7 Foot Douglas Fir – Green I am, without a doubt, a total freak when it comes to decorating for Christmas. Yes indeed, I am quite an adult, yet I still believe in Santa Claus! I think I am living proof that one does not have to spend beyond your means to light up the holiday.

To do this, one certainly has to depend upon the habits of richer folks. They are always looking for “new” and “more” and that leads to some fine discards of really good decorations. I shop for my own “more” at thrift shops, yard sales, and after Christmas” sales. It does help to be able to make minor repairs.

70 LED C6 Strawberry Green Lights – Green Wire – 4 Inch Spacing – Polybag – Case of 24 – $ 298.80
Retail Price: 436.56
You Save: $137.76

The only string of lights I’ve ever bought “new” is a relic from 42 years ago, that I bought for my wife’s and my first Christmas, together. Everything else is second hand and this is a great way to save money. Replacement bulbs can often be found in boxes of miscellaneous goods at these sales. I may have to take some pure junk in those boxes to get my treasures.

I am not some spendthrift crank. It’s just that I, like many people these days, need to be careful with my dollars. So what if I have many different kinds of lights, and ornaments. I think that makes my displays more interesting, than so many of today’s, store bought, correct lighting.

I have more than 1000 lights. I have some reindeer, a couple of Santas, and a small crèche. Yes, I do pay attention to the REAL reason for the Christmas celebration. Each year, I add something to my collection. I planted my own outdoor tree, many years ago, and it serves me well, today. That is where that relic string of lights goes. I do not think I more than $100.00 invested in all that I have.

I do caution you to be certain any electrical items do have the proper UL tag for “outdoor use” lighting. I also be sure each string has a fuse link. If you are going to use many lights, also use a dedicated “plug in” with at least 20 amp breaker service, because mixed lights do need more “juice.”

My neighbors think I’m crazy, but they do love my bright yard. I like to think it helps Santa find my home, and I also hope Jesus smiles. So if you are not afraid to be unique, and perhaps a bit eccentric, get thee to the places where you can buy cheaply, and don’t be afraid to mix, and match. This can be economical, and fun to do. Merry Christmas!

Previous Article   :    Decorating the garden with a seasonal theme

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If you have a garden, then you already have a canvas on which to enhance your home’s attractiveness. A garden has many possibilities available when you think about decoration. First of all, undertaking the planting of seasonal flowers, with a little effort, can work magic in the garden. If you have specific trees that bear fruit or flower during specific seasons, these can also be the highlight of your garden during the particular season. However, most folks don’t have the luxury of fruit bearing or flowering foliage in their gardens so a little creative decoration is what should be done.

Silk Garden Floral with Planter

The main space within a garden area is usually the lawn and other areas of grass. Grass is like blank slate and by itself looks beautiful. However the look of the grass may be enhanced with certain objects that reflect the season. In summer for instance, you could put out a bird bath on a pedestal. This will help by encouraging the birds in (which in themselves are seasonal attractions.

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Daisy Print Garden Set by Wild & Wolf
Trees and bushes too can be decorated without making them look ugly. There are many cultures across the globe that attach colored string (or even bunches of colored string) to the branches of trees, so that these waft about in the breeze. If that’s not your style, you could place an outdoor lamp at the base of a large plant so that its leaves are highlighted from below at night when the lamp is switched on. Garden lighting in fact is fast becoming a decorative niche. Weaving lights through a hedge creates an exciting effect when the lights are switched on.

Playing with water too is fast gaining momentum as a popular mode of garden decor. During the winter, water frozen in an outdoor mould may be hand carved and left as a garden attraction for the entire winter period. The carving could be a modern abstract creation or represent an object or life-form. A summer water decoration would be a still pool or a large outdoor fish tank (if you live in a cold area, an outdoor fish tank may not be practical). An autumn and spring fascination may be setting up a decorative water fall that launches from the roof to a collection pond at ground level. Direction of water flow is maintained by stretching out string from the higher level to the lower.

Figurines have long been used in garden decoration and these may be rotated according to the season. Going with themes from folklore is popular and you could get really creative by delving in to forgotten or unique figurines from a verity of global cultures. Garden gnomes especially may be dressed up according to the season and make for a unique conversational item.

