Helpful Hints for Stress-Free Christmas Decorating

Some of us moan with the burden of expectations of a picture perfect home during the Christmas Holidays. There are ways to make a house a cozy home without adding to your stress load. A way to create a process that is as enjoyable as the finished product.

These ideas are practical, enjoyable, and most of all, do-able. A creative nudge and a ribbon or two is all you need to decorate with personal flair and confidence.

Certain colors are always reminders of Christmas and using those colors in decorative groups will create the ambience we want our homes to have during the Christmas Season.

1. Look around in each room for items the color red or green. See those gift bottles of red peppers? Grouped together with some green and/or red ribbon or garland and even a strand of lights or some candles, they will give warmth to a table or a mantle.

2. Have a marble collection? Take out all the red and green ones and put in a clear bottle, vase, or jar. A strand of lights nearby would be a pretty enhancement and adds a sparkling glow.

3. Pretty bottles of wine wrapped with festive ribbons could be used as decor and you have an instant gift for friends or family that drops by.

4. A frugal decoration is to use synthetic strands of Christmas ivy bought at last years after-Christmas sale. Remove the red holley berries and use the garland as a year round mantle decoration with lights behind it and perhaps a snow globe collection in front. Adding the red berries will give back it's Christmas charm.

5. Pillows or throws will add to your personalized Christmas decorating scheme.

6. A fireplace or hearth is made festive by adding candles and greenery. Putting the candles on a mirrored base will create a peaceful and pretty atmosphere.

You could use any color combination you want or have on hand. The grouping of the color(s) with ribbon or lights will help create the stress free and festive Christmas spirit for your home.