Seven Great Holiday Decorating Tips--Without Breaking the Bank

If you're looking for great ways to decorate your home this glorious holiday season--without breaking the bank and losing your sanity in the process--here are seven terrific ideas to get you started.

1. You don't have to concentrate on one sense or the other at holiday time. You've got five senses--so make sure to fill them all with delight at holiday time. Use cheerful warm-colored ribbons to highlight chandeliers, play your favorite seasonal music, fill the air with the smell of cinnamon, cloves, and essential oils, share your favorite recipe, and add sumptuous silky fabrics to table cloths, tree skirts, and pillows.

2. You don't have to use all your decorations every year, especially if you own quite a few. Alternating decorations makes it easier on you, and when you don't see the same decorations year after year, they tend to have more meaning.

3. You don't need to add anything to your Christmas tree's water. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, plain tap water is the best source of moisture for your tree. In fact, the NCTA says that some commercial additives and home concoctions can actually be detrimental to a tree's moisture retention and increase needle loss. So keep your Christmas tree stand filled with plain water and use the savings to buy a few extra stocking stuffers.

4. You don't have to buy the cheapest Christmas tree on the lot. In fact, you can actually save money by buying a fuller tree! Since there are fewer holes to fill in a fuller tree, it will use fewer decorations. You can also save money by buying silk flower boughs, cutting the flowers apart, and using them on your tree, in garlands, and as enhancements to your gift wrapping.

5. You don't have to decorate using generic decorations. Your holidays will be more meaningful if you decorate using your family's heritage as a guideline. Combining ancestral cultures and creating handmade ornaments will also help your children develop stronger ties with your family's unique cultural heritage.

6. You don't need to climb ladders and hang millions of lights all over your house to make a happy holiday statement. You can create an enticing "Welcome Home" atmosphere by simply placing a special emphasis on your front door, surrounding it with colorful lights and garlands of greenery.

7. And finally, there's no need to completely redecorate for your New Year's Eve celebration. When Christmas Day has past, you can recycle your holiday wreaths and garlands for use in your New Year's festivities simply by spray painting them silver or gold.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Jeanette Fisher, Design Psychology Professor, is the author of "Joy to the Home" eNewsletter, interior design, and real estate books. For more information on Design Psychology, visit http://www.designpsych.com/