After years of the same holiday decorating routine, it can feel like you’re just going through the motions — put up the tree, string the lights, hang the stockings — over and over again. So shake things up this year!
“Unlike the commitment you make to more permanent interior design, the holidays allow you to try on a ‘look’ just for the fun of it,” says interior designer David Stark of David Stark Design and Production in Brooklyn, New York.
“Your design does not need to last for years and years, and your décor can be silly or seriously elegant, but at worst it’s a six-week commitment which alleviates a lot of design pressure. It’s a great time to experiment and, most of all, have fun!”
Make traditional holiday decor fresh and new with these six creative and simple do-it-yourself decorating ideas:
Simply Merry Centrepieces
Create a cheerful centrepiece for your holiday table by simply filling a bowl or vase with seasonal materials like cranberries. “Surrounded by candles, you have an instant and chic table centrepiece!” Stark says.
You also can do the same with an assortment of colourful ornaments. It’s an easy way to use those extra ornaments that don’t fit on the tree.
New Spots for Lights
While your tree is a natural home for a string of lights, that’s not the only area that can benefit from a little extra brightness. Add a touch of festive glow to any part of your home — along your mantle, wrapped around a wreath or incorporated into a centrepiece.
No Mantle? No Problem
Stockings can be hung with care just about anywhere. If you don’t have a fireplace, try hanging your stockings from the banister, from a coat rack, the knobs of a dresser, the back of a chair, or even the hooks of a hanging pot rack.
Quick and Easy Tree Skirt
Even details as small as the tree skirt can make a world of difference to your decor. Bring new life to a plaid blanket, or hit up your local thrift shop for inexpensive fabrics, to fashion a brand-new spot to place bundles of beautifully wrapped gifts.
A Touch of Greenery
Fresh winter greenery is the perfect complement to any holiday decor scheme.
“I love using nature. Garland, cedar branches, leaves, pine cones, fruits and strands of cranberries all make great holiday decor,” says interior designer Sara Story, of Sara Story Design in New York.
“Mixing nature, metallic finishes, lighting and glass creates a fantastic mix of materials and timeless, elegant holiday decor.” A sprig of spruce in a vase, a fresh fir garland wrapped around the staircase or branches laid of pine across a mantle — green goes with everything and brings a bit of the outdoors into your home.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/homesnews/1521628-five-easy-diy-ideas-to-shake-up-your-holiday-decorating-routine