| It's that time of year again! You may be wondering | | | | tree. The mirror will reflect the lights and give the room |
| how to transform your home into a holiday | | | | extra sparkle. Also, place a mirror opposite a grouping |
| wonderland that you and your family can enjoy. Below | | | | of candles (either real or electric), or place the candles |
| are some tips that will help you make the most of your | | | | directly in front of the mirror. This will help fill the room |
| winter decorating. | | | | with a warm glow as the light of the candles dances |
| 1. Make it Last | | | | on the mirror. |
| Holiday decorations are beautiful, and some people | | | | 4. Trees Please |
| love the decorations for this time of year more than all | | | | To some people, nothing says holiday decorating more |
| the others. They aren't always able to enjoy them for | | | | than a well-decorated tree. If that's how you feel, then |
| very long, because many people don't put them up until | | | | why stop at just one? If you can't decide between |
| the day after Thanksgiving and take them back down | | | | whimsical decorations for your tree and a truly elegant |
| the day after New Years. That is mostly because of | | | | creation, why not do both? Have 2-3 big trees in the |
| the Christmas theme that many decorations for this | | | | main rooms and several smaller trees throughout the |
| time of year have. One way to get more mileage out | | | | house. The kids will think it's a great treat to have a |
| of your decorating is to start with a winter theme | | | | mini Christmas tree in their room. Allow them to |
| rather than a Christmas theme. Think cool colors and | | | | decorate the tree any way they would like. Take |
| warm touches. You can start your winter decorating in | | | | pictures and in years to come you can look back and |
| the beginning of November. Then, as Christmas | | | | see how their decorating styles and skills have grown |
| approaches you can add the typical touches of red, | | | | and changed. Having trees throughout the house will |
| the Christmas trees and the Santas. When Christmas | | | | help bring out the Christmas spirit in all who enter! |
| is over, you can remove the Christmas-y decorations | | | | 5. Cards |
| while leaving your overall winter theme all the way until | | | | Some people hate to throw away all of the Christmas |
| February. | | | | cards they receive. Some cards are so beautiful that |
| 2. Use Nature | | | | it's easy to understand why. Instead of tossing them |
| Winter decorating doesn't need to be all holiday | | | | when the season is over, why not save them and use |
| oriented. Look outside for inspiration. Notice the ways | | | | them to create a holiday display to use next year? |
| the trees look, find ways to mimic the snow and the | | | | Simply decoupage the cards to a piece of plywood |
| frost. While some think that winter trees look ugly | | | | for a display that is colorful, whimsical and reminds you |
| without their leaves, others see in them a special kind | | | | of all the people who loved you enough to send you |
| of beauty. Use branches with no leaves to bring this | | | | cards last year. |
| winter look into your home. Fill a glass jar with white | | | | 6. The Gift Corner |
| rocks to mimic snow and stick in the branches. This will | | | | All of those pretty packages are going to be torn to |
| provide a look that clearly says "winter". Pour artificial | | | | shreds on Christmas day. Until then, why not use them |
| snow into smaller glass jars and arrange them on your | | | | to create a festive looking corner in your home? If you |
| mantle or on an easily visible shelf. Even if you live in a | | | | have a LOT of gifts, simply stack them in a corner. If |
| part of the country where snow is a rarity, you will be | | | | you have fewer gifts, put a small table in a corner and |
| able to fill your house with thoughts of the white | | | | cover it with a red or holiday themed blanket. Then, |
| powder. Broken glass (thick glass works best) placed | | | | stack your gifts on the table. Be creative and create a |
| in a container looks like ice. Sprinkle with a little artificial | | | | "gift tree" by having the pile get gradually smaller as it |
| snow for an extra frosty look. | | | | goes up. If you love the way your gift corner looks, be |
| 3. Reflections | | | | sure to take lots of pictures. It's going to be gone as |
| Mirrors have an extra special place in holiday | | | | soon as the little ones wake up Christmas morning! |
| decorating. Place a mirror opposite your Christmas | | | | |