Christmas Decorations

Whether you plan on entertaining guests this holiday, or simply want to create an environment that reminds you of the season, brighten your home this Christmas with some of our decoration ideas below.

Driveway and Entryway

• Illuminated driveway or walkway
  If you are hosting a Christmas party, line the bottom of paper lunch sacks with a few inches of sand, and place candles securely in this sand. Line your driveway or path to your home with these illuminated bags, and they will create a beautiful, serene welcome to your guests.
• Sleigh Bells on your doorknob
  Hang sleigh bells on the inside of your front doorknob. Not only are they wonderful Christmas decorations, but their jingle is a holiday reminder whenever anyone comes or goes.

Most people, whether family or visitors, probably spend more time together in the living and dining rooms of your home than any other room. With this in mind, make these rooms focal points for your Christmas decorations.

• Decorate your stairs' railing
  Hanging swags or other greenery along your stairs' railing adds a nice touch. Make this arrangement even more decorative by running white or colored lights through the greens.
• Displaying gifts and ornaments
  Ornaments and gifts don't just belong on and under a tree. Wrap empty boxes with holiday wrapping and bows, and pile them on a table, in corners, or atop shelves. Ornaments can be used in displays, and smaller, attractively wrapped gifts with ornamental ribbons and bows can be placed anywhere that needs that "Martha Stewart" touch.
• Mistletoe
  For flirts and romantics, a sprig of mistletoe in a high-traffic area can keep things interesting.
• Candles
  Place candles on mantles for natural lighting, and turn down adjustable lights to provide more ambient lighting for the proper holiday mood.
  Experiment with candle placement. Clusters of candles on tabletops will draw the eye to a central location; distributing them over the length of a table draws the gaze across the room.

And invite the whole family in on the Christmas decorating. Arts & crafts, children, and the holidays all go hand in hand. With semi-transparent paper, scissors, and a little adult supervision, children can make attractive paper snowflakes to decorate windows and glass.

Christmas Tree Themes

Create your own Christmas tree theme when decorating your tree this year. Think of your hobbies (sports, collectibles, etc.), or winter/Christmas themes (snowflakes, candy canes, etc.) to guide you creatively when selecting ornaments, making your own, or simply using items found around your home.

Kitchen

For those who want to bake a little (or give the impression that they do!), here are some ideas for Christmas decorations to be made in the kitchen.

• Bread dough wreath
  Braid strands of your favorite bread dough, attaching both ends in a loop. Bake and then hang from a ribbon for an unusual, decorative wreath.
• Cinnamon scent
  If you keep cinnamon sticks simmering in a saucepan on your stove, your home will smell like you've just been baking! This is a wonderfully simple way to "decorate" when visitors are coming.