Thanksgiving has just passed. Therefore, according to television commercials and corporate giants (such as Wal-Mart or Lowes), it’s time to start preparing for Christmas! Because of the economic situation, many people are looking for ways to save on decorating. Thankfully, it is possible for Christmas decorations to be both cheap and pretty with a little creative ingenuity.
By Sarah Last
Staff Writer
Thanksgiving has just passed. Therefore, according to television commercials and corporate giants (such as Wal-Mart or Lowes), it’s time to start preparing for Christmas! Because of the economic situation, many people are looking for ways to save on decorating. Thankfully, it is possible for Christmas decorations to be both cheap and pretty with a little creative ingenuity.
For centuries, nature has been a source of inspiration for authors, artists, and musicians- who says it can’t inspire an interior home decorator? If you live in a rural area, or somewhere with pine trees, cut off a few small branches and place them artfully among things like picture frames, candles, or on the fireplace mantel. It will not only give the room a fresh pine smell, but will also serve to bring the essence of Christmas into your home.
If you do wish to decorate in this fashion, it is a good idea to gather the pine a few days before the big event because pine needles will fall off creating a mess that no one wants to spend the holiday cleaning up. If you want to add some other natural items to the fronds, pine cones and red berries sprinkled about the branches will also add to the festive look while coloring the display. Like the pine idea, but not too keen on the green?
Spray paint can be found very cheaply at certain home improvement stores so you can save a couple of dollars from buying expensive, fake pine that has already been colored.
Another helpful decoration that usually isn’t too costly is an old favorite: lights. Unless you’re Clark Griswold, it usually doesn’t cost very much to purchase a few strands of the white or colored lights so often seen strung on trees or other variations of shrubbery during the Christmas season. Whether strung on the front porch or wrapped around the banister of the stairs, these lights emit a soft glow that warms the house and keeps the area bright and cheery in the cold months of winter.
Remember all those Christmas cards sent to your family years ago that were stashed away- too sentimental to pitch, but unimportant enough to not be given a second thought when the holidays roll around once more? Consider this: distributing cards in various places around the house like the top of a piano or a shelf on the wall will not only show that the spirit of Christmas is thriving in your household, it will also show Grandma how much you do appreciate last year’s card showing the picture of her cat in a Santa hat. It can be done without having to pull out a wallet too!
Still know how to make snowflakes out of that triangle of white construction paper? This craft is cheap, easy and fun- especially if you have little cousins or siblings running around the house. All you need are some safety scissors, a couple pieces of construction paper, and, if you’re really feeling ambitious, some glue and holiday- colored glitter.
Those involved in the project have a blast, and the snowflakes are easily hung up as well; they can either be strung individually or all together by a piece of twine or string. They look great on walls, hanging from the ceiling (as long as the strings aren’t too long) or strung up between doorways.
With these helpful tips and some of your own creative ingenuity, your house will be sure to sparkle as fiercely as Clark Griswold’s, but hopefully without the electric bill.