Decking The Halls–New Ideas For Old Treasures

Today I have a guest post for you from Paisley Hansen.

She has some great tips for keeping the holiday spirit alive in your home-take it away Paisley!

 

 

 

Decking The Halls–New Ideas For Old Treasures 

Halloween has come and gone. Thanksgiving is looming on the horizon, so Christmas must be fast approaching. For some people, decorating their homes for the holiday is the most enjoyable aspect of the Christmas season. But after many years even beloved traditions can become tiresome. This year, think about new approaches to holiday decorating that are fun and unexpected. Here are some tips to get you started:

Rethink

Take a look at the decorations that you own and evaluate them with fresh eyes. Do all the hanging ornaments have to go on the tree? Consider hanging a garland, either real or artificial, as a window valance and hang tree ornaments to dangle in front of a window. This is especially effective if some lights can be strung also, making the glass ornaments sparkle.

Every year the angels go on the mantle. This year, take a close look at the angels to see if they might not be the right size and weight to hang on the tree. Tie some ribbon around their waists, and when they are hung from a tree branch, the slight forward slant will make them appear to be in flight. In the empty space on the mantle, place a large clear glass vase filled with the ornaments that normally would hang on the tree.

The front door always gets the best wreath but there are probably several doors in your house. Don’t overlook them!

Spray sliding glass doors with artificial snow, which takes up no space, and add some sparkle to barn door hardware by attaching a string of jingle bells to the handle so that they ring merrily when the door is opened and closed.

 Stephanie Lynn

Take a look around your kitchen. Some common cooking ingredients and utensils can brighten up your holiday for practically no cost. Cinnamon sticks or cinnamon-flavored red hot candies in a nice jar or bowl are festive and add a delicious fragrance to any room, as do shiny red apples. Attach a bit of ribbon to your Christmas cookie cutters and hang them on the tree. A decorative, holiday-themed serving tray can placed upright on a shelf and leaned against a wall.

Recycle

If you are lucky enough to have trees in your yard, bring in branches that have fallen off or been trimmed. You can use them as they are or spray with paint. Arrange the branches in a large vase and decorate. Tie on bows or attach ornaments with hooks.

Decorated Chaos

Even supposedly old, worn out everyday items can add to the Christmas spirit. A discarded pair of rain boots, colored black with spray paint, can be decked with a ribbon and dressed up as Santa’s boots. Place them near the front door.

Refurbish

Look for glitter and sequins at hobby stores and use them to add new sparkle to older ornaments that have lost some of their glow. Glitter is now formulated in a variety of mediums including paint, markers and glue. If you have not been in a craft store for a few years, you will be astonished at all the new products available for crafting, most of which are very reasonably priced.

 

 

A plain cardigan sweater, in an appropriate Christmas color, can be spiced up with some new buttons. All fabric stores carry holiday-themed buttons along with seasonal fabrics and trims. Changing the buttons on a blouse or sweater is a great way to have a holiday look without the expense of a whole new outfit.

Reimagine

Christmas is a time for family traditions, but don’t let that keep you from reimagining your holiday décor this year. With a lot of creativity and a little paint, glitter and ribbon, you can achieve a fresh new look with your favorite old ornaments and decorations.

 

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