This is the time of year that most people enjoy or dread because of the craziness behind the holiday season.  There are usually a lot of hectic schedules due to company parties, relatives arriving out of town, shopping, baking and, of course, decorating!  However, those decorations always seem to be hidden somewhere in those basement or storage areas that are difficult to find.  Many times, trying to dig out those holiday decorations can become a chore when you have forgotten where they all are, or when those lights do not work after they have been already placed on the tree.

For what it is all worth, the holiday season is both joyous and hectic!  Those times eating with family and friends are the most memorable when the feel of the holiday season is warm and loving.  However, there are many of us who fear the expense associated with all the fixings associated with the holidays.  Today our economic circumstances have left some of us feeling worried and depresssed.  There has been a sense of nervousness felt with the global economies and real estate markets.  Yet, somehow we all feel that a little holiday cheer would still liven our spirits and hearts.  But, how can you decorate your home on a budget, if the holidays have been a bit more sombre than before?

Home Link Desgin has few suggestions for those of us wanting to decorate for less:

1.  Go to your linen closet and get out those white bed sheets!  Try decorating your mantle with just small mini lights that are entwined with a white bed sheet or linen table cloth.  Wrap your lights around the bed sheet and swag it along the mantel of your fireplace to create an added affect.  The lights will illuminate your white sheets and make them glow!

2. Recycle those glass containers!  Gather different glass containers from those pickle jars, jam containers and other empty condiment jars.  Place them together on a table or window sill as a collection of candle holders with tea lights inserted inside.  You can also create a different affect by placing sand inside each jar with a tea light.

3. No tree!  You don’t need a pine tree to make a Christmas tree.  Try either your house plant or gather some branches from outside!  You can spray paint your branches with silver spray paint and gather them together in a basket or pot. If you have extra lights, then try looping those lights around your arrangement to give it an extra flare.

4. Holiday cards!  If you have collected holiday cards, then you can make a garland with all of them!  Try attaching those different cards together with either a ribbon or string to make a long strand that can be placed on your stair railing, tree or fireplace!

5.  Apples & Mandarins anyone?  This time of year can be a great way to showcase those red apples and mandarins from the grocery store!  Try gathering a few of those wonderful fruits to place in a bowl on your table.  Also, try to tier your fruit together into the shape of a  tree by pinning them with toothpicks.  These can be a great way to make your fruit look like small trees on a table, but be sure to eat them when they are ready!

6. Gift wrap?!  Try making your table runners with your left over wrapping paper!  Yes, we have done this before to decorate our tables!  Simply take your wrapping paper roll and lay a long horizontal or vertical wrapping paper across your table before placing your dishes and silverware.  There are many choices of gift wrap that can create a fantastic look to your dinner table.

7. Pine Cones for decor!  Collect your pine cones to make decorations at home.  You can either spray paint your pine cones with gold or silver to place on your tree, railing or fireplace.  Also, cluster some of your pine cones together in a glass bowl for a centre piece!

8.  Stacked boxes!  You can buy simple boxes from the dollar store to pile into a section on the floor.  Try to collect a few holiday boxes or just spray paint your boxes with silver or gold paint to create a corner display on your floor or entrance.  Just three simple boxes stacked together will fill up a simple corner or area in your house.

9.  Paper or tinfoil snowflakes!  If you want to keep your holiday tree elegant, but simple, then try getting together with your kids to cut snowflakes out from either white paper or tinfoil.  Place your white and silver snowflakes on your tree to create an elegant touch!

10.  Left over tile?  If you are lucky enough to have any left over tiles or scrap pieces that you will never use, then try using them for different things!  First, if you have enough square tiles, then try to use them as a place mat for individual place settings.  This is especially interesting if you have slate tiles left over from your last renovation.  Or, if you have only a few tiles available, then try using them as hot warmers or lay a few of your tiles in a row along the length of your table to create a center arrangment for placing your candles on. 

There are many different ways of using items for decorations.  However, the ideas are suppose to be creative and unique without having to spend too much on the items.  Hopefully, some of these concepts will help to make your home a joyous time of year!

Happy Holidays from,

Home Link Design!

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