Christmas is a religious and secular holiday celebrated throughout the world every year on December 25. However, in the United States, the holiday season begins after Thanksgiving and continues until New Year's Day. To prepare your home for the Christmas season, try the following Christmas decorating ideas for decorating Christmas trees and both inside and outside the home.
Christmas Trees
The Christmas tree is the most recognizable holiday decoration of the Christmas season. To decorate a Christmas tree, you will need:
- Christmas tree
- Tree stand
- Christmas lights
- Ornaments
- Tinsel or garland (optional)
Begin by choosing an appropriately-sized tree for your space. For example, I have a seven foot tree for the picture window in my living room and two foot tall trees for on my piano and dining room desk.
Next decide on a decorating theme. Some decorators prefer to stick to a single theme such as angels, snowmen, or even cats for their trees. Others choose to use all their ornaments from holidays past. I personally have two small trees decorated in Harry Potter and music ornaments, but, on my large living room tree, I hang all of my other assorted decorations.
To begin decorating your Christmas tree, string Christmas lights on the branches. For a fuller and brighter look, wrap lights around the trunk or pole and on the insides of branches in addition to string lights around the outside of the tree. String garland around the tree after decorating with lights.
Finally hang your ornaments on the tree. For a less traditional look, use Christmas cards as ornaments. Also try strings of popcorn and cranberries instead of garland and fresh Christmas cookies wrapped in festive plastic as ornaments. Do not forget your tree topper! Use as many or as few decorations as appeals to your personal tastes. For a final touch of holiday spirit, hang colored or iridescent tinsel over the entire tree.
Around the Home
Next to decorating my Christmas trees, decorating the inside of my home is my favorite holiday decorating activity. For some ideas for decorating around your home, try:
- Hang lights and garland in windows and doorways
- Hang lights and garland around the tops of rooms
- Use Christmas clings on windows, sliding doors, and mirrors
- Arrange Christmas knickknacks on bookshelves, counters, coffee tables, and other surfaces
- Replace flower arrangements with poinsettias and evergreens
- Use Christmas-themed tablecloths and placemats
- Create a Christmas town display with ceramic houses, buffalo snow, and twinkle lights
- Hang stockings on the mantel or on a wall
- Hang handmade (or store-bought) wreaths on doors
- Put away regular dishes for Christmas-themed dishes
- Set out Christmas and winter scented candles
- Keep Christmas music and movies handy
- Fill a Christmas cookie jar with Christmas cookies
Above all, your inside Christmas decorations should reflect your style. When I decorate for the holidays, I like to have my eclectic decorations boldly placed around my house. Other decorators, however, prefer a more subdued or traditional decorating scheme.
Outside the House
Christmas decorating ideas need not stop at your front door. For some ideas for decorating the outside of your house, try:
- Hang wreaths on outside doors and on garages
- String Christmas lights through bushes and trees
- Line your rooflines with icicle lights
- Tie red, white, or green ribbons around posts and trees
- Set up a lighted Christmas display
- Replace generic doormats with Christmas doormats
- Switch out regular flood lights with red and green lights
Celebrated annually on December 25 across the United States and throughout the world, Christmas is a festival of lights and a holiday of cheer. Learn some Christmas decorating ideas to bring the Christmas spirit into your home with these easy-to-follow tips and suggestions.
Heather Marie Kosur - About Me I earned a BA in English studies with a minor in creative writing from Illinois State University in May 2007 and an MS in ...
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