| The time has come to start putting up Christmas | | | | Christmas dining table. |
| decorations. But, before you rush off to your local | | | | When you've customized your existing pieces and |
| store to buy this year's collection of baubles, | | | | household items, look around a couple of shops to |
| wreaths and garlands, think carefully about your | | | | find a few bits and pieces to complete the look. |
| decorating theme. Christmas themes can vary | | | | It's best to buy simple pieces that can be |
| from traditional to modern; elegant to fun; natural | | | | decorated further and adjusted in following years |
| to high-tech etc. Browse through a few | | | | to suit different themes. |
| magazines and websites for inspiration - then | | | | The two most important elements of Christmas |
| decide on an overall scheme. Whatever you | | | | decorating are the tree and the lighting. Nothing |
| choose, it should complement your interior and | | | | really beats the smell of a real pine tree, but if |
| your lifestyle. | | | | you want to create a trendy look, a pre-lit twig |
| Having chosen your Christmas theme, get out | | | | or feather tree might be the right choice to suit |
| your previous years' decorating bits & pieces. | | | | your décor theme. The secret of a |
| Select those that would go with your current | | | | successful tree is to use a maximum of three |
| theme or could be adapted easily. Baubles, | | | | colors, shapes and materials when dressing it. To |
| garlands, candles and holders can be transformed | | | | create an interesting tree, make some of your |
| simply with a bit of imagination. Baubles can be | | | | baubles edible - out of chocolate, candy, dried |
| painted, stencilled, sprayed, wrapped or decorated | | | | fruits & nuts. |
| with fabric, ribbons, glitter, pearls and beads. | | | | When it comes to lighting, use a variety of |
| Garlands & wreath can be sprayed with metallic | | | | illumination systems. Wrap fairy & string lights |
| or frosted paint and decorated with berries, | | | | around door frames & banisters, hang them in |
| acorns, dried leaves, feathers and pearls - | | | | the windows, pile them up in glass vases, run |
| depending on your theme. | | | | them across the dining table, or make them into a |
| You can also decorate some of your glassware | | | | garland. Use rope lights outside your home - |
| and tableware - spray or stencil them with | | | | around your windows, doors, pathway and trees. |
| removable paint and glitter or decorate them with | | | | Pile church candles together on the mantel, in large |
| removable stickers and film. Use your glass bowls, | | | | containers, across the dining table or in unused |
| jars, vases and containers to display baubles, | | | | fireplaces. Put scented tea lights in your windows, |
| fairylights, dried fruits, nuts, chocolate pieces, glass | | | | on shelves and coffee tables. |
| beads and candles. Place these around your home | | | | You can read more Christmas decorating ideas at |
| - or use them as a central piece on your | | | | Diytogether. |