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Frugal
Christmas Decorating
by Nikki Willhite
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We like our homes to look
festive at Christmas, yet it can be costly to decorate them. It can also be
hard to compete with the three foot moving carolers or the full-size
reindeers and giant Santas. Sometimes I wonder where people store
these things the rest of the year.
We have to be creative to keep
costs down and within our budgets. As I look at the ornately decorated
homes on television this year, what strikes me is how every square foot
of their homes seems to be decorated in some way.
This is not necessary. We do
not need to be that ornate. A few well-chosen decorations will set the
mood. We do not need this overly ornate and lavish type of display in
our homes to set the Christmas mood. Personally, I like to contain the
decorations to a few rooms or I tire of them very quickly.
Here are some ideas for
decorating your home. Some will be more economical than others. One or
two of them, strategically placed in your home, is all you need.
- Use the resources you have.
Colorful, fun displays can be made of groupings of dolls, teddy bears,
trains, wagons, and other toys or stuffed animals. If you have larger
stuffed animals, decorate them in scarves, hats and other winter
clothing. To make them look cute and festive, add human touches.
A teddy bear could be holding
a piece of food or a Christmas book. You could even wrap a small box
like a present and let him hold that. The more human and festive he
looks, the cuter it will be. I like to put at least one good size doll
and teddy bear under the tree. If you have them, little red wagons, and
train sets look wonderful under the tree.
- If you have a good window
for this, hang a dozen or so small toys in the window- each on it's own
string (yarn, floss, thread, etc.)
- Spray on window snow doesn't
cost much and is a nice touch. Take the time to plan a design. Cut out
stencils before you spray. As an alternative, cut snowflakes out of
white paper and put them on your windows.
- Stockings always look good,
no matter how simple. Try and display them prominently.
- Wreaths exude warmth. I've
made them through the years in everything from just yarn to flowers.
Look for inexpensive wreaths at Goodwill type stores. You can add your
own touches to them to make them look better.
*Use pinecones around your
displays. Leave them plain, or spray the ends white or glue cotton on
them.
- When you make a display,
remember to vary the height to make it interesting. Candles give height
and always look good. Use ribbon to add texture and interest. It is
better to have one nice display than several which look sparse
.
One idea to add drama at night
to a display is to use lights. Cut out a Christmas shape or use a
picture, and then light it from behind. You can do this indoors in a
dark corner, or on a larger scale outside. Cut a Christmas shape out of
plywood, and then light it from behind.
- Make good use of any
resources outside your home. If you live in an area with evergreen
trees, bring some of the greenery inside.
- Use your saved Christmas
cards! There are so many things you can do with them. Here are some
ideas:
Display them standing up
Display them hanging from strings Display under glass on tables Cut out
pieces and place on bulletin boards Cut out pieces, attach a magnet, and
put on your refrigerator Make a collage.
Also, remember you can make
presents tags, postcards, and tree ornaments out of Christmas Cards.
- If you leave your computer
on, and it is in one of the main living areas, download one of the many
free screen savers with a Christmas theme.
- If you want to use lights,
remember you don't have to light up your whole house. Again, one small
area that is very nicely done is better than trying to do the whole
house and having it look sparse.
One idea is to take a piece of
wire (if you don't have any wire you may be able to use a hanger), and
bend it to a Christmas shape, like a tree, star, or bell. Then run your
lights along the shape of the wire. Hang this on the wall next to the
entrance of your home. It's a big effect for a small expense.
- Red and Green accents around
your home help set the mood. If you have fabric in these colors, drape
it over tables or as part of your displays. You can also use colored
paper. If you have a piano, cut a sheet a little larger than your music,
and set it behind an open piece of sheet music on your piano. Use it on
bulletin boards and for bookmarks in the reading pieces you have lying
around.
- Remember to set the mood
with music. If you have a wreath on the door, attach a bell. That really
adds to the holiday mood. You could also make up some tingling bells and
hang them from the doorknob.
- Poinsettias are lovely. I
don't buy them, but often find that people give them to me. I do have a
silk one that I bought many years ago. I take it out each year, and it
looks as good as new.
- And finally, remember the
importance of building traditions for your family. You can do this with
your decorations also, whether it's for tree ornaments or house
decorations. One tradition we have is to buy a new candle each year
shaped in a fun Christmas theme- like a snowman or reindeer. It's fun to
watch your collection grow, and then keep an eye out to add to it each
year.
About the Author: Nikki Willhite,
mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing
articles on the topic of
frugal living for over a
decade. Visit her at
www.frugalhappyfamilies.com
- where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal
Happy Families- more than just money! Article first published at
www.allthingsfrugal.com
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