a bow with many loops because it shows up well and hangs naturally. (Pre-tied bows are also available in craft stores.) Take two yards of red ribbon, about one to two inches wide, and loop it back and forth, pinching it between thumb and forefinger at the middle to retain the loops.

7. Wiring on the bow – Take a piece of wire, run it once around the bow and wrap the two ends around the wreath, twisting it in the back. Older kids can try this step but may need some help. You can reuse the same ribbon year after year; just remove the wire, iron the ribbon and start again.

Frames & Greens
You can buy wreath frames at gardening and craft stores. Wire frames, ranging in size from about 8 to 20 inches, are cheapest and most durable. A 12-inch frame is a manageable size for a child. Styrofoam frames, though brittle, are handy because you can press wire into them. Use flat rather than round ones; it's easier to mount greens on them.

Greens (such as spruce, hemlock and Douglas fir) are usually available wherever Christmas trees are sold. Once you master the basics, experiment with mixes of white pine, juniper, laurel and holly. If you have evergreens on your property, you can prune small pieces yourself.

Adorning the Wreath
Once you’ve completed the hard work of tying on greens, it's time to decorate your wreath. You and your kids can wire on all sorts of adornments: pinecones (plain, painted or glitter-covered), acorns, small bells, Christmas ornaments, seashells or toy soldiers. You can also use ribbon to tie on decorations, such as cookie cutters, or wrap the wreath with a special garland.

Consider the wreath your palette and decorate it in whatever style suits your family. I let my kids decide for themselves, and every year the final products are different.

To hang the wreath, slip thin red ribbon around the top of the wreath frame (a bit of green wire is less conspicuous), and hang it from a screw, nail or hook.

Creative Wreath Ideas

Christmas wreaths don’t have to be green. Here are a few options for alternative Christmas wreaths. For these projects, I recommend using a wreath ‘frame’ cut out of cardboard, and painted red, or with red tissue paper glued on. When attaching your decoration, a low temperature hot glue gun works best. Using the flat cardboard frame also makes it hang nicely on your wall.

Creative Christmas Wreaths: Candy Cane Wreath
If you’re looking for a popular twist on a traditional wreath, try using candy canes. You can pin, glue, or tape them to the wreath form in order to create a sunburst shape. You can also opt for popcorn to glue to the shape and decorate with green and/or red bows. These look particularly lovely against a backdrop of darker walls or doors.

Creative Christmas Wreaths: Peppermint Candy Wreath

Love the look of red-and-white striped peppermint candy in holiday decorating? Glue together handfuls of individually wrapped peppermint candies and add them to a holiday wreath. You can use a cardboard frame to have a wreath made exclusively of candy (very cute and festive.) – or, if you are using a green wreath, add 5-7 regular and 5-7 small size candy canes in between the bunches of hard candy for a festive and fragrant candy-themed wreath.

Creative Christmas Wreaths: Nature’s Bounty
Go for a walk in the woods while carrying a basket. Collect red berries, nuts, pinecones, dried flowers, and seed pods. Wire together combinations of these gifts from nature into small handful-size bunches, and wire the small arrangements into the wreath. You can use a hot glue gun to attach smaller items. Select a large bow or a strand of battery-operated tiny white lights to add a finishing touch to your nature’s bounty wreath.

Creative Christmas Wreaths: Other Ideas
Be creative. There are all kinds of things you can use to create a unique Christmas wreath. Vintage Christmas cards, silk poinsettias, miniature wrapped gift boxes with pretty bows, or vintage Christmas balls all make gorgeous decorations for holiday wreaths.

Consider making a wreath that matches your favorite holiday theme. If you love snowmen, make a snowflake wreath from inexpensive snowflake ornaments. If you like keeping the ‘reason for the season’ in mind, purchase an inexpensive nativity set and wire the figurines into a wreath. Or make a meaningful wreath out of small framed photographs of your children.

Rain showers come and go, leaving the air crisp and clean. Autumn displays her earthy browns, brilliant reds, liquid amber and orange, pear gold and muted yellow.

Bringing the feel of autumn into your home creates natural warmth and echoes the changing season. As with any seasonal theme, you can go the subtle route by switching out accents, adding a fall floral display and putting up an autumn wreath.

Or, you can really embrace the season and go a little further … read on to learn some fun and inexpensive ways to usher in the fall season.

Fall Colors Have Impact!

Fall is a time of dramatic, vibrant color and pattern. Harvest colors, falling leaves, nuts, seeds, berries, dried grasses, fall fruits and grapes are just a few of the endless possibilities to create a fall display inside or in your garden.

Now I would never suggest you paint interior walls just to decorate for a season, but so many of our favorite colors come in fall anyway. You can safely paint almost any room in warm tones and it works all year round.

Orange is a bold color, but look at the contrast you get when you paint just a single wall in a room in a very bold primary color and leave the rest of the room white? It’s striking and, again, will work well all year. Other ‘bold’ fall colors that work well as wall paint colors include cinnamon, cranberry and burgundy.

Remember to think contrast; a cranberry wall with white chair rail looks great but four cranberry walls and no trim will seem too stark. Blend or contrast colors, generally using no more than 2 or 3 colors in a room, although you can get away with adding small accents to greatly affect the overall look of a room. So, you can add red, yellow or orange to a room that otherwise has none of these colors, creating a focal point in one area or splashing the accent color in several places throughout the room.

Autumn Home Interior Accessories

Pillows, quilts, throws and other textiles are traditionally used to give the home a warmer feel for fall; as the weather gets chilly, we naturally get out the wool and fleece.

Lucky are the crafters who can make their own, but you can also find wonderful blankets, pillows and throw rugs with fall designs in local crafts stores or shop online. Retailers like Pottery Barn have great selection. Black Forest has some really cool fall pieces you can check out too.

Colored glass containers and potpourri dishes make good accents on the fireplace mantel, countertop or window sill. Here’s a great idea we found; fill an apothecary jar with candy corn or M&Ms for a colorful (and tasty) accent piece for your coffee table.

Candles and Vases

Candles are always a nice fall touch. Use copper or brass candle holders for a rustic autumn accent. And of course you’ll want a few pumpkins, gourds, or fruit on a long woven basket or wooden tray. Add berry clusters, seeds and nuts, fall fruits, autumn leaves and flowers to make a colorful fall garnish.

The great thing about candles is the wonderful variety of colors, scents and shapes you can find. Add a subtle scent of pear, grape, or other smells of fall to reach beyond just your sense of sight; you can add a whole new dimension to your room with the right scents.

Cut fresh flowers from your garden to take advantage of that last flourish of the season. Pick up pine cones and pine needles, wild flowers and dried grasses to give your room a rustic fall feel. Put them in a woven basket with some mini pumpkins or gourds to spice up the dining table or a display shelf or countertop.

Throw Rugs and Fabrics Warm Your Home

When the seasons change and winter approaches, we want to soften and warm our home. This is where fabrics become so important in giving a room the right seasonal cues. Fabric is the essence of fall decorating. Use it to introduce a pattern or repeat as well as to warm and soften your interior.

A tapestry softens a large wall in a living room or hallway, deadening sound and warming the room. A handmade quilt draped over the back of a sofa invites guests to come in sit down and relax. A knit blanket at the foot of a bed makes you feel comfortable when you get into bed. A shag throw rug softens the natural stone bathroom floor.

The days are shortening and the nights grow cooler. Autumn is soon arrived in all her natural splendor, and with the crispness of fall the foliage explodes with color.

This is a time to warm the inside of your home with all the brilliant golds, amber oranges and deep reds she has to offer.

Seasonal décor is a wonderful opportunity to play up the change of seasons and set a mood for holiday activities and spending time together with family and friends at home.

Switch out some of your home accent pieces, add a couple of new accessories and put out a couple of nice fall flower arrangements to give any room in your home the look of the season.