Previous Article  :  Invigorate Your Life With A Seasonal Home Decor

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 If you are depressed, extremely excited or simply looking for a change in your humdrum life – nothing lifts spirits like redecorating your home ! A change of season, approaching holiday or an organized party, by simply changing the way your home looks could do wonders for your spirits (and ego!). With the change of every season, let’s make your home the place to be….

 Cozying up for winters

Floating Butterfly Tea Light in Garden-Themed Gift Box (Set of Four)
Come winters and we think warmth, Christmas, the beginning of a new year and lots of festivities all the way. Perhaps this is the easiest time to redecorate as the festivities take over the house and decorations abound. If you have children at home, the best theme to follow would probably be snowmen! Different snowmen doing different things all over the house can be quite engaging and fun not only for kids but grownups as well.

Red Gold and Black Plants Wallpaper
Use heavy fabrics like velvet all over the house for that mushy cozy feeling one desires in the cold. The color of fire or a real bonfire can bring life to your home like nothing else. Wooden lamp shades and embroideries also add that festive touch! You could be different and move up on the red and gold for the décor – instead choose lime green with silver. As long as you are consistent with the colors, it will be beautiful!

Just because nature has put a stop to your garden ambitions, does not mean you give up on all that stretch of land. Create eye catching landscaping to your garden for the season and you will have a sure head turner. Add statues and metal topiary shapes to the front yard to create a magical area. Snow could collect on them and in summers they simply hide amongst the greenery!

Collect the fall

Silk Garden Floral with Planter
As leaves fall off the  trees and the weather gets crispier, use all the nature’s colors in your home. Orange, yellows, reds and browns will bring you in harmony with the outside world – add to it some aroma candles, say cinnamon, and your home smells like the season too! Add some rustic elements to our table – placements with some dried leaves loosely bound together with embellished ribbons. There will be no end to the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’!

Create a centre piece for your table with a vase filled with rich coffee beans – brown is the ultimate color for fall and with bright orange or deep red flower arrangements – well, the ‘aahs’ follow into ‘ why didn’t I think of it?’ Instead of just the colors you could use the fruits of the season too. Grape vines and bunches look amazing in different hues on a mantelpiece or even as adventurous as crawling up the living room wall – just do not get them in blue or orange!

Always remember that your home is your extension – do not simply copy a better home and garden blindly – do what you like with your home this season.

Previous Article :  New Christmas Decorations 2009

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Winter  is a time for warmth and the  Christmas season brings with it festivities too. Also, there’s a considerable amount of time spent by families at home. Keeping in mind the practicalities required for winter and comfort in mind, here are a few tips towards making your home winter ready for your new Christmas decorations 2009 .  The winter is especially exciting because of the number of holidays thrown about and the Christmas festivity that comes along with the season, so brace your home appropriately.

The setting of furniture is the most important. As already mentioned, families tend to spend considerable amounts of time together during the winter when going outdoors may be downright unpleasant. The furniture needs to be arranged about the house in an intimate manner so that there isn’t a feeling of any distance between family. Also, furniture placed away from walls will remain warmer. If there is a fire place in the living space, furniture should be arranged around this area.

Change the lighting so that it glows warmer. Use slightly low wattage illumination that lets off a golden glow. This provides a warm visual effect (like that of an ember). Besides this, it would be useful to have candles about the home which may be lit on occasion to heighten the feeling of warmth. You need to be wary about the placing of candles though since this is a fire hazard.

Since warmth is so much in demand during the winter, it would be wonderful to have throws and quilted covers carefully placed (supposedly in a random manner) about the house; on chairs, sofas and in living spaces. While it adds to comfort when lounging about the house, the mental picture it creates is again one of warmth and this adds very much the entire homely effect of winter.

Your Christmas festival decoration is essential for the winter. To enliven the environment and lead away from the feeling moroseness that’s afflictive during the winter, garden lighting with soft lighting below trees and window lighting with sparkling lights may be placed prudently so as to create the most dramatic effect. Extreme caution should be taken while hanging up lighting around the house, and especially so for outdoor lighting. The gleam of a house that’s well lit during the winter on the outside provides passersby with the feeling of revelry within your home.

