Decorating with Fresh Greenery for Christmas

One of the oldest winder holiday traditions, greenery plays a very important role in holidaty decorating. Fresh greenery is the best. It's also relatively inexpensive. Evergreens have been part of a winter festival since ancient times. Greenery represents everlasting life and hope for the return of spring to some people. Inevitably there is usually some greenery at the base of your Christmas tree that needs to be cut off. But don't throw it away. Use it for decorations elsewhere in the room.

You can add garlands of holly, ivy, Mountain Laurel and Mistletoe (hung from the roof or ceiling). Place your greenery on walls, tables, mantels, bannisters, the hearth, on the floor, inside, outside, on chandeliers. You'll be amazed at what a little can do.

Spread some lavender or rose petals or herbs around for scent. Try some rosemary and bay leaves. Put some boughs in the window frame. Stick some holly sprigs to the glass with wax. Cedar, ivy, pine and holly are all good choices for natural scent.

Add greenery to your tablescape. Make a unique statement with a planned design for the center of our table. Look at the shape and format of your table to choose the correct centerpiece. If you table is long and oblong, create a centerpiece that is also long and oblong or oval. If your table is round, create a round or triangular centerpiece.

Combine colors used in the home into your choice of napkins, tablecloth, placemats and centerpieces. Repetition is the key to good flow and design. Snip some greenery from your backyard and use it as a bed for fruit displayed artfully in the middle of the table.

Planning Early

Don't wait until the last minute to plan your decorations. Think it through early. Buy a little at a time. Don't stress trying to make everything all at once. Start with a few basics and as you go through the month of December, add a little to the mix every week. If you take the time to decorate, you'll discover the home will encourage more togetherness and you'll find yourself starting little traditions and special memories.

Hire a Professional Holiday Designer

If you have extra money, consider saving yourself time by hiring a professional designer. Some of them specialize in holiday decor. They can tailor the service to meet your needs and budget.

Bringing in some outside talent may surprise you with ideas you would never have thought of on your own. The change of perspective can really add spice to your decorating efforts. Book a professional early as they will be very busy.

Change Out Your Art

It's not uncommon for your normal art to conflict with the holiday decorations. So remove it for the holidays. Put up holiday decorations in their place. Artwork should reflect who you are, your feelings and moods. So when you're in the mood to celebrate and relax, choose art that goes with the season and put it up in place of your normal artwork. Then when the holidays end you'll find you really get a whole new feeling about the old art when you rehang it. I will often rotate the art in my home, moving pieces from room to room, or merely changing it's location. Each time I do that, I gain a whole new perspective of the pieces I have.