Welcome Autumn with Flower Arrangements

Fall is a time to bring color into your home and you certainly have plenty of choices, whether you choose fresh cut flowers from your garden or design a decorative tablescape using pumpkins, floral foam and silk or other floral arrangement supplies that will last through Thanksgiving.

For fall decorating, choose flowers with yellows, reds, and oranges. Roses and Chrysanthemums are always popular. Or, pick lilies in yellow or orange and long-stemmed Gladiolas. Go outdoors and find dried grasses and leaves to give your arrangement the finishing touch.

Mix things up, trying one idea or theme for a fall wreath on your front door, another in the garden and yet others for tablescapes and fall accents inside the home. The variety of plants, flowers, fall foliage and other autumn decorations gives you endless possibilities.

Preparing Your Fall Floral Arrangements

To make your tablescape or floral arrangement last, it’s worth taking time to prepare your materials properly. Fresh flowers should be hardened by re-cutting the stems and placing them in fresh water for at least an hour before placing into your vase or floral foam base.

Stems also need attention. If you use flowers or foliage with thick stems, split them so that needles and wire used to hold things in place can easily penetrate the woody stems. Thin stems can be re-enforced by binding thicker stems to them with floral tape or wire.

And of course, once you have your fresh fall floral arrangement completed, be sure to add water to the container every day and mist with water to keep them fresh; if you plan wisely, you can simply replace flowers in your arrangement to extend the lifespan of your fall arrangements.

Creative Fall Flower Arrangements

Choosing materials and fresh foliage for your floral arrangements and tablescapes can become a fun adventure as you go outdoors to gather grasses, leaves, seed pods, interesting gourds and squashes, pine cones, cattails, goldenrod, berry branches and other fall plants in bloom or turning color.

Seasonal decorating touches like tablescapes and flower arrangements present a perfect opportunity to experiment and get creative; you can always start over if something doesn’t turn out the way you want or just chalk your mistakes up to learning by experience; next year you’ll do even better!

Fall Flower Arrangement Tips

• Display your fall flower arrangements prominently where family, friends and guests can enjoy their natural beauty and get into the spirit of fall and upcoming holidays and festivities.
• A fall tablescape or floral arrangement makes the perfect centerpiece for your dining table. Be sure to keep your floral design low so that people aren’t ‘separated’ by it; this is one of the most common mistakes people make when designing floral arrangements for the dining table.
• Fall bouquets are great for decorating a table in your entry or foyer, end tables and coffee tables in your family and living room spaces, giving your guest bedroom and bathrooms a fresh look for the autumn season or adding a focal point on display shelves in any room in your home.
• A fall wreath will give your home’s front door entrance a nice touch of autumn, greeting guests with color and warmth.
• Pumpkins are a fall favorite and make a great base for flower arrangements; you can cut the top to create a vessel inside which you can place floral foam to support your flowers, using sunflowers, orange or red roses, berry branches, dried grasses, etc. to design your arrangement.
• Fall fruits such as grapes, apples, mini pumpkins, etc. can also make great fall tablescapes and floral arrangements. Use candles or votives to give your fall tablescape an added touch of color and warmth.
• Wicker baskets are also great for fall floral designs; try using chrysanthemums, sunflowers, tiny pumpkins, white gourds, gerberas, acorns, dry ferns and other natural fall plants to create a decorative fall basket.
• Use a mat of moss on a table or fireplace mantel to create a nice base to arrange orange and white pumpkins in various sizes and shapes, using one larger pumpkin as a focal point, with smaller sugar pumpkins, fruits, etc. arranged around it.
• Remember to decorate outdoors also; find a corner on the porch, a bench, pedestal or table in the garden, etc. that you can use to display some pumpkins and fall foliage arranged to fill in the garden as flowers and other plants begin to die out during autumn.
• You can place a pumpkin on any pedestal, urn or container in your garden. Put some rocks or bark underneath to keep if from rotting too quickly from heavy morning dew and fall rain storms.

With Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up you’ll want to decorate for the season.

Whether you’re looking for ideas on fall colors in the home, designing an autumn wreath, how to carve a Halloween pumpkin, set your table for the holidays or create a fall floral display in your home, you’ll find plenty of fall decorating photos and ideas in our Fall Home Decorating Photo Gallery.

As always, the easiest and most dramatic way to change a room is through the magic of paint. With a theme room, you should choose colors that your child associates with their favorite theme. For example, if you were creating a Tinkerbell room, you would choose shades of green or purple. A room based on Lightening McQueen could be red and black. Use your imagination, and don’t stop at simply painting the walls. You can add a racing stripe complete with center line as a border along the walls, or paint the floor dark grey and draw a race track around the room. The possibilities are endless! If you don’t wish to paint the floor, consider adding a kids area rug. You can often find large area rugs that replicate a roadway, and are great fun for kids to push their car around on.

With furniture, it’s simple to turn a regular piece into a themed work of art. Paint a set of bunk beds fire engine red. Add an old rubber hose painted black as an accent along the top of the bunk for your ‘fire hose’. If you are good with tools, consider cutting out a fire truck from plywood and painting it. Put your artwork up along the top of the bunk as a bed rail. Your child’s bed will be transformed from plain to fantastic with little more than a bucket of paint, some wood, and your own effort.

Wall murals are popular in theme rooms, but they can be time consuming to do on your own and expensive if you hire someone to come in and create one for you. For a real wall mural display at less than half the price, purchase large self-adhesive stickers that you can put together as a mural. There are many different theme stickers you can buy, including word art and character replications. It will really add that themed touch to your room.

Less expensive additions you can add to your child’s room include themed sheets, curtains, pillows, posters, and borders. You can buy light switch covers, wall outlets covers, laundry hampers, and even clocks in a variety of characters and themes. The accessories really take your room to that extra level, and your child will be thrilled with all of the new and special additions.

Yes, Extreme Home Makeover can set the bar fairly high when it comes to beautiful kid’s rooms, but you can give your child the gift of a beautiful sanctuary by simply doing it yourself and being creative with how you spend your budget. The payback will be the thrill you see on your child’s face for years to come.

1. Look under furniture for extra storage space; a good under-bed organizer can help keep toys, shoes and other kids’ stuff hidden from view and better-organized. You might also consider a trundle or kid-sized bed with built-in drawers. Efficient storage is the most important key to keeping a small bedroom neat.
2. Go vertical; when floor space is limited, one of the easiest ways to maximize space utilization is to use every inch of vertical space. When shopping for kids’ bedroom furniture, look for bookcases, armoires, hutches and other furniture pieces that are tall and use the least square footage. A bunk bed really takes advantage of vertical space, giving you a place to display stuffed animals, etc. even if the bedroom isn’t shared; this also helps out when your kids have sleepovers.
3. Create an illusion of more space by painting stripes on the walls; vertical stripes give the room a sense of greater height while horizontal stripes will make the room seem wider. Mount full length curtains close to ceiling height to further augment the sense of greater height.
4. Look for “combo” furniture pieces such as an armoire with drawers and space for hanging clothes to free up closet space. If you install the right closet organizers and shelving, you might want to consider removing the closet doors to help open up your child’s smaller bedroom. This option gives you greater flexibility in terms of furniture layout.
5. A corner bookcase or display shelf unit can be a great way to utilize diagonal nooks and crannies in your smaller-sized kids’ bedroom.
6. Don’t place tall furniture near windows; this only blocks the natural light. Do place a low bookcase or, better yet, a chair or bench near the window; this adds both seating and storage below the windowsill.
7. While it may seem counter-intuitive, an oversized kids’ chair will help make the bedroom seem larger, taking advantage of scale and tricking the eye into perceiving the room as larger.
8. When it comes to wall art, try to focus on one wall in your kids’ bedroom; this will create a visual focal point without clutter and visual distraction. Try to reduce the number and amount of collections of kids’ decorative accessories; you can switch collections now seasonally or as your child’s interests change over time. This reduces visual clutter if you can get your child to agree to not displaying every collection at once!
9. A well-lit bedroom will seem more open and spacious than a dark room; augment the ceiling light fixture with a bedside table lamp, desk lamp, etc. to provide plenty of ambient and task lighting in your child’s bedroom. Use a layered window treatment, using a blind or shade to provide adequate privacy when needed and sheer curtains for a decorative touch that still lets in plenty of natural light when the shade or blind is raised.
10. Keep it simple; more than anything a small kids’ bedroom will suffer greatly if you try to overdo a theme, use too many colors and cram in just plain too much stuff. The trick to decorating any small space is to keep things simple and not over-decorate!

