You can #decorate for the #holidays elegantly and #inexpensively by foraging, says HGTV. Fallen branches, leaves and evergreen boughs are easy to come by, especially if you’re doing a little bit of fall pruning. Take a spirited forest walk and not only will you get some fresh air, you’re likely to find fragrant pine cones and greens suitable for the mantel, dining room table or porch railing — maybe even a log for the fireplace. Amaryllis and holly cuttings offer more ways to bring the outdoors in for a designer-approved #Christmas home. #HolidayDecorations
Tag: christmas decorating
Make Room for the Holidays
Is your space so #cluttered that you don’t know where to put the #Christmas tree? Prepare your home for the season by #dcluttering before you start #decorating, The Spruce says. Start by clearing out the stray children’s toys, and ask kids to pick a few things they no longer want to #donate or #trash. Do the same for your #holiday #decorations by getting rid of anything no longer fits your decorating scheme. And do a quick tour of the tchotchkes #cluttering your display surfaces — can they be stored for the holidays in favor of more seasonal items? You might find something that can be #donated or regifted. #HolidayDecorations
Holiday Decorations Don’t Last Forever
If you’re anything like the folks at the Organizing Blog, you might have a stash of vintage #Christmas ornaments you’ve collected over the decades. These fragile little gems — some of them family heirlooms — adorn your tree year after year, but they weren’t made to last forever. Pack and unpack them carefully, continually #decluttering and eliminating the ones you are no longer fond of. And remember, you can only use so much Superglue; accidents happen, and those jagged edges and frayed wires could present a #holiday hazard. #Upcycle when you can, says DIYnCrafts, but be prepared to say goodbye when necessary. #HolidayDecorations
Declutter as You Decorate
As you #decorate for #Christmas or another December #holiday, you will undoubtedly unpack a lot of ornaments, twinkling lights and knickknacks — and you will likely add to that pile over the season. Do yourself a favor at the outset, says Good Housekeeping: clear out the #clutter of seasons past. Unused winter clothing, outdated and dog-eared decorations, spare shopping bags, and extra charging cords that don’t seem to attach to any appliance can be #recycled, #trashed or #donated to make way for new things that will put you in the holiday spirit. #HolidayDecorations
The Christmas Countdown Begins
At the time of this posting, there are just 27 days — less than a month — until #Christmas. If you celebrate #Kwanzaa, you get an extra day to prepare, but those celebrating #Hanukkah will need to be ready just nine days.
You may view the #holidays as the most wonderful time of the year, but with that wonder comes a lot of additional expectations and stress. You need to get gifts for the family, go to the office party, plan a big family feast, send cards, bake cookies — and time is running out!
Take a moment to collect yourself. “You can only do so much,” says The Mayo Clinic. “Be realistic with how much you can handle this season. Forget about perfection, and relax and enjoy the company surrounding you.”
Start with a plan. Get the calendar out and write down the most important events and deadlines. Assign days to complete specific tasks such as shopping, baking, cleaning and decorating, but be flexible — things can and will get delayed.
One set of important dates to remember is the shipping deadline for holiday gifts. For merchandise shipped via standard ground services with FedEx, the deadline is Dec. 15, and at UPS and USPS, it’s Dec. 16. Two-day shipping should get the goods to you in time if ordered by Dec. 20.
Keep up on healthy habits, too, so you don’t sacrifice yourself in service to the season. “If you already have a training or exercise routine, don’t let the holiday season throw you off,” says Calendar.com. “Exercise and physical activity can help clear your mind.”
Set expectations that are manageable, and be clear about them with family members and guests. Don’t set yourself up to make a big sit-down feast if you don’t have the bandwidth, for example — you can have a potluck or something even more casual.
Say no when you need to do so, and take time for your own relax-and-recharge sessions, whatever form they may take. Whatever you can manage during the season should be good enough. The clock may be ticking, but it’s your holiday, too.
Have a safe, happy and stress-free season!