Decorating for the holidays, Old Town style!
Ask any kid (stay away from ones you don’t know) and December drags by slower than molasses in January. But if you were to get an adult’s take on it, they might tell you that we’re hurtling through December faster than Comet and the rest of the reindeer gang pulling Santa’s sleigh….
If you haven’t started decorating for the holidays, it’s not too late to start. Follow these Old Town style tips that are easy to do for last minute holiday decorating.
Trim a tree, any tree. Whether you opt for artificial or real, flashy aluminum or Charlie Brown style, a tree serves as a focal point for the room. For a more cohesive look, keep decorations on the tree in a theme or color palette. Southern Living recommends sticking with three different sizes of ornaments, which will keep it from looking too uniform.
For a simple and easy decoration with a big impact, look to a wreath. Wreaths can be dressed up or down, depending on your style. Whether you add ornaments and ribbon, or opt to use pinecones and burlap to garnish it, wreaths immediately transform your front door or windows and make them seem welcoming.
Lights, lights, lights. If the thought of untangling last year’s display to re-hang up on the roof sends you reaching for the eggnog, try displaying them over hedges and shrubbery.
If you’re decorating a large wraparound porch like the kind at Old Town, lights and garland can be wrapped around columns or hung from railing for an easy but traditional Christmas look. Garland can also be draped over doorways, providing a beautiful and natural looking accent to your home.
Perhaps the easiest decoration of all are centerpieces. These are a great way to add a significant wow-factor, without a lot of effort. Centerpieces can be as simple as placing Christmas ornament balls in a large vase, or as elaborate as your creativity allows. If you want to stick with a traditional floral centerpiece, line vases with cranberries, and for a dramatic Christmas look, add white flowers to top it off. Mason jars give any centerpiece a uniquely Southern flair, and they can be spray painted to add even more pizzazz.
The holidays are always a magical time of year, and decorating for them can be daunting. But decorating your home in gorgeous holiday style doesn’t have to leave you in a panic. Above all, decorate to your comfort level. Whether that’s a light display that rivals Callaway Garden’s Fantasy in Lights, or if it’s as simple as hanging a wreath and some garlands, there is no one-size-fits-all standard when it comes to holiday decorating. Above all, remember the reason for the season. Old Town wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
(photo credits: Southern Living)
