Halloween is behind us. That means that the holiday season is in full swing. Of course, if you’ve been in the stores at any time in the past few months, you would have thought that Christmas was just around the corner back in July. With the “official” start of the season of giving and thanks, it’s time to get your home ready for the holidays. Beacon Homes has some ideas to make it fun, affordable, and safe to get in the spirit.
Start a new tradition.
Every year, you haul out the holiday decorations that you’ve been using for years, maybe longer. Then, you put them where they’ve always gone. Same old, same old.
How about doing something entirely different this year? Sure, you can hold onto those mementos that have sentimental meaning. But rethink the rest.
Change your theme or color scheme. If you’ve been a traditional red-and-green person, switch it up to brighter shades or maybe something more Victorian with deeper hues. Or choose a silver and gold or blue and white color palette for your decor. You might make the move from whimsical to country cabin—or the other way around.
Next, think about where you want to decorate. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past. This is a new year! Look through home decorating websites and invest time in the creativity of Pinterest users. What sparks your interest? Before you hang a single light, wreath, garland, or ornament, ask yourself, “How can I do this differently?”
Shake off the mindset of “the way we’ve always done it” and go for something that will raise your spirits even more.
Merge your year-round decor with holiday elements.
Take inventory of what you have. What is worthy of a makeover? Wreaths and garlands can be instantly refreshed by changing the ornamental picks and ribbons.
Do you have more ornaments than your tree will accommodate? Use them to make new decor. Fill a clear jar or hurricane lamp with a variety of ornaments. Create a centerpiece with ornaments on a platter and add sprigs of evergreen, pine cones, ribbons, candy canes, jingle bells, or note cards with holiday images and sentiments.
Gather up your vases, planters, mason jars, and other containers. Add sprigs of holly or evergreen (real or artificial). Fill the clear opaque ones with strings of lights.
Take an empty frame, hang an ornament from the inside top of the frame, and then hang the frame with a holiday ribbon. Or wrap your existing wall art with holiday paper and ribbons to look like gifts.
Place tea lights inside stemware, or invert wine glasses over an ornament. Then place the tealight on top of the glass.
Add holiday picks and ribbons to your houseplants.
String holiday tags and cards from garlands, shelves, rods, light fixtures, and doorknobs (but skip the ceiling fans). You can also hang your ornaments with long ribbons from the same places, or even from your ceiling—a great way to dress up an entryway.
Frame your favorite photos from holidays past and display them on your walls, mantel, buffet, entry table, and other places where you can be reminded of those wonderful memories.
Wrap up empty boxes using your best wrapping skills. Display them in clusters throughout your home. Just remind the younger members of the family that the boxes are empty and peeking will only be a big disappointment!
Decorate safely.
As you decide what to put and where, keep holiday decorating safety in mind. Prevent tripping hazards, like extension cords by keeping them out of sight or covering them with duct tape.
Make sure all electrical cords and light strings are secure. Look for any fraying or cracks that could spark a shock or fire.
Opt for battery-operated candles to avoid flames.
Fake food and anything artificial that looks edible can be tempting to young children. Keep them out of reach.
With children and pets, use unbreakable ornaments in the low spaces, like the bottom branches of the tree.
If you choose a real tree, keep it well watered to prevent drying. Unplug the lights when you’re not at home or asleep.
As you decorate your home for the holidays, also ask yourself, “Is this my dream home?” If you’re not sure, the answer is “no”. Don’t spend more holidays (and years) in a home that isn’t your ideal haven. Beacon Homes invites you to give yourself the biggest, most joyful gift—a new home. We build communities of new homes throughout the OKC metro area as well as Tulsa. You could even move in before the new year, when you choose one of our new construction homes for sale. Let Beacon Homes guide you to the gift that really keeps on giving!
