How to Decorate for Christmas in Warmer Climates like Florida or California

It's easy to get the Christmas spirit if you live somewhere it's cold. The white snow and cold weather can make anyone feel cozy around Christmas time. You see kids building snowmen and people sledding. There are big pine Christmas trees with beautiful decorations. Everywhere you look, there is something to bring on the Christmas feeling. What if you live in Florida? Or California? Or somewhere else it is always warm? You won't get to drive down the street and see snowmen. You won't see the pine trees all decorated for the season. So how do you bring on the Christmas spirit in a warmer climate? Here are some Christmas decoration ideas for warmer climates:

1. In this climate, you're not going to have pine trees to go cut, or pine trees to go buy at the local Christmas tree stand. You could have one imported from the Northeast or somewhere else in the United States that they are grown, but this could be costly. So what do you do? Purchase a fake Christmas tree and put it in your living room. This is your easiest option, if you want to be totally traditional.

2. However, if you wish to get more creative, use a tropical tree. You could decorate your outdoor palm tree, or get a small palm tree and bring it inside. I would recommend not cutting it down like pine trees, but to actually let it live.

3. Use red and green for decorations, which are Christmas colors. If you were in Boston or Baltimore, you might use velvety fabrics or thick materials for your red and green decorations. In Florida, try using a lightweight fabric, even a see through fabric in green or red. For example, if you put a piece of material around the bottom of the palm tree, don't use a velour red fabric. Use a light, airy red fabric instead.

4. Tree lights. In cold climates, the tree lights are regular bulbs with red and green, or really any color you might like. You can still choose the colors you wish, but get tree lights that have warmer climate shapes. For example, you could get lights shaped like coconuts or lights shaped like palm trees. Put them on your outdoor palm tree, or around the outside of your home. Use them inside just as you would in a cold weather climate.

5. Alternative to Santa figures. Instead of using Santa figures, use a hula dancing woman, decorated in Christmas colors, for example.

6. Santa Claus. Instead of dressing up like Santa Claus, dress up as a Hawaiian surfer, but wear green and red. Or, if you go with Santa, use lighter fabrics and forget about the beard. You could even pretend to be an in-shape Santa that retired to Florida and is living the good life.

7. Miniature scenes. If you live in Florida, you can still have traditional scenes. Some people have the three wisemen, or a scene of a manger. All of the traditional indoor Christmas decorations will work.

8. Anything tropical themed. You can go totally tropical with your Christmas decorations. Just make green and red decorations that look tropical. Use green and red ice cubes in your water. Freeze water dyed with a touch of food coloring to pull this off.

9. Make a winter wonderland in your yard. Simulate snow and the cold climate, and put up a scene with reindeer and a sleight. You can put white powder on your roof designed just for this purpose. Or, use a white ground covering to make it look like it has snowed in your yard. It's called Insta Snow. It costs about $20 and makes an eruption of snow in your backyard.