Similar to a traditional family room and oftentimes connected to the kitchen and eating areas, the great room in many modern homes is the most popular gathering place in the house. A great room is where the family spends time in the evening and on weekends, when it’s raining outside, where we get together to play board games, watch television and movies on DVD and entertain friends.

The great room should be a comfortable space to spend time. It is not generally a formal room, so the décor will often be casual and inviting. A fireplace or entertainment center makes the focal point in most great room layouts. Arrange seating to take best advantage of your focal point, with a large coffee table and small end tables with table lamps to set down drinks, books and other items.

Perhaps no room gets more regular use than the modern Great Room, which typically combines family room, eating area and kitchen into a single living space.

Great Room Design Elements and Themes

You need to pick a theme for your great Room. You wouldn’t write a story without a plot, and basically, when we decorate, we are telling a story about who lives there. Are you a nature lover, does your family love sports, are you very traditional, or do you like a very minimal room?

Once you have a theme, it’s a lot easier to pick and choose the elements in the room to create that feeling, and can save you a lot of money in mistakes when things don’t quite go together. An area for board games or cards is easily accommodated by adding a game table several chairs and some task lighting. Place a floor lamp to add ambient lighting.

Some great rooms will incorporate a window seat to take advantage of the natural light provided by large windows. You can place a bench, loveseat or settee beside the window if your great room does not have a built in window seat. Add a soft cushion or pillows to make this a comfortable reading place. An end table with lamp makes a good addition to any reading area.

The large space in your great room makes it an ideal place for tall house plants. Up lighting can add drama and color at night. You might also consider a writing desk to make space for your bill-paying center.

Great Room Color Scheme Considerations

Once you decide how you want to use the space in your great room, its time to pick a color palette. If you can see another room from your great room, its best to pull a color from the adjoining room into your great room décor to help the rooms flow together.

Theme is also an important element in color selection. A natural theme may incorporate earthy tones, while a nautical theme would incorporate blues and yellows. Focus on the largest area, usually the walls first. Painting is a quick way to transform your great room. Try painting several patches with variations of the colors and tones you think you like on just one wall and let it dry to be sure which one you like best before painting the entire room.

Faux finishes like sponge painting and ragging can add texture, giving your great room a rich feeling, and are very easy to learn. Decorative trim such as crown molding, a chair rail and upgraded baseboards will go a long way to making your great room more visually appealing and unique.

Window treatments are a critical piece of your great room decor. One issue to consider in a great room will typically be the sliding glass doors. With kids and dogs running in and out, you may want to forgo expensive vertical blinds. Under all that heavy use, the vanes start falling out and get permanently bent after being shut in the door a few hundred times and the whole treatment needs replacing soon thereafter.

Window Treatments, Furnishings and Accessories

Roll-up imitation wood blinds are an option, or if budget allows, real wood blinds work well. Fabric panels made from twin flat sheets are inexpensive, and if you don’t sew, you could use iron-on hem tape. Inexpensive wood dowels can be used as rods, and you can glue something decorative onto the end of the rod for finials.

Once your walls and windows squared away, its time to select furniture, which can be expensive. There are ways to make the most of your existing pieces, and looking for less expensive alternatives. Slipcovers can give an old, worn-out sofa a new look. Look for sales or check local consignment shops to find your best deals on furniture if your budget is tight.

Blanket throws can be cut from a yard of polar fleece fabric, which doesn’t fray, so no sewing is required; just cut some fringe and it’s ready to throw on the couch. Another budget-minded option is paint. Paint mismatched furniture all the same color or apply a faux finish to make things match, adding wood molding to create a shared theme for the pieces.

Lighting and Accessories for the Great Room

Lighting is always important in the great room since so many different activities go on. Can lights or track lighting in the ceiling help provide overall ambient lighting, while pendant lamps or other hanging lamps add nice accent lighting. Floor and table lamps can be used to provide task lights in appropriate areas of the room.

Lastly, the fun is in accessorizing and really pulling together the theme for your great room. Start by selecting a few key items that you really like and then add items that complement these core accessories. Find inexpensive candles and put them in a nice bowl filled with stones or potpourri.

The great room will serve any family well, providing an inviting place to hang out indoors if you take the time to make it comfortable and inviting with these design and decorating ideas.

There are many factors to consider when planning a window treatment. First of all, what effect do you want to achieve? Do you want the treatment to make a statement or quietly meld into the room, leaving the spotlight for another element of the décor? Is the room formal or casual? Do you want full-length drapery panels or only a cornice or shade? What is the sun exposure? Do you need to block light or drafts?

After you weigh all these factors, let your creativity soar and watch your beautiful window take shape because whether inherently beautiful or simply practical, a window’s shape, size and position adds a definite character to the internal architecture of a room.

Treatments for Standard Windows

Whether you live in a modern home with double-glazing, a Victorian terrace with small sash windows or a country cottage, you will probably have at least one standard or smaller window. Unlike other more dramatic window shapes, it is probably more important standard windows to have some form of window treatment, particularly with the more modern types, as they do not have a lot of character of their own.

A sense of scale is important when dealing with these modest windows, although if a window is out of proportion it can be adjusted using a wider track or longer length curtains, as long as the contrast is not too excessive. Quite often these windows are positioned with radiators underneath; making blinds the best solution both practically and proportionally. Other practical elements, such as whether the windows opens inwards or outwards, also need to be taken into consideration.

Some cottages have windows set into deep alcoves, while other houses have windows set very high; in these cases it may not be necessary to curtain them at all. If you have a beautiful view, and do not need privacy, the window can be turned into a decorative feature by painting the frame in a striking color. Of all the standard windows, sashes are perhaps the best proportioned, and they easily accept most forms of curtaining, blinds and shutters.

When deciding on window treatments for standard windows, remember that simple styles produce best results. Choose from Roman blinds, roller blinds or shutters or, if you prefer curtains, opt for smaller diameter poles, rather than tracks and pelmets, with headings that are not too deep. Keep fabrics light in color and weight to maximize the amount of light that comes in the room. A single curtain caught back to one side can make a prettier alternative to a pair of curtains.

Treatments for Tall Windows

Tall windows are highly desirable. They are particularly associated with Georgian architecture, a period which is remembered for its elegant proportions and interior decoration. Many modern homes also have tall windows, running from floor to ceiling or on stairwells.

In Georgian houses, tall windows are usually found on the first floor, where the formal reception rooms were situated, and they offer superb opportunities for window treatments, ranging from classical formal arrangements to simpler, more contemporary styles. One of the great charms of tall windows is that they let in a lot of light. Curtain designs should therefore concentrate their light-giving properties and not go for over-complicated styles that cover up the beauty of the windows.

If using curtains, don’t skimp on fabric; make sure they are generous, and scoop them back with tiebacks or Italian stringing, to allow plenty of light into the room. If you live in an older property which still has the original shutters, use a simple sheer drape, or top the shutters with a single pull-up blind. If using blinds with tall windows, set them within the recess to reveal the frame.

Unfortunately, not all tall windows conform to the Georgian proportions, and in such cases curtaining can be problematic. For rooms with low ceilings, curtains need to be designed so that they bring the eye down and away from the top of the window. Do this by using a deep pelmet, a valance, or curtains with tiebacks set down low.

