Mini remodel with Christmas décor

Grand Rapids, MI (WOTV) - The Christmas holidays are just around the corner so it’s time to think about how you will decorate your home for the season. Don’t be overwhelmed with the thought of decking out your whole home.  Take some time to plan it out, start early and follow these tips to a stress free holiday season. Your home will be welcoming and festive and you’ll be able to enjoy a stress free holiday too!

Don’t mix with your everyday décor: You could almost think of holiday decorating as a mini remodel. Mixing your holiday décor amongst your every day accessories will be chaotic. Pack it all up and start with an empty space. This is an opportunity to create a more pulled together and cohesive holiday look.

Don’t break the piggy bank: It is so tempting to load up on new holiday decorations each year. Everywhere you turn there is some cool new trend just screaming “Take me home!” Resist the urge to buy the entire look; choose one or two things that will make your guests say WOW! Be creative and discover new ways to use items you have collected over the years.

Don’t limit yourself to just red and green: Break out of the usual and get creative with colors that compliment your everyday color scheme.  Bring some drama into your décor and use gold, silver, purple, blue or even copper. If you just have to do red and green, freshen it up with a twist of white or silver.

Don’t be scattered in your décor: It can be a challenge to settle for one look. Pick one that you absolutely love and make a statement. If you’re a country Christmas girl, use handmade ornaments, needlepoint pillows, natural pinecones and twigs. To achieve a more glamorous look, use glass, crystals, and faux fur pillows and throws. Traditional Santa's or snowmen can be weaved through out a home too.

Don’t go glitter crazy: Often glitter is glued to ornaments, silk flowers and used to dress up plain candles. It makes everything sparkle, but at what a cleaning price! Use glitter sparingly so you’re not seeing it – along with that dreary poinsettia – until Valentines Day.

Don’t overdo the front door or front yard: A festive wreath simply says “Welcome.” There is no need to hang a wreath, wrap garland, and outline your home in lights to create that joyful feel. Sometimes less is more and your home will look festive yet understated with just a hint of the holiday.

Don’t forget the less used public spaces: If you’ll be entertaining and have overnight guests, don’t forget their spaces.  Scented holiday soaps, and candles and towels matching your décor will make your guests feel special.  You could even place a small tree in the guest room. Bring the holiday cheer into the kitchen too with seasonal scented candles, or hang holiday plates on your wall.

Don’t forget to water the tree! There is nothing better than the smell of pine coming from a live tree decorated for the holidays. We could all do without the needles that drop to the floor; one way to minimize them is to water your tree regularly. On the other hand, you could skip the live tree altogether and get an artificial tree. Artificial trees look very real today and come pre-lit, taking away the headache of attaching lights to a real tree.

Don’t overload those electrical outlets: The lights that decorate everything from the tree, to the mantel and even the exterior of the house can overload electrical outlets. Unfortunately, this safety issue is often over looked. A best practice is no more than three strands per outlet. This will keep the load at each outlet manageable and avoid the unthinkable at the holidays.

Don’t wait to “de-decorate”: Unless you’re having a contest with your neighbor to see whose poinsettia can last the longest, when you notice Holiday displays and merchandise are gone from your favorite store, it is time to start thinking about the next mini remodel by removing your own holiday décor.

Holiday decorating can be a lot of fun and if we let it be, stressful. There are far too many other things to do this time of year, like enjoy friends and family. Remember, be bold and be brave because this is for your relaxing holidays!