Holiday Decorating Ideas

My house was cleaned today. I mean CLEANED. Top to bottom, every room, all in one day. I treat myself once a year to someone “professional” coming in and cleaning my house. It is just too difficult for me to accomplish with little “helpers” around all the time. So, every year, right around Christmas, I have a friend, who also happens to clean houses, come in and clean away!

Of course, this also means that it is time to pull out the crates of holiday decorations I have in the attic - all nine of them.

There are certain things that are MUST DO’S every year for the holidays in our home. The snow globes have to be displayed on the buffet in the dining room, complete with fake-snow blanket and little twinkle lights. The tree must have at least 800 lights on it, and the ornaments are hung in order of age…oldest ornaments first. Our outside lights definitely have to be arranged in the dark, and it is imperative that a night of nasty weather be included in the mix. We always eat orange balls and drink hot chocolate when the decorating is done, no matter how warm it gets here in Texas. And, the stockings are always hung, side by side on the mantle, by December 6th (St. Nikolaus Day).

There are little things you can do to make your holiday decorating a bit more special this year. Look into battery-operated light strands, and put them in unusual places: frame a plate, intermingle them in a wreath on the door, place them in some greenery in the guest bathroom. Bring the outdoors in, placing fresh cuttings of pine and other firs in vases and along ledges, on top of armoires and cabinets. Display cards from family and friends on windows or door frames. Hang simple metal ball ornaments from the ceiling with fishing wire. Use a tree skirt as a table cloth and vice-versa. These are all ideas that cost little to no additional money and add a lot to the decor of your home.

What are some of your favorite decorating ideas for the holidays? Feel free to leave a comment and share with the rest of us!