Not all tall windows are floor-length as some have radiators set against the wall beneath them. However, these windows should still be dressed with full-length curtains for the best decorative effect.

Treatments for Extra Wide Windows

Wide windows need a different approach to window dressing. If placed in a good location, picture windows can be a striking feature that needs little embellishment. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and some form of screening is often required for privacy during the day. Even if the view is beautiful, at night this will turn into a large black hole, so some form of window covering is desirable.

Another practical consideration is insulation. Vast areas of single sheet glass are not effective in retaining heat; double glazing can help, but curtaining offers an easy solution.

Simplicity is the key to curtaining picture windows; avoid anything fussy like swags and tails which detract from the view. A single curtain hung simply from a plain pole or pelmet and stacked back to one side avoids the look of a pair of stage curtains. Alternatively, the clean lines of Roman or roller blinds make a good option; practically, however, picture windows often incorporate hinged or sliding doors, so blinds must be able to clear the window fully.

Wide windows made from several panes of glass can be dressed successfully with a series of blinds. These add interest to the window as they can be lowered to varying levels, breaking up the monotony of a continuous horizontal line. Sill-length curtains can be used on windows that are wider than they are high, although floor-length ones tend to work better by balancing proportions.

Plain fabrics work best on wide windows. Avoid small fussy prints which simply do not work over a large area. Instead, try something bolder and more flamboyant, whether an abstract or natural design, a geometric pattern or even stripes. If your view is unpleasant and daytime screening is required, keep it simple. Use a plain voile or muslin that diffuses the light and reduces the outlook to softened blur; lace fabrics here would be just too much.

Treatments for Awkward Windows

Many houses possess at least one unusually shaped or oddly positioned window. When it comes to deciding on a treatment for these windows there are no general rules to follow as each window needs to be looked at individually. These awkward windows add character to a home, so they need to be enhanced and not just covered up with a standard solution.

Bow and bay windows can vary greatly in size from simple alcoves to room-sized projections embracing a whole wall. Today there are tracks available that curve to fit directly into the bay, enabling you to treat the whole window as one unit, although deep bays may need individual blinds or curtains.

Arched or Palladian windows are often beautiful features in their own right. Luckily, circular windows are often small and do not necessarily need any covering at all. The best approach for arched windows is to use a fixed heading on curtains or blinds, shaped to fit the curve of the arch.

Casement windows are found in old cottages, recessed into thick walls. They tend to be small, and often open inwards. The most practical solution in this case may be curtains set outside the recess, so as not to obstruct the opening or restrict the light.

Dormer windows project from a roof line and have sloping sides. Roman or roller blinds work best for these windows, although special hinged rods can be bought for curtains to swing clear of the glass.

Skylights re often set on an angle in the rood. Roller blinds are the best solution for these. Any curtains and blinds used will have to be adapted to fit close to the slope, using poles, cords, rings or clips.

Truth and furniture are not words commonly used in the same sentence; there is no universal truth in terms of how best to arrange your living space for comfort, balance and harmony. But understanding some fundamental principles and practical tips can help you achieve the most comfortable and visually pleasing arrangements possible in your home’s living spaces.

Read on and learn the fundamentals of home furniture arrangement and tips on how to resolve the challenges of fitting everything into place like a pro.

Furniture Arrangement Challenges

Every home and floor plan has its unique furniture-arranging challenges. Rooms may be long and narrow or with odd nooks and crannies to fill, doors may swing into the way of furnishings, walls may be set at angles, all making it seemingly impossible to fit your furniture comfortably into the right spots. But there are ways to manage all these challenges effectively.

Arranging Living Spaces for Scale, Balance and Symmetry

Scale refers to the relationship of furnishings to each other and the space you are arranging. A space that is out of scale will feel out of sorts. For example if you place a very large sofa next to a tiny coffee table, the visual effect will subconsciously seem unbalanced.

Symmetry and asymmetry are also important in achieving a balanced and pleasing arrangement; if everything is entirely symmetrical, the room may seem restful, yet may lack visual impact. On the other hand, a completely asymmetrical arrangement can be jarring to the eye.

Balancing symmetry (i.e. a matched pair of sitting chairs) with asymmetry (i.e. two lamps of different heights) assures the space feels relaxing, yet also retains visual motion and impact.

Begin with a Blank Canvas

One trick interior designers use when starting a project is to treat a space as a blank canvas, the way an artist considers a new composition. Just as a painter creates a sense of depth and motion in a painting, the interior designer can use similar methods in laying out a room.

One such method is triangulation, in which elements are placed left and right in the lower part of a composition and converge at a point above the midpoint, drawing the eye into the scene.
Triangulation may be applied in arranging a room, for instance, by placing end tables on either side of a table and hanging artwork on the wall over the sofa, creating a triangular composition with the apex above the midpoint of the arrangement. This type of arrangement creates an aesthetically pleasing, balanced “vignette” within the overall composition of the room.

Create a Focal Point

Such an arrangement also creates a natural focal point in a room that may lack an architectural focal point such as a large picture window, fireplace, etc. Determining your room’s focal point is usually the best place to begin your arrangement.

In the living room the focal point may be the fireplace or conversation area, in the family room it may be a home entertainment center and in the bedroom it is typically the bed.
If your room does not have an architectural focal point, you will want to arrange furniture in order to create one; the above example makes use of an expanse of wall space to provide a visual focal point. Other examples include using a large area rug to create a focal point, around which a comfy conversation is created with the furniture arrangement.

You should place the largest piece of furniture in a room first:

• In a family room, the entertainment center is often the primary piece of furniture;
• In a dining room or eating area, the dining table;
• In a living room, a sofa;
• In a bedroom, the bed.

Think in Totality

You want to arrange your furniture with gestalt, or the principle of totality, in mind. For example, a large space may be divided, as is common in modern homes with great room spaces; the kitchen, eating space and entertainment areas each being part of an overall space, but also each having its own form as defined by it’s respective function.

Large, rectangular spaces tend to feel less comfortable, which is why dividing such a space with square furniture arrangements is typical in many interior design schemes. Often designers plan zones within a room, creating a more intimate, informal layout and maximizing use of the space that allows for various functions such as conversation areas, dining areas, etc.

Style is another aspect to consider in totality; for the most part you want the furniture in a given room to be of similar style, unless you are purposely trying to achieve an eclectic look.

Consider the Function of the Room

Obviously the function of any given space is crucial to the arrangement of furnishings. Ask yourself these kinds of questions:

• In the living room, is seating comfortable and arranged such that people are close enough to hear each other readily? Remember that noise levels will increase substantially when you have a larger gathering.
• Is there adequate table space to set glasses and food down if you plan to serve food when entertaining in the living room?
• Is the room lighting adequate to the tasks for which you will typically use the room or do you need additional table lamps to augment the ambient light level?
• In bedrooms, is there enough room for two people to get dressed at the same time?
• In the kitchen, can more than one person prepare food without getting in the way of the other?
• In an eating area or dining room, can people walk around the table without others needing to pull in their chairs to let them pass?

The Importance of Scale in Arranging Furniture

One mistake non-designers make when choosing furniture is to buy pieces that are out of scale … either to each other and/or to the room itself. For example; an overly large coffee table paired with a small sofa, end tables that are too small beside a large sofa, a bed that fills a bedroom from wall to wall, or a dining table that leaves no room for diners to maneuver around it.
When furnishings are out of scale the room feels somehow uncomfortable and out of balance. When you find a piece that is out of scale with the rest of the furniture in your room, its best to either move it elsewhere in the house, sell or store it.

Begin with Space Planning

To help plan your space start by measuring and doing some sketches to test various concepts and arrangements on paper or by using a computer design application. Your plans should include:

1. A traffic flow chart; spaces should allow freedom of movement and openness.
2. An overall floor plan; consider how your rooms connect and what functions each space needs to serve.
3. Room sketches; create multiple sketches of each space so that you can compare various furniture arrangement possibilities.
4. An inventory of existing furniture you wish to incorporate into your arrangement; use this to complete a gap analysis and determine what additional pieces are needed.

