← | →

Decorating for Christmas

By Patricia Petro
Thursday, December 22, 2011 | Filed under Christmas, entertaining, holidays | Comments (0)

Santa doorknob cover (Photo: Traditional Home) Gathering family and friends together is one of the greatest joys of the holiday season.

You want guests to feel welcome and comfortable in your home, and Christmas offers a perfect opportunity to spruce it up (pun intended).

Start with the tree and bask in its glow. Decorate the mantel. Adorn the staircase with garland and ribbon. Deck the halls with boughs of holly. Hang mistletoe. Bring out the Christmas bears and Santas. Light candles, the more the merrier. Dress your holiday table in gold or silver and glassware in vibrant jewel tones. Add a welcoming wreath on the front door for that classic Yuletide touch.

The possibilities for Christmas décor are endless. It’s all a matter of taste and personal preference. The whole point is to spread peace, joy, love . . . and celebrate the season.

What I love about these decorations

Classic arborvitae wreath

Colorful red berries pop in this classic arborvitae wreath (Photo: Traditional Home).

Pine cone arrangement on door with thick swag of garland

Understated elegance . . a simple pine cone arrangement on the door replaces a traditional wreath;
a thick swag of garland, with over-sized pine cones, frames the entry (Photo: Country Living).

[left and above ] A door, with its
red-ribboned boxwood wreath, opens
to a festive entry. Garland wraps around
the mirror. Atop the hall console, red
amaryllis and a white reindeer greet
guests. On the floor, in a large silver bowl,
are Christmas cookie party favors
(Photos: Traditional Home).

Decorated staircase

Bouquets of seasonal greens, branches, and berries, tied with ribbon and green balls,
adorn this staircase (Photo: Better Homes and Gardens).

Tree is decorated with easy-to-make silhouette ornaments and tartan plaid hoops

Tree is decorated with easy-to-make silhouette ornaments and tartan plaid hoops by Holly Mathis Interiors.

A simple wreath, hung with red velvet ribbon, graces a kitchen shelf

[left and above] Shiny red bulbs decorate a
potted plant. A simple wreath, hung with red
velvet ribbon, graces a kitchen shelf
(Photos: Traditional Home).

Shiny red bulbs decorate a potted plant

A delightfully primitive Christmas

Primitive bears climb a small tree; stockings, in three sizes, hang from the mantel;
a string of lights adorns fireplace logs for a delightful Country Christmas.

[above] Store-bought toss pillows are upgraded with simple appliqués (Photo: Country Living).

[left] Tree on the counter and decorations on the shelves give this kitchen festive flare.

Tree on the counter and decorations on the shelves give this kitchen festive flare

Small, simple, live tree

A small, simple, live table-top tree. (Photo: Pottery Barn).

Christmas tree and garland make this dining room look (and smell) fresh and inviting

Christmas tree and garland make this dining room look (and smell) fresh and inviting.
Sprays at the back of each chair are a nice touch. (Photo: Style at Home / Michael Graydon).

A festive buffet table

Create food-serving risers for your favorite holiday dishes. Here’s how: Using string, attach boxwood sprigs to 2 or 3 layers of green Styrofoam rings. Add grosgrain ribbon, if desired. Top with tangerines or key limes using floral picks. Set your serving plate in the center.

Another great idea: Put cheese spreads (or dips) in a small dish. Set the small dish on a larger plate and surround with fresh cranberries.

Note: If the amaryllis plants are bought closed, they’ll bloom and last close to a month.

(Photo: Traditional Home)

Party favors, wrapped as gifts in tartan plaid with red ribbon, help decorate the holiday table.

[above] Simple wreaths on the fireplace are strung together with
curled ribbon. Two trees grace the mantel for a subtle
seasonal look (Photo: Traditional Home).

[left top to bottom] 1. Decorating a wreath with family photos is
a great idea for the guest bedroom (Photo: Benjamin Moore);
2. Welcoming wreath and garland in this bedroom adds holiday
spirit and a fresh scent (Photo: Traditional Home).

Don't forget to feed the birds

Don’t forget to feed the birds

How to Make Bird Seed Ornaments

1. Lay a greased, bird-shaped metal cookie cutter on two layers of aluminum foil. Tightly wrap the foil around the cookie cutter.

2. In a pot over medium heat, melt 1 cup coconut oil. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped nuts (any variety will do) and 1/4 cup birdseed. Let cool to a thick, but pourable, consistency.

3. Place one end of an 8-inch long twine into the cutter, so that most of the twine sticks out from the very top of the wing. Then, slowly pour the seed mixture into the cutter until it almost reaches the top. Let harden at room temperature; then freeze for an hour.

4. Pop the shape out of the cutter and hang outside.

Source: Country Living.
Written by Jourdan Crouch.
Photo: Aimee Herring.

Peace, joy, and love to you and yours during the holiday season . . . and always,

Patricia