Festive Holiday Decor to Fit Your Budget

Festive Holiday Décor to Fit

Your Budget

Christmas is coming, and will arrive sooner than you think. How will your home represent this special day? Sure you want to spread some Holiday cheer, but you're on a fixed income. So, what do you do? Following are some ideas that will make your home more festive without breaking the bank.

Trees:

Wait until they go on sale (about a week before Christmas), then purchase your tree. Green trees that can be found at Nurseries, are the most popular and look best when decorated with red, gold or blue balls, multi-colored lights and golden-hued garlands. Or you can get more creative by having a themed tree. Some of the most popular themes include figurines (small santas, angels, reindeer, etc.); snowflakes; candy canes; and toys (small toys can be found at thrift stores). A toy-themed tree can further be enhanced by adding balls, garlands and bows.

Silver and snow white trees are also popular and should be decorated with coordinating ornaments. Inexpensive balls, garlands and lights can be purchased at drugstores and grocery stores.

Wreaths:

Wreaths can be hung on doors, in windows or on walls. For a pretty wall décor, find wreaths in various sizes, then decorate with ribbons, berries sequins or strips of fabric. Secure with Velcro or masking tape.

Other wreath decorations include buttons, paper dolls, seashells and starfish. The most festive wreaths are the ones tied with a big bow (green wreaths with a big red bow or silver wreaths with a clear silver bow tied in the top or bottom center are very traditional).

Flowers:

One can replace the traditional poinsettia with a group of hyacinths, found in floral shops in December. Place glass marbles in the bottoms of tall glass vases to secure the flower stems; add the hyacinths (one per vase) and fill with water. And, voila-you've created a beautiful accent for any tabletop or mantel.

Another idea is to wrap a vase or jar with fabric, tie it with a ribbon, then fill with water. Add a bouquet of roses or some of your other favorite flowers, and you've got an attractive floral centerpiece.

Food Themes: