5 Tips To Get Your Holiday Decorating Right
I really love Christmas! The music, the gifts and of course all the DECORATIONS! 13 years ago, I even got married under the glow of Christmas lights.
During this time of year, I take my design skills to the tree. With such a hard year, we can all use a little Christmas right now! Wanda & Harry Mays hired me to bring the holiday cheer to their home. Being world travelers, they have a great collection from all over the globe. These goodies gave me plenty to work with, as they were excited to see how I would showcase their treasures differently.
Get the most out of your decorating time with these 5 simple tips:
Take Inventory
What’s really in all of those boxes? Most people collect Christmas decorations over many many years. You must take the time to lay it all out. And I mean everything. It’s good to see it all together before you use it. This is the same design technique I use when accessing the items inside all of my client’s homes. When you have everything laid out your eyes are opened to new possibilities for the same old ornaments.
2. Switch it Up to Create Stories
Just because they are your ornaments does not mean you have to use them the same way every year. Don’t be afraid to switch it up. Find the little stories your collections are telling you. There are always common themes that speak to who you are as a family. Wanda & Harry have so many specialized bulbs from the many countries where they have visited or lived. They also had several special edition ones from governmental agencies and fabulous stores like Neiman Marcus. I knew the focus of their tree should be the individual ornaments, highlighting the uniqueness of each piece.
3. DIY WHERE NECESSARY
If you know me, I don’t DIY! But when the situation calls for it, I step up to the plate. Christmas decorating really allows your creativity to follow. You can stick a bulb, a pinecone, a piece of holly here or there and completely change the look of a garland or a wreath. Since I was working with the items my clients already owned, I had to improvise as needed. With double vaulted ceilings and a huge fireplace the space called for a huge wreath. They did not have one, so I made it. A little twine, ribbon & lots of patience & in 20 minutes it was DONE!
4. Keep Shopping
What’s the best day to buy Christmas decorations? December 26th! Wanda always takes advantage of the end of the season sales & greeted me with lots of brand new goodies to sprinkle around. Like fashion & design trends, Christmas decorations change over time. Thus, you need to update them, this way your ornaments won’t start to look dated or stale. Adding a couple of new bulbs, lights and floral arrangements will keep your home looking fresh each and every holiday.
5. AN ORGANIZED TAKE DOWN
How you take everything down is just as important as how you put everything up. I can’t speak enough about the need to meticulously organize your decorations at the end of the season.
Invest In Plastic Bins: Remove & discard the packing that came with the item. They are awkward, unsturdy & don’t play well with others. Purchase the same style bin from one manufacturer. This will allow them to easily stack together & protect your valuables.
Invest In Ornament Storage: Again purchase plastic ones from the same manufacturer. Make sure they have flexible dividers so you can move them as needed to fit the size & shape of all your bulbs.
Invest In A Label Maker: It’s just so much easier if we actually know what in the box before we open it. The more info the better. And for my sentimental folks, this is a good opportunity to include a little note about the ornament. Let the family know if this was from Nana or passed down through the years.
Invest In A Light Organizer: Christmas lights tend to be a MESS. Having a good gadget that will allow you to easily put them up & away is key. It will save your wallet & your sanity.
I love hearing from you. Leave a comment below to share your holiday tips & tricks with me.
Happy Holidays from my family to yours.
Always, dana