Choosing a Theme for Christmas Decorations

The Christmas Holidays are usually a huge annual family event. What makes Christmas an exciting time is not just the hype of the season, but family activities which are fun and creative. Decorating your home for the season, can be a family activity, particularly when everyone agrees on a main theme. A theme is the primary message you may wish to convey expressed in the manner you decorate your home for the season. Suggested themes for the season are as follows:

1. The Nativity Theme (Jesus is the theme) - Though this may seem the most common theme, this is REALLY the theme of the whole season. Thus, a Christ centered Christmas can be emphasized by adding decors like a Nativity Scene under your tree, a huge lighted star for outdoor lights to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem or a variety of smaller Christmas "stars" accented by different light colors. To complement your Nativity Theme, you may also come up with an Advent Candle, which are four candles that are decorated by bows which you and your family light during the four Sundays before Christmas Day. Since your theme is "Jesus is the meaning of the season", you can also accent your home decor with icons and religious displays. You may also wish to place a luminous type white Christmas star on top of your tree.

2. The Environmentally Friendly theme - Celebrating the season doesn't have to mean "hurting" the environment. An artificial tree is a statement that tells others that you refuse to cut trees. Artificial trees can be decorated with environmentally-friendly decors such as painted paper mache' balls, stars, crafts and real candy canes on your tree. An eco-friendly theme may also include the use of real plants which you simply transfer indoors so that they may add color to your indoor decor. Using LED lights or icicles also save energy and at the same time add accent to your theme. You may also give away gifts that go with the theme such as Lavender soap and/or candles, organic T-shirts, hankies and clothing. Wrap your gifts with recycled paper or you and your family may try and use old newspapers and turn them into unique gift wrappers with a little bit of creativity.

3. The Vintage Christmas Theme - This theme captures the "old" Christmas. For instance, instead of using Christmas lights to decorate your tree, try using LED (light) candles, Christmas balls wrapped and decorated with lace, and a "vintage" Christmas Star. There are several vintage angels and figures you can find online but this one is my favorite - http://www.vintagechristmasdecor.com. A Vintage Christmas theme means giving your family a new "feel" of Christmas. Wooden Christmas ornaments on the tree and displayed in your living room. A Vintage Christmas theme is a work of art!

4. Food and Candy Christmas Theme - This theme symbolizes the hope for peace and prosperity even after the season ends. Round chocolate wrapped in gold and silver and hang on the tree instead of Christmas balls can be a tantalizing treat for the kids (and chocolate lovers). Tell them though, that the balls cannot be eaten until the end of Christmas day! You may also want to hang candy canes, Santa Claus chocolate figures, and even apples along with the bows and ribbons n your tree. The really fun part about this Christmas theme is that you may even make your own cookies shaped after Santa Claus, angels, Rudolf or even the Grinch!

5. Santa Claus Christmas theme - Make your house look like Santa's place by hanging your cookies along with your Christmas balls and adding an sleigh decor to your indoor Christmas design.Fill your sleigh with "goodies" and "stuff" for the kids and make it the main decor under your tree. Have different pictures or posters of Santa on your walls. Outdoors, you an opt to put up one of those huge balloon Santa Claus figures along with his reindeers.

Having different Christmas themes for the Holidays may take planning and creativity. Nevertheless, it is a great idea to consider along with your family. Putting the theme together as a family is a pleasant bonding experience!