Last off, every home could do with an adequate supply of engaging material appropriately placed in plain sight around the home. Winter is a time when ample time is available for recreation at home and engaging material could include books, board games, cards or even indoor sport (if the space permits) such as snooker or billiards. Having activity material about the house is interesting as well as decorative.

2009 Christmas Decorations

Previous Article  :   Decorative Wallpaper Considerations for Christmas

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Doing up the home for the winter months in a manner that reflects the season would be both practical and pleasing to the eye. It’s a fact that most people spend a tremendous amount of time at home during winter and decorations for the winter should permeate into every part of the home from the living areas to the toilet areas. The general manner in which to theme a home for the winter is to go with darker shades for linen and furniture. Winter is a season with a lot of festivity too so it’s appropriate to gear for the season with a festive spirit.

You should begin with the practical aspects of winter decoration. The windows are a source of heat leakage and heavy drapes should be hung up in anticipation of the cold.

This change of drapes and curtains should be carried out throughout the home. Next in line would be the furniture. With people spending more time at home, it would be wonderful to have furniture that is more comfortable and is fun to laze in.

 


Go with throws and rugs that can blanket the furniture if you have these. They add to the attractiveness of furniture. Also, cushions should be given covers that ‘yell’ for a hug. This would depend entirely on you, but quilted material is ideal for the season.

Next off, if you have a fireplace, this ought to be decorated, since a whole lot of time would be spent in front of this. Decoration here would depend entirely on what you like, but reading material, objects of attraction (like a miniature wooden totem pole for example) or festive decorations would be in order.

A lot of food too is prepared and eaten during the winter so the dining space would especially become more attractive with a change in decor. Go with deep colors foe place mats and kitchen linen. You could pullout more attractive linen for any festive celebrations at home. Also, since this is a special time for the family and those friends that visit, getting out the good china would add to the attractiveness.
The bathrooms and toilets could do with a sprucing up too. Mats on the floor so that feet don’t get cold, a decorative heater (to provide that extra bit of warmth) and products that enhance long luxurious baths should be added in during the winter months.

Lighting should definitely be in sync with the seasonal decor. Highlighting trees and hedges with ambient light or sparkling light gives an enlivening spirit. Golden lighting within the home gives a pleasing and warm feel that’s perfect for winter. Outdoor winter figurines too may be lighted so that these are highlighted. All in all, the entire effect created should be that of warmth, and belonging.

Video :  Winter  Newness 

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Home accents include installations, products, furnishings and features that enhance a home decor and give it a distinctive appeal. Home accents can be anything a clock, chandeliers, candle holders, wall curtains, fireplace, and garden tables or even display shelves. They should always be sync with the interior design style used and should perfectly blend with the color schemes used in the home.

People can often benefit from the expertise of a professional interior designer who can advice on the perfect home accent products or a skilled artisan who can prepare customized accents. This article briefly talks about Accent chairs and accent tables.

Accent Chair- Accent chairs can provide a great distinctive touch for your living room. There are many types of chairs available-upholstered, canvassed or cushioned chairs. Ottomans, chaise lounges, and exclusive armless chairs are great concepts for captivating and appealing chair designs. First thing to be looked in a chair is the comfort factor.

Howard Dining Chairs

An accent chair must be comfortable to sit in and match your home decor. This is important as many times people get carried away by the design and do not pay much attention to the seating comfort. Such chairs then just form a display item.  Accent chairs can be used in drawing room, dining room, study room or even game rooms. For the drawing room/sitting and study room, comfort should be the foremost factor in deciding the accent chair.

Mott Coffee Tables

Accent Table- There are probably more designs of accent tables available than even the types of accent chairs. Custom-made coffee tables can be an amazing centerpiece to your living room and greatly enhance the elegance of the entire room. A solid wooden table made with mahogany looks extremely elegant and suave. You can even have a elegant chess table placed in the living room. You can also have decent accent table in your garden area for that morning cup of tea. Care must be taken that the  home accents table and chair are chosen such that they complement each other as well as the design of the house.

Previous Article :    My Best Festive Decorations for Christmas

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How can you possibly experience the festive spirit without the gamut of festive decorations adorning your home? So come November get all the cheerful stuff out, add some creativity to it and create a happy holiday mood for your family and yourself. Decorating the house can in itself turn into a joyous occasion for the entire family.