Additional Furniture Arrangement Tips

• Leave room entrances and exits clear and allow a clear walkway at least 3 feet wide so that people can pass through the room comfortably. Consider the “view” you will have as you enter a room.
• Try moving furniture away from the walls; don’t line all your furniture up against the walls or you’ll end up with something that looks like a doctor’s office waiting room. Remember to arrange pieces around your room’s focal point.
• Placing furniture on a diagonal can add interest and motion, helping break up an otherwise monotonous room layout; an armoire, for instance, placed diagonally can help disguise an awkward corner. Placing furniture at an angle can help the room appear larger and more complex and may improve traffic flow as well.
• Try moving the sofa out away from the wall, placing a long table behind it where you can arrange accessories.
• Vary the height and vertical lines of furniture to add depth and interest to your furniture arrangement.
• Avoid placing large furnishings in front of windows, where they may block natural light; low pieces that don’t block window light may be fine under windows. A bench or small chair under a window can provide a nice place to sit and enjoy the view outside!
• It should go without saying you never want to place furniture where it will prevent a door from opening and closing; a free and unobstructed traffic pattern is essential to any good furniture arrangement.

Light is a key component to a room as it can effect and change the appearance of it, so a centre piece to any room is the window. Therefore, it should look as good as the rest of the room, blinds can do just this.

Blinds are very common in both traditional and modern homes and come in a range of colors and styles designed for all types of windows whether they be large, small or sliding glass doors.

Most commonly used for sliding glass doors or tall windows, the vertical blind is highly beneficial. They are fairly inexpensive and come in a wide range of styles and colors to fit with any theme.

They are easily managed and cared for because they are made up of vinyl vanes. They are fitted using an easy to attach bracket so installation is quick and simple, the vinyl vanes can also be cut to fit the size of a window perfectly.

However, the true benefit of vertical blinds is that they allow superior light control.

Unlike other blinds, the vertical blind opens horizontally as oppose to opening vertically. When fully open they let in a lot of light which is great for making a room feel light and airy. When the blind is closed it blocks out light which can make a room feel cosy at night. They also tilt to adjust the amount of light you desire in a room.

The vertical blind is a great addition to a large or small room!

[image title="vertical-window-blind" size="medium" id="2912" align="none" linkto="viewer" ]

Source: Blinds

Last year’s story Make Your Own Christmas Wreath was so popular we decided to bring you some more creative Christmas wreath ideas. Through the ages wreaths have been symbols of peace, victory, and celebration. What better time is there than the Christmas season to preserve this tradition through the making and displaying of a holiday wreath?

The Typical Christmas Wreath

The typical Christmas wreath is made of sweet-smelling balsam evergreen branches in a circle bedecked with a big bright red ribbon tied in a bountiful bow, however, the essence of a wreath is in its shape, not the materials. Therefore, what makes a wreath for Christmas can be concocted of any materials that relate in some way, no matter how remote, to the joyful Christmas season.

The most obvious materials are those colored green and red but certainly not limited to these. Cone-and-nut wreaths and dried-flower wreaths are both popular variations. Miniature toys of any color and shape can be placed on a wreath to relate it to Christmas and also evoke the fun and anticipation of the season.

With our suggestions and a dash of your own imagination, you can make a striking, fun and unique wreath this Christmas; a creation to brighten your home throughout the holidays.

Classic Evergreen Christmas Wreaths

The evergreen Christmas wreath is the most traditional of all Christmas wreath designs and the most popular evergreen for this wreath is the balsam fir. This short-needle, compact branch is sturdy, long-lasting, and exudes a delightful woodsy fragrance, adding a dimension to a wreath not available with most other evergreens. It can be combined with fruits, berries or other accessories but for the most classic Christmas version keep it sparsely adorned.

1. Start by snipping the branches to five- to eight-inch long cuttings.
2. Gathering three or four branches at a time, place them one on top of each other on a wire wreath ring then wrap the wire very tightly around the grouped bottom ends of the branches. You may want to use florist tape for extra hold.
3. Twist the wire to hold the branches tight and then cut off the spool with the wire cutter.
4. Simply continue your way around the ring with groupings of evergreen cuttings so that the new bunch partially overlap the previous bunch.
5. Make sure you arrange the cuttings so that the center of the wreath remains an uncluttered space. Your want your wreath to be big enough to accommodate your evergreen. Do this by angling the branches outward as you go around the ring and trim any wayward branches to keep it symmetrical.

Being the most classic Christmas wreath it doesn’t need lots of embellishment to reflect the holiday season. If you want to stick with a traditional look, a large red satiny bow is essential. If the wreath is hanging outdoors you can heap some fresh snow amongst the boughs. Other options are a simple ring of wild rose hips in circling the center ring or some cones and small bunches of berries.

Change the look more by substituting the materials. Try elegant mountain laurel or if your lucky to live in moist terrain, some beautiful American holly.

Cone and Nut Christmas Wreaths

Unlike evergreen wreaths that can dry out in a season, cone-and-nut wreaths can last generations in a family and become part of your annual Christmas decorating finishing touches.

You can collect your own fallen cones and nuts from the woods or orchards but make sure you treat them properly first. Swirl them in a bucket of water to remove any dirt and sand then lay them on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes at 200-degrees Fahrenheit to melt the resin and pitch and kill any insects hidden inside. Next, it is advisable to alter the shape of the cones by breaking them in half to make rosettes, this is easier to work with and more attractive.

Putting this wreath together is fairly simple. You can use several different foundations but they need to be sturdy enough to support the weight, a circle of plywood or metal wreath mould is best.

1. Plan your design out first and then attach the cones with either an electric glue gun, or by twisting sections of wire around the cone and the wire wreath mold, twisting it closed on the underside.
2. Give decorative interest to your wreath by varying the nuts you use for textures: almonds, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, walnuts and pecans give textures and also a spectrum of browns.
3. You can opt to add a dash of color by gluing in red yarrow and white statice or a central ring of artificial crab apples and leaves. The ultimate Christmas wreath accessory is a large, draping red ribbon.

Grapevine Christmas Wreaths

Grapevine wreaths put striking texture on your front door and there is an abundance of materials for them lying around after the late fall time of year.

Out in the country you will find plenty of non-poisonous vines, without leaves and grapes, climbing tree trunks along streams and other water sources.

Don a pair of gloves and cut them free with pruning shears. On the day you want to make your wreath, soak them in water for a couple of hours and they will be much more pliant to work with.

The construction of the wreath itself is really easy:

1. Take your first strip of vine and form it into a circle by hooking on end under the vine so that it holds by its own pressure.
2. Continue weaving strips in and out of the circle until you achieve the thickness you want.
3. Once the base is finished you can add whatever you like.

Orange-colored bittersweet berries make an appealing combination, they can be inserted into the grapevine at various intervals. You could choose to wire a bouquet of dried flowers to the wreath. More in tune with the season use a plaid ribbon wrapped around the wreath then tie it in a big bow in the corner with a large sprig of holly. Add candy canes, miniature toys, wrapped candies or other Christmas tree ornaments as you please.

Gift Box Christmas Wreaths

Brightly wrapped gifts are an integral part of Christmas, so nothing could be more natural than to make a wreath of gift boxes in miniature. It may be a bit time consuming to make but your children can join in, and best of all, the end result will last for many enjoyable years.

1. Start with a substantial piece of cardboard (about fourteen inches in diameter and a five- inch center hole) and draw a wreath shape on it.
2. After cutting this out, cover it with some colored tissue paper of your choice to hide the cardboard.
3. Prepare some miniature gift boxes by simply using corrugated cardboard to construct boxes in varying sizes then covering them in fun and interesting Christmas wrapping paper or colored foil.

