How to Deck the Halls for the Holidays

Things You’ll Need:

• Yuletide tree
• Trimmings and ornaments (Christmas balls, glitters, ribbons, silk flowers, dried flowers and artificial fruits)
• Nutcrackers
• Wreaths
• Swags
• Bows
• Holiday lights
• Scented candles
• Mantle piece
• Centerpiece
• Velvet throws
• Fire logs
• Christmas stockings
• Holiday greeting cards
• Potpourri
• Holiday music
• Holiday village and people
• Train set

Step 1:

A yuletide tree trimmed and lit. (GNU Free license)

Trim the tree. During the holiday season, a staple of every home big or small is a Yuletide or Christmas tree. There are fake ones, real ones, green ones and white ones. Trim it with your favorite decorations using vibrant colors to warm up the holidays. Jewel tones of reds, greens and golds are also known as traditional colors. You can also use white, purple, blue and silver balls for a more contemporary look. Use silk and dried flowers,as well as artificial fruits, and then add glitters and ribbons for a finishing touch. Display a collection of holiday village miniature homes and people by the foot of the tree, and then add a toy train set that circles around the yuletide tree.

Step 2:

Rowan redberry wreath. (Wikimedia Commons)

Holiday wreaths. You can make your own or buy pre-made holiday wreaths to hang on your walls, above a fireplace mantle or your front door. Make sure that you use colors that match the decorations on your yuletide tree.

Step 3:

Hang swags on archways and entryways. (by shebaduhkitty/morguefile)

Hang swags. Swags can be used around the fireplace mantle, to adorn the handrails of stairs or surround the frame of a big hall or dining mirror. You can also add a swag with trimmings similar to those used on your tree, then hang on archways or entryway. Swags should be decorated with similar items used on the yuletide tree.

Step 4:
Add a centerpiece. Decorate the dining table with a beautiful centerpiece. Again, use the same theme used all around the house. For a rustic and natural effect, add dried fruits, dried flowers and sticks. Put a big candle in a hurricane to add a warm glow to dinners.

Step 5:

A collection of nutcrackers displayed on top of a mantle. (mconnors/morguefile)

Decorate the fireplace mantle. Place a matching mantlepiece similar to the dining room table centerpiece. Display collectibles like nutcrackers, figurines and put a mantle runner down to add more interest to the holiday display.

Step 6:

A christmas stocking. (ladyheart/morguefile)

Hang stockings. Hang holiday stockings on fireplace mantles. Use different sizes and materials, keeping in mind the overall theme as your guide. If you do not have a fireplace mantle, you can hang the stockings by the handrails of the stairs, or you can hang them staggered on plain walls. Decorate the stockings with the name of each recipient or add photos to personalize them.

Step 7:
Use old and new greeting cards. One way to add a beautiful design during the holidays is by adding old and new greeting cards received from friends and relatives. You can clip them on the swags or wreaths, lean them on the mantle or stick them on the mirror for a collage effect. You can also frame collectible cards and hang them in the living room. This is a wonderful way to preserve and re-use the cards you have received throughout the years, as well as provide conversation pieces as you pay homage to the senders.

Step 8:

Xmas lights can add glow to the holidays. (pennywise/morguefile)

Add holiday lights. You can add holiday lights to the tree, wreaths and swags to add warmth and glow to the holidays.

Step 9:

Nothing is more warm and welcoming than a fireplace during the holidays. (alli100/morguefile)

Use that fireplace. If you have a fireplace, use it during the holidays. A fireplace can warm up the holidays by keeping the ambiance cozy. If you do not have a fireplace, you can create a faux fireplace by building a fireplace mantle and putting several pillar candles in the middle to add some heat and a warm glow. You can also buy a ready-made portable fireplace that makes use of gas logs and does not need to be hooked up to a chimney. It is both decorative and functional due to the heat it emits to the room, keeping you and your company warm and toasty.

Step 10:

A potpourri can add a nice scent to a holiday atmosphere. (d0dg3/morguefile)

Add scents. Use scented candles, potpourri or fragrance sprays to enhance the scent of the room during the holidays. Choose scents that are commonly used during the holidays like cinnamon scent, pine tree scent or dried citrus fruits and flowers scent.

Step 11:

Boxed gifts can be used as decorations by the tree, in the living room or entry way.

Decorate every nook or cranny. Decorate the top of a console table and buffet table. Decorate the inside and top of your china cabinet. If you have a piano, decorate the top with a candelabra with gold taper candles. Decorate the foyer, living room, dining room and kitchen. Decorate all over the house to bring the beauty of this holiday season everywhere you go. If you have enough decorations to spare, you can also decorate the guest bathroom, bedrooms and den. Decorate the family room by adding warm tones. Replace throw pillows with warm velvety pillows. Drape a throw on the sofa to make it warmer and ready for the season. Use wrapped gifts to display by the tree or by the entry way.

Step 12:
Play holiday music. After you have addressed the visual and olfactory senses, you can also add pleasure to your hearing senses. Playing beautiful music can add that warm feeling and nostalgia during the holiday season.

View All Steps