Some Simple Guidelines To Make Your Decorations Look Great
Keep things simple. Many people have way too many decorations both inside and outside their homes. Less is more.
Keep your decorations balanced throughout the house. Many people tend to crowd all their decorations in one place; this is not always a good idea. Wouldn't it be nicer to have a little bit of Christmas everywhere you go, rather than a whole lot of a Christmas in one place only?
Think twice before buying outdoor inflatable decorations. The neighbor's pets may deflate them or a sudden storm may relocate them. If you choose to use them, make sure they are securely tied down and think about removing them if severe weather is in the forecast.
Finish the job. Don't let your tree be half bare, or leave a tree outside wrapped with lights only halfway. If you're going to start something, you might as well finish it.
Put your indoor tree in front of a large window that overlooks the front yard. This is an easy way to add cheer to your yard without leaving the house. Also, when people drive or walk by your house, they're able to see your beautifully decorated Christmas tree!
Place candles in windows. Try battery-operated or electrical bulbs that look like candles so you don't burn your house down. This is another easy way to add cheer to your yard without leaving the house.
Put a wreath on the front door. Make sure that it is securely attached to the door so that it doesn't fall off! Another good idea is to buy some wrapping paper or foil gift wrap in Christmas colors and designs and cover your front door with it. This will give your home a unique Christmas look.
Time things right. Do not put up your decorations too early or take them down to late. Many people seem to be in a race to get decorations up earlier every year, so here are some suggested dates for putting up the decorations and taking them down:
Take it one holiday at a time: Thanksgiving comes before Christmas! Black Friday (the day after American Thanksgiving) is a good day to put up your Christmas decorations if you like them up early. However, if you put up huge, extravagant displays that take months to set up, that's an exception to this rule. You don't want to rush yourself.
Start fresh in the New Year: Try and have most of your Christmas decorations down by January 6th (epiphany). This also applies to the wearing of Christmas-related clothing and accessories.
Avoid mixing and matching icons. A huge Santa Claus may not be entirely appropriate standing next to Mary and Joseph in the Nativity scene. However, this does not mean that you can't have both Santa and Baby Jesus in your yard since they're both Christmas-related.
Be original. Do not copy your neighbors. If you like something they have done, mimic it, but make sure do something additional so that your display is unique.
Do not compete. No one else should decide what your yard or house looks like. It's your property and your money, so do what you like.
Use common sense and care when erecting outdoor displays or attaching lights to the eaves and roof of your home. The job of installing them can be dangerous and emergency room visits are common for holiday decorators.
Keep electrical cords out of walkways, wet locations and pinch points. If you don't have exterior electric outlets, do not be tempted to run the extension cord out a window or door where it may be damaged. Do not try to light more lights than the cord is rated for.
"Decorate_Your_Christmas Tree" Buy white or off-white lights. Make sure that do not play music or flash. Utilize ornaments. Remember that they should enhance and not dominate the tree. Avoid using anything with too much glitter.
Wrap ribbon around your tree. Mesh ribbon usually works best for this. Make sure to scrunch the ribbon and wrap a branch around that part.
Finish off your tree with a bow topper. Make a bow using three different ribbons. When you have made as many loops as you want, tie it off with a chenille stem or a piece of wire. Fluff out your bow by adding streamers to it and tie your bow on to the tree using the chenille stem.
Don’t forget to decorate the bottom of your tree. You can add more depth by hanging ornaments closer to the trunk.
"Brighten Your Decorations With Lights" Use lots of lights. This is a great way to show Christmas spirit. For example, put up a string of icicles across your roof or multi-coloured lights around a column. You may also have a tree you want to light up in the yard, Incorporate items that light up. You may want to buy some light-up reindeer or snowmen. These are really nice decorations that last for a long time.
Enhance your yard with spotlights. Use spotlights to your advantage by lighting up signs or wooden cut-outs that don't light up. When using spotlights, try not to light up every last thing in your yard.
Be mindful of your lighted decorations. Be aware of the space they require, as well as the power that they use. You don't want the power going out on Christmas.
Turn off the lights occasionally and do not leave them on 24/7. Outdoor lights are suggested from an hour before dusk until midnight. Indoor lights might be on from 4pm [16:00] until midnight on weekdays, and 8am [08:00] to midnight on weekends. On Christmas Day itself, all lights may be left on throughout the whole day if you like.
For more info visit http://www.wikihow.com/Main-Page"