The whole wreath is pulled together nicely when you glue everything down on the wreath base. A great touch is to begin by gluing or stapling flowers or leaves to the base. Once they are in place you just need to glue the gift boxes on top of these. Group them in different sizes and cover as much of the base as you can. The final touch is to glue any miniature toys, figurines, acorns, candy or ornaments anywhere you wish. At last your gift box wreath is ready to dazzle!

Nautical Wreath

If you live near the beach you can make an unusual outdoor wreath with sea shells, driftwood, starfish and other beach-found items you think will go together and tell a Christmas tale about your trips to the beach. Drill holes and use twine or floral wire to put together a wreath of the sea.

The natural looks of your nautical wreath will work great against weathered wood siding and you can leave it up all winter since it won’t seem to "Christmasy". Dress your nautical wreath up with some colorful fish or bird ornaments and ribbon in colors of the sea.

Today we have continued this family tradition, adding many of Christopher Radko’s ornaments and other collectibles, but those vintage tree ornaments are still my favorites. If you’re starting your own Christmas tree ornament collection follow along and learn more about vintage and antique Christmas collectibles.

Starting Your Christmas Collection

Most people who get the bug start out with tree ornaments and other Christmas collectibles handed down from grandparents and parents or else they find a collection at a tag or yard sale and so it begins; you add one or several ornaments each year and slowly the collection builds.

It could even be considered a disease when you get to the point that you have too many to even put them all on display during the holidays or, like my father, you actually begin to collect duplicates! His reasoning was that each of the kids would have one to put on their tree, something that actually makes sense in retrospect, although at the time I thought he must be insane.

But you don’t collect these Christmas collectibles to make a profit; really you either have the passion to invest your hard earned money in them or not. The joy is in displaying your Christmas collection each year and eventually passing them down to your kids and grand kids. They also make cherished Christmas gifts that can last an entire lifetime when given by one family member to another. Like the old saying goes, "buy what you love".

While you can certainly buy a special Radko or tree ornament released each year by your favorite designer, the more serious you become about collecting, the more you may begin to seek the antique/vintage tree ornaments and other Christmas collectibles.

Vintage Glass Christmas Ornaments

Many collectors will choose a theme and try to find as many good examples from their chosen category as possible, while others prefer to collect only a couple of any one type and go very “broad” with their collections.

Glass bulb tree ornaments from the 1930s, 40s and 50s are extremely popular these days with collectors and fetch prices from as low as five, ten, or twenty dollars, all the way up to several hundred dollars for some of the rarer pieces. Striped and indented vintage glass ornaments tend to fetch higher prices than plain bulbs as you’d imagine. Smaller vintage glass ornaments tend to be more popular and fetch higher prices than the larger ones.

A number of vintage machine-blown glass ornaments that are popular with collectors today were made by in Poland under the Fantasia brand. Hand-blown glass ornaments from the 30s and 40s are rarer and more expensive than the machine-blown varieties.

Blown glass tree ornaments made in the shape of berries and pinecones, little baskets, umbrellas and many, many other figural shapes were also popular in the 30s and 40s. These glass ornaments have become very collectible, with prices depending on rarity and condition. As you would expect, many of the vintage ornaments will show wear, with paint worn off or chips in the finish being commonplace; obviously the better the condition, the more valuable a vintage collectible will tend to be.

Figural Christmas Collectibles

In addition to glass tree ornaments, Christmas bells, Santa figures and angels are all collector favorites. Musical instruments, animals and birds are also very popular. The glass bird ornaments with feet clips and tail feathers are fun tree ornaments to collect and originals date from the 1920s through the 1950s.

You’ll find a wide variety of Santa and snowmen ornaments. Fairytale figural ornaments are another great category. Angels are always popular among serious Christmas collectors. One of my dad’s favorite Christmas collections were figurines handmade by German company Koestel, which began in 1907 and still continues to make these angel figurines today with distinctive molded wax faces that are hand painted. The clothing is amazingly detailed and unlike anything else I’ve seen. In the 70s, Koestel offered literally hundreds of fairytale figures, from the Pied Piper to The Three Kings and many others, all made using the same fabrication techniques as the angels.

Some of the figurines were made to hang as tree ornaments, but the larger ones stand ten to fifteen inches tall and are displayed on a table or shelf every Christmas. Just coincidentally, my father would buy these Koestel figures on sale after the holidays every year, paying ten or twenty dollars apiece for the smaller figurines. Today, they are probably worth many times that price, due to being handmade and no longer manufactured. The collection will be handed down to my brother’s and my own kids to enjoy with their own kids for many, many years to come I hope!

Like the Proverbial "Kid at Christmas"

Perhaps with more anticipation than a kid dreaming of gifts under the tree, the serious Christmas collector waits all year for the holidays to roll around and they can unpack everything. While most of us buy ornaments during the holiday season or at after-holiday sales, the truly serious collector is on the lookout year round, watching eBay listings, looking through collector magazines and browsing antique shops, flea markets, estate sales and tag sales looking for new additions.

It isn’t uncommon for an avid collector to put up multiple Christmas trees, add display shelves or commandeer a table, buffet or even a whole room of the house just to make room to display the entire collection. A big part of the fun is in designing the display for a different look every year. Dad used to like to do one tree sometimes that featured only silver and crystal tree ornaments, with red ribbon and candlestick lights to give the tree an elegant and classic look.

Another approach some collectors like to take is to display only a specific portion of their collection, so that the home gets a different Christmas theme every year. Yes, it is a real obsession once you get the bug!

Specialty Christmas Collectibles

Now dad didn’t just stop with the tree ornaments. His collection also included a number of hand-carved figurines from Italian company Anri. Since 1912, four generations have perfected and handed down the Groeden Valley, Italy tradition of woodcarving and hand painting. Dad collected a complete Nativity scene set of the Anri carved pieces that makes for a dramatic display every Christmas.

Whether you prefer reindeer or snowmen, Santa Clause figurines, angels or stars, collecting Christmas specialty decorations other than tree ornaments becomes the next step in many collections. Materials range from hand carved wood to papier-mâché and a wide range of others.

My grandmother had a vintage 1920s collection of houses made with paper or cardboard, including a church, complete with steeple. The rustic hand painted Christmas “village” that made a great display under our family Christmas tree every year when I was a kid. Later, Dad was inspired by that original tree village and started collecting the popular Dickens Christmas Village, another collectors’ favorite.

Collecting Vintage Santa Claus

Vintage Santas comprise a separate category of antique Christmas collectibles. Antique Santa Figures are always popular, as evidenced by the prices they bring at antique shows and shops. You need to do your research if you decide to start collecting the rarer, more expensive pieces. Many older pieces were made using materials such as papier-mâché, little pieces of cotton batting, chenille, die-cut scraps and even twigs and grasses. Many of these pieces are now being reproduced, so you really want to know what you’re buying!

One way to tell if an item is authentic is to look for signs of normal wear and age. While many of the vintage Santas and other Christmas collectibles can be in good condition, signs of wear are normal. The reproductions are fine as long as you aren’t unknowingly paying the price an original could command.

Handing Down the Christmas Collecting Tradition

Collecting Christmas tree ornaments and decorative items is fun if you have the passion. Start with pieces you love that aren’t too expensive and add to your collection as your knowledge and interest increase over the years. You’ll have something special to display every year during the Christmas season and pass down to your kids and grand kids. It’s something the family can enjoy from one generation to the next, passing down the Christmas spirit and tradition.

If your family has some special and unique Christmas collectibles please leave your comments below and tell us what types of collectibles and ornaments you like to add to your own family collection!

Crafts are a great way for kids to feel welcome at a holiday party- it keeps them busy, entertained, and they can show off their creations to a roomful of adults. These Christmas crafts are easy to make, inexpensive, and lots of fun for everyone.