Decorations don’t have to be overtly opulent anything done with togetherness and creativity can produce exciting results. Of course you will need to plan ahead so that you can get all the things ready before you start. So you will first have to decide on the area of your house that you intend to decorate. Also you need to decide how much you intend to spend on your  home decorative ideas for Christmas .

Once you have these two factors down you are all ready to start, Draw up a list of things that you will need but rummage through your attic before you go out on a shopping spree. Here are a few tips to help you out.

Try to use as many natural things as you can, there are two advantages to doing so one you are doing something good for the planet and two they dont cost a lot. So go out for a walk before the holiday season and collect all the interesting looking branches and twigs that you can find. You can then color them and bunch them together with colorful ribbons, next add some beads to the arrangement and complete with white lights. This arrangement can be used on the door or put it up on the wall.

Make a bouquet of flowers with the holiday blossoms of poinsettias, white amaryllis, clove studded oranges silver bells and tree sprigs painted silver. Place this arrangement in a beautiful crystal vase and put this up on the fire place mantel. You can also make a similar arrangement with roses, lilies, carnations and other flowers for the dining table.

KOBO Candle Pick-Your-Four Pack

Nothing bespeaks of the holiday spirit like a natural soy scented candles . This natural scented candles not only is a pleasure to look on and smell because of its aromatherapy fragrances  but  its also  perfect for pampering or gift-giving.  And guys, if you are not sure what to give, we can guarantee you won’t go wrong with these divine scented candles, these wonderful fragrance candles make unique women’s gifts.

Margarita Glass Gel Candle in Tropical Tiki Hut Gift Box (Set of 4)

Burke Decor not only have more than 40 aromatherapy fragrances to choose from, but it also  carries decorative candles with remarkably gorgeous packaging, in case you need to send a present directly to your loved one .

Mixed Silk Peony with Glass Vase

You can also use cheap transparent vases filled with colorful beads. Place a couple of these around the house for a holiday look. Alternatively you can also fill up the vases with strands of single colored lights in red, white and green. The vases should be of different sizes, place them near an electrical point and switch on the lights in them.

It is best to keep a limited budget for your festive  decorations  for Christmas so the most appropriate places to shop are dollar stores and you can save the rest for gifts after all a family can never have too many gifts. So enjoy the holiday season with your entire family and involve everybody in creating their own decorative master pieces.

Previous Article :       How To Choose Decorative Wallpaper Patterns for Christmas

Nov 03

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Home accents create a distinct and creative feel to the house during Christmas , which is unique to the taste of the people living there. The aura created by various accent products provides a relaxing appeal to the house which is both soothing and inviting to the residents. There are various home accents products for Chritsmas listed below which can help you make that dream home.

Sculptures, Statues and Figurines- These provide an artistic appeal to the existing designs. These can be used to accent tables, mantle tops and even entire rooms (large sculptures).

5′ Double Ball Leucodendron Topiary with Decorative Vase (Indoor/Outdoor)

Vases- There are unique and stylish vases available which add a vibrant and personalized feel to your household. These are available in glass and ceramic and bring a very lively appeal to the drawing room.

Photo Frames- Photo frames are the most fundamental enhancing items for your home accents products during Christmas which can be added to your home. These can be personalized according to the existing designs. They also provide a peek into the lives of the people living in the house. Huge family portraits greatly enhance the walls and create a very unique feel to the house.

Large Pillar Candles by India Rose in Various Colors

Candles and Clocks- Often the ignored items, these can say a lot about the people living in the house. Elegant glass candle holders create a distinct appeal. Clocks should always be such selected which complements the wall color and the existing design.

Table Accents- You can impress your guests with unique, inventive and classy table centerpieces. At the same time, be careful not to select over-the-top table accents.

Another example of home accessories for Chritsmas is storage items- There are very unique and decorative storage items available like baskets, trays, urns, racks and canisters.

Garden decor would be incomplete without paying attention to the garden. Unique garden benches available in various designs like glass mosaic, rich wood, pedestal-style garden benches etc. add to the exterior appeal of the house. Trellises available in metallic style or obelisk style add to the overall look. Garden arbors and stakes can also be used to enhance the beauty of the garden.

