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