When decorating for the holidays, it’s not about how much money you spend, but how creative you can be with what you already have! 
Start by thinking about what kind of style and / or color scheme you want to incorporate. Once you have your direction, it’s time to start to illustrate it. Before you hit the store, take a look at what you have in your home. Chargers, china, or even that mirror on your wall can be the perfect base for a beautiful display to adorn your coffee table.
Sure, ornaments look great on your tree, but they can also create a focal point on your dining table. Grab a clear vase, and fill it up with some ornaments, and scatter a few around the base. Don’t have that many ornaments? Fill the center of the vase with crumbled tissue paper and push the ornaments around the paper, against the glass, but be sure you can’t really see the tissue paper from the outside. It will look like you have 60 ornaments instead of 20.
Don’t buy expensive napkin holders to only use for one month, make your own! Take some ribbon and tie it around your napkins and adorn it with a small ornament and accent with a sprig of evergreen. Are your dining chairs not festive enough for your pretty holiday table? Take some thicker ribbon and tie a bow around the back of each chair. You could also add some extra special flair to your chairs by again adding an ornament or bit of Christmas tree. Don’t forget your chandelier over the table. Add some touches of the season to your lighting fixture with some garland and intertwining red bows. Your guests marvel at your innovation!
When it comes to creating an environment, you must take into account more than just your sense of sight. Think about your sense of smell as well. Yes, scented candles will do the trick, but the good ones can cost a pretty penny! Grab some unscented candles from around your home and hit your spice rack! Scatter nutmeg and cinnamon sticks around the candles. Other ways to add scent is with extracts. Vanilla and peppermint are popular holiday scents. I would not suggest putting the extracts directly near the wick, because a number of extracts can be flammable. Tie a ribbon around the base or scatter some rocks below, and put a few drops on that instead. If you have a live tree, cut some twigs off the back of the tree and use the fresh pine to accent a display. All of these scents will fill your home with the smell of the holidays.
Do you have a corner in your home that just needs something? Wrap some empty boxes with some pretty paper and bows, and stack them there. You’ll be able to enjoy them longer than December 25th! Is your guest bathroom not welcoming guests with the holiday spirit? Don’t purchase a whole Christmas bath set. Instead, drape some holly and a red bow or two around your mirror, and voila!
Be creative this holiday season and your wallet will thank you!
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Staci M.
Unique Event Design