Handprint Wreath

Supplies needed:

• A lot of green construction paper
• A piece of red construction paper or a red ribbon
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue
• Optional: Glitter or glitter glue

Steps:

1. Trace the child’s hand on a piece of green construction paper.
2. Cut out the handprint. Make about 10 paper hands for each wreath
3. Glue the handprints together in a wreath shape, with the wrists overlapping a little bit.
4. Glue on a red ribbon bow (or make one from red construction paper).
5. Decorate your wreath with glitter or glitter glue.

Hand and Foot Reindeer

Supplies you will need:

• Brown and tan construction paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue
• Googly eyes (or you can draw your own.)

Steps:

1. Trace around the child’s foot using brown construction paper. This will be the reindeer’s head.
2. Trace around the child’s hands using tan construction paper. These 2 pieces will be the reindeer’s antlers.
3. Glue the handprint "antlers" to the top of the reindeer. Add a bright red paper nose, a paper (or drawn) mouth, and googly eyes (or paper eyes) to the reindeer’s head. Other ideas are drawing the face with crayons or markers, or using red pom pom’s for the nose.

Candy Train Ornament

This candy train is made from a roll of hard candy (like Lifesavers), wrapped peppermint candies, a wrapped caramel, and a wrapped chocolate kiss.

Supplies:

• Hot glue gun
• A roll of hard candy (like Lifesavers)
• 4 wrapped peppermint candies
• A wrapped caramel
• A wrapped chocolate kiss
• A short length of yarn or string

Steps:

1. Using a hot glue gun, glue four wrapped peppermint candies to a roll of candy; the peppermint candies are the wheels of the train.
2. Glue a wrapped caramel to the top, at one end the train. Glue a wrapped chocolate kiss on top of that.
3. Glue a small length of string to the top of the train.

Handprint Christmas Tree

Make an adorable Christmas tree from your child’s handprints. This makes a really neat decoration to put on your child’s bedroom door, or the door to a playroom.

Supplies needed:

• A lot of green construction paper
• A piece of brown construction paper (for the tree trunk)
• A piece of yellow construction paper (for the star)
• A large piece of brown paper (or use another color)
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue
• Scissors
• Glue
• Glitter, glitter glue, or paper ornaments to glue on the tree

Steps:

1. Trace the child’s hand on a piece of green construction paper.
2. Cut out the handprint. Fold the wrist over.
3. Make a lot of paper hands (the number you’ll need depends on the size of your tree).
4. Draw a tree shape (long triangle shape) on a large piece of paper.
5. Cut out a small rectangle of dark brown paper (this will be the tree trunk).
6. Glue the rectangle below the tree.
7. Glue the handprints together in a tree shape, gluing the folded part of the wrist to the background. Start at the bottom of the tree. Starting with the second row, make the fingers overlap the next hand a little bit.
8. Cut out a yellow star for the top of the tree. Glue it on the tree.
9. Write a Christmas message around the tree.
10. Decorate your tree with glitter, glitter glue, or paper ornaments.
11. You can also make the tree on a triangle shape (so there is no background showing).

Snowman Necklace or Ornament

You will need:

• White Elmers Glue
• Paper clip
• Waxed paper
• Scraps of construction paper: black, and orange
• A hole punch (for cutting eyes, and buttons)
• Scissors
• Googly eyes (from a craft store) – optional
• Tiny buttons – optional
• 2 very tiny twigs (for arms)
• String or yarn (for hanging from branch, or longer to wear as a necklace)

Steps:

1. Working on waxed or parchment paper, spread 2 or 3 blobs of white glue in the shape of a snowman. Unfold a paper clip into a V-shape (to use as a hanger).
2. Cut a tiny hat from black construction paper and put it on the snowman on top of the paper clip hanger. Put the ends of the paper clip into the glue at the top of the snowman. For the snowman’s eyes, use black paper circles cut with a hole punch, or use googly eyes. Put the eyes on the snowman. Add a tiny orange (carrot-shaped) nose. Add a few paper buttons (or small real buttons) down the front of the body.
3. Let the glue dry – it will take a few days. When it dries, the glue will become transparent. When it is completely dry, peel it gently off the waxed paper.
4. String the snowman on some yarn for a cool necklace or use a shorter string to use as an ornament.

Pine Cone Christmas Tree

A easy-to-make pine cone Christmas Tree. Use it as a Christmas decoration or as a tree ornament. This is a simple craft that even young children can help make.

For each Pine Cone Christmas Tree you will need:

• A large, open pine cone (pick one that is tree-shaped and stands upright easily)
• Glitter
• A few cotton balls
• White glue (like Elmer’s)
• Dental floss and a needle
• Small beads
• A small bow or star to top off your little tree

Steps:

1. Glue a few cotton balls to the bottom of the pinecone. These look like snow and help the "tree" stand upright.
2. Put a little dab of glue at the tips of the pine cone and then sprinkle on glitter (spray glue works best and gives more, and even coverage)
3. String some small beads onto dental floss (about 1 to 1 1/2 ft or more, depending on the size of the pine cone). To string the beads easily, tie one bead securely to the string. Then give the floss to the child for stringing. Older children can use a needle to help with the stringing. When the stringing is done, tie off the last bead with a knot. Wrap the beads around the pinecone and glue them to the tree.
4. Top off your tree with a small bow or other decoration.

Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Don’t forget our feathered friends. This craft is easy, even for the smallest ones.

You will need:

• Pinecones
• String or yarn
• Peanut Butter
• Wild Birdseed mix (best if poured into large bowl)
• Plastic spoon or knife

Steps:

1. First you need to tie string or yarn to the top of the pinecone, so you can hang it from a tree branch.
2. Then, using a plastic spoon or knife, spread a thick layer of peanut butter all over the pinecone.
3. Once done, roll the pinecone in the birdseed.
4. Make sure to press hard, to get the seeds in deep and firm.
5. Now, go hang it outside as a present for the neighborhood birds.

The LoJo Ball is a newly designed piece that takes the bean bag to a whole new level. It has a unique style and is a must have for all modern homes!

The LoJo Ball acts as a decorative piece when not in use and can, in addition, be used as a stool or foot rest but can also be unzipped to become a stylish, comfortable chair, a fantastic alternative to the average chair.

It is made of beans to comfort your bottom and has a simple inflatable piece to comfort your lower back. It is easy to inflate and comes equipped with a hand pump as part of the package. Ideal for watching T.V. Or reading a book.

Great for any room including the living room, family room, kids room or sitting room. It comes in a variety of styles and colors which means it fits in with virtually any decorative theme imaginable within a modern home.

Plus, the LoJo Ball is continuously developing and more and more styles and colors are becoming available giving you more choice! And if that isn’t good enough, they are said to be releasing a new outdoor design so not only will it catch the eye of your house guests but also the eye of onlookers too!!

Sure to be a must have in any home. So why not set the trend?

Source: LoJoBall

Since the original chaise lounge was designed by La Corbusier in 1929 it has inspired other designers to develop similar items of furniture. Now in the modern day, the most popular chaise lounge available for modern homes is the adjustable chaise lounge. Many of the modern pieces follow the same guidelines inspired in the original design but has been altered to follow the era of the new modern style that it is now famous throughout many homes.

Often made of leather with chrome/ metal frames, the adjustable chaise lounge is a great contemporary piece and a must have for your home. As the name implies, it has an adjustable back to give complete comfort for the individual. It reclines gently and easily so that you can choose to lay or sit in this stunning state of the art piece of furniture.

Great for relaxing indoors and out! In addition, it comes in a variety of colors so will fit well with any decorative theme which makes it perfect for virtually any room in the house, including the master bedroom, kids bedroom, guest bedroom, family room and living room. A great alternative to the average lounge or chair!

Source: GarboContemporaryFurniture

Do you often have a lot of house guests over? Do you have guests that come to stay but don’t have anywhere for them to sleep because you don’t have a guest room? And finally, do you have a modern home? If so then here is the answer to your problem!

The convertible sofa is an idealistic piece of furniture for those who lack space or have little or no guest bedrooms. It is not only a sofa (great for you and/or your family when you have little or no guests) but it also converts into a large seating area (providing additional seating) or bed (giving your house guests somewhere to sleep).

It is simple and easy to use and can conserve space and act as a sofa when not reclined. This style of sofa is a very popular piece in modern homes and it comes in a variety of styles, colors and materials so will fit well with any decorative theme. It is, in addition, a nice alternative to standard chair seating for your guests as it is far more comfortable.

Stunning to look at and highly practical, the convertible sofa is perfect for contemporary / modern homes. A perfect addition to any living room or family area!

Source: Daybeds

Do you have a small home? Small kitchen? Little space? If the answer is yes then this product is perfect for you! This contemporary piece of furniture fits in well with the modern home theme because it is minimalist and unique.

The folding kitchen/bar table is highly useful because it easily folds away when not in use and so solves all issues there is with lack of space. It benefits from an easy folding mechanism which is what makes it simple to fold away neatly when not in use.

It comes in various colors and materials, the most popular being a chrome stand with acrylic top which fits with any modern day theme/style and is a highly versatile piece of furniture as it can be used for display purposes in the larger modern homes.

The table can benefit many individuals such as those working from home or students as it can be moved easily around the home.

Source: Funkylifestyles

This piece of furniture is ideal for modern home décor as it is both modern but with a retro twist taken from the sixties at the same time and so gives a whole new look to the average home.

Here are the advantages of the ball chair:

• The piece is shaped to mould to the shape of your bottom, making it comfortable to sit on.

• It is coated with a high quality gloss and the bright outrageous colors that this type of chair is available in, such as; fuchsia, red, orange and green, makes this chair very eye-catching.

• If you are looking for a less outrageous color then it is also available in black and white, so it suits all needs and themes.

• It is also available in granite and special addition styles as shown in the image below.

• The ball chair is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use as it is made from recycled ABS (polythene), making it strong and durable. Perfect for the kitchen, kids bedrooms, living rooms, family rooms and more.

Overall, The ball chair is perfect for giving the average modern home a kick of color and individuality!

Source: Bodieandfou

Image Source: Sawitfirst

The key to having a modern home is to have the right furniture to match the theme. However, many modern homes all look the same but if you want a modern look with a unique style then the sleeping pod chair is a great addition.

Made of fibre glass, the sleeper pod chair is shaped like a ball (or pod) cut at a diagonal angle, giving it a very unusual look and is a great substitute for the average chair. It has a retro appearance which is why it makes it ideal for giving a unique look to the modern home.

Given it’s name for being so comfortable that you can sleep in it. When it is not in use it acts as a decorative piece and when in use is a good relaxing seat. Perfect for the living room, family room, master bedroom or kids bedroom. And, in addition, It comes in a variety of colors so it will fit with any decorative theme.

Sure to be a highly talked about piece amongst your family and friends.

Source: Sawitfirst

Image Souce: Fatfurniture

Halloween has past again and so its time to start planning your outdoor Christmas display for this holiday season. Of course, we all have our own ideas about how elaborate, what theme and how much to budget when it comes to decorating the front yard for Christmas.

We’ve got some great ideas, whether you just want to put a wreath on the front door, string up lights around the front window and call it quits, or if you want to get really creative and do something that gets passersby to stop and gawk a little!
From lighted candy canes to giant snowmen, flying reindeer, outdoor energy-saving LED lights, window decorations and more, read on to find everything you’ve ever dreamed your outdoor Christmas decorating could be.

Know Your Neighborhood Rules and Consider Safety First

Start by investigating what is allowed in your neighborhood; if you have a Homeowners Association, be sure the display you’re planning won’t be considered a nuisance or you could incur an unwanted fine. Most neighborhoods are fine with lights and other yard displays but check it out just to be on the safe side.

Not to frighten you too much from doing outdoor decorating, but the statistics on visits to hospital emergency rooms due to people falling off ladders while decorating for the holidays are staggering, so be cautious! Also, it should go without saying that all lights and yard art you use in creating your display should be designed for outdoor use. Decorate at your own peril and use some common sense; if you can’t reach that eve to hang the wreath or lights either get professional assistance or rethink your plan.

Planning Your Outdoor Christmas Holiday Display

Do you want your display to be understated and traditional, or do you want something glitzy that will be the envy of the neighborhood this Christmas? The myth is that it costs a lot of money to decorate your yard for the holidays, but with a little planning and wise shopping you can actually operate on even the tightest of budgets.

While the best time to shop for outdoor decorations is January, if you missed last year’s sales, start early and you can still find some great deals. Another way to save money is to make your own outdoor holiday decorations; a little creativity and ingenuity can go a long way to making your holiday display a true one-of-a-kind showcase.

Make a drawing of your yard and plan the placement of your holiday display items, taking advantage of your home’s architecture and landscaping. Decide what you want your focal point(s) to be, whether it’s a specific area in the yard, a large picture window you want to light or even a complete Santa’s sleigh and flying reindeer on your roof.

Try to group your yard art and lights to create one or a couple of focal points; if you place things without grouping them according to theme, color, etc. your display will attract the eye with a pleasing result rather than distracting or ‘fight’ with each other for attention.

Remember to plan for lighting; if you want to put up a lot of lights you may want to add a circuit to your electrical wiring and run a few outdoor receptacles; nothing is more frustrating than having your outdoor Christmas lights continually trip the circuit breaker.

Traditional Outdoor Holiday Displays

A wreath on the door, some electric candles in the window and white lights are typical of a classis outdoor Christmas display. You can find great prices on lights and electric candles for the windows over at Christmas Depot; for example they have 12×9-inch Electric Candy Canes on sale for only $12.

If you’re lucky enough to have a front porch with railing, you can use red bows and garland to give it a nice holiday touch. If you like the candy cane theme, check out the Lighted Holographic Candy Cane Yard Art, available online for $69.99.
Snowmen and Santa are also classic yard display items, or you could put up a nativity scene. Any of these traditional holiday yard art displays are easy to make from plywood and paint yourself; Free Woodworking Plans has links to lots of great outdoor Christmas displays you can make yourself.

Adding a Little Christmas Bling

Now, if you want something a little more glitzy, you may need to increase your budget a little. Flashing lights and animated Santa Claus figures will add character and a bit more ‘wow’ factor to your outdoor Christmas decorating project.

If you really want to go all out, look at the Animated Santa’s Workshop display sold by Holiday Lighting Specialists (hang on to your wallet when you see the price tag on this set up) or go to Walmart and pick up a few of their Animated Reindeer Light Sculptures for only $34.96.

Outdoor Christmas Lighting

Now, the centerpiece of most outdoor Christmas displays is the lights. Whether you like the old-fashioned colored large bulbs, candle lights, icicle lights or classy white Christmas lights, the variety available these days is truly amazing.
One trend in recent years has been LED lighting; they cost more but they don’t tend to burn out as quickly as traditional incandescent lights and they help conserve energy.

You’ll find a great selection of outdoor Christmas lights and accessories available online at Holiday LEDs. Outdoor lighting controls are another consideration; you don’t want to have to wander all over the house plugging in various strings of lights if you can avoid it, so you might want to consider timers or remote controls to make things simpler.

Lighting Walkways and Driveways

Candy cane lights are a great way to decorate walkways, adding color and form and giving your guests a little extra light on those dark winter nights. You can also string lights in trees or shrubberies to help light the way from your driveway to the front door.

Tie your lighting together with the overall theme of your display; for instance you could use all white lights or lights all the same color blue, green or red. Or, you could use the classic multi-colored lights to outline a large front window and hang white icicle lights along the roofline.

Decorating the outside of your home for the holidays can be great fun for the entire family. It’s a great creative outlet and something that will add joy to your holidays and provide lasting memories of the holiday season.