Previous Article : Seasonal Decorative Lighting Ideas for Home Decor

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Chris Table Lamp by Barbara Cosgrove

Lighting can make a marvelous impact within and outside the home. The use of lighting effect dates back to medieval days when castles and manor houses used to be decorated with torches in a manner that indirect lighting effects were created. Today the technology exists to completely transform a home every season of the year. There are verities of lighting methods and the kind you would use would depend of variables like the size and location of your home, the amount of money you’re willing to spend and the amount of specialization you’d want in the lighting effects.

Living space lighting is the first place you’d want any changes made. Ideally, a mixture of indirect light, focus lamps and colored light should be used so as to bring out the  the best within the room. Depending on the season, the lights could be accented or dimmed to give a more open or even a more intimate feeling to the living space. Indirect lighting could be either golden or white florescent lighting and could reflect off either ceilings or walls.

Dimmer controls should be appropriately placed for each set of lights, preferably according to which ‘wall’ the lights are on. But if this is too technical, the simple way to enhance the lighting would be to place lamps about the living space; table lamps as well as floor lamps so as to create the required effect. These lamps may have their covers changed to suit the season and even have the light source changed from between high wattage to low wattage illumination according to season.

This kind of lighting may be extended throughout the interior of the house. But besides the living room, the next places for decorative lighting for your xmas decorating season would be the bedroom and the dining area. The bedroom lighting would create a more intimate surrounding; while dining room lighting would concentrate on simply dimming and focusing light on food and specific decorative accessories to highlight the season.

External lighting though can really bring out the flavor of the season, especially if there are festivities due. Garden lighting can enhance the effect of foliage in trees and hedges and make these look more attractive. These may be used through various seasons to highlight different aspects of the foliage as well as being used during winter to highlight snow on the plants if there is any. Also, there are a verity of decorative lights available that are suitable for seasonal festivities such as blinking lights, par-cans, and focus lamps.

All said, lighting within and outside the home, makes for excellent seasonal decorative features. These are especially suited for national and religious seasonal festivals and add much liveliness and spirit to the home. While being prudent in your use of lighting, exploring the advantages of using light to change the look and feel of your home according to the season is definitely worth exploring.

Previous Article :   Home Decorating Tips on Seasonal Decorative Accessories

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For example during  Chritsmas winter season  cushion covers are immediately attractive and these changed and synchronized with the season can transform the living space all by themselves. Winter  season cushion covers would likely be thick, plush and soft to the touch. These would also be dark so as to look inviting during the winter.

In spring, the covers could be changed to light pastels that reflect a coming thaw, the beginning of a colorful and delightful period of warm weather. With the onset of summer, the covers could be changed to slightly brighter colors although very light in shade. These would reflect light and provide the feeling of a cooler space. Fall cushion covers may be the most exciting of all and the adventurous may place covers in a varied verity of colors, to reflect the colors of falling leaves and blowing wind.

If you do not want to change the covers every season, simply wrapping the cushion in a thick bow in an appropriate color would provide the appropriate effect.

Mantle ceramics may be hand painted to concur with the season and these may be replaced according to the season. Hand painted decorative pieces may be placed within the dining space as well as the bating and toilet areas, with each of them being changed according to the season. Ceramics may also be used as wall hangings which may have a theme going across the entire house. Over time, a house may come to collect many of these.

Throws are the next most attractive accessory for the home  decorating tips that may be changed at will so as to match the seasonal theme of the home. Here too, a lot of play may be had with the choice of colors and the fabric being used. Just as in with the cushion covers, cooler weather would dictate the use of thicker material that is soft to the touch and dark in appearance. The months of warmer weather would require throws to be of a lighter color and of lighter material as well.

In all cases of throws being utilized, it would be appropriate for these to match the colors of the walls, the curtains and the furniture.But in some cases a stark contrast in the color of the throw can actually make for an exciting visual effect.

Chair covers for all chairs about the house too may be changed frequently in sync with the season. These may be color coordinated across the house or be specific to the room.  Seasonal decorative accessories come in many verities and nearly any decorative furnishing can be turned into one reflecting the season.

Previous Article  :     Home Decorating Tips on Seasonal Living Room Spaces

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