| When most people get around to Christmas | | | | pine roping -- and add a sense of drama by |
| decorating, they usually start with the Christmas | | | | trimming it with complementary colors and |
| tree and lights. And it's true that traditional holiday | | | | shapes: bows or ribbons, cones, dried fruits and |
| decorations almost always seem to center round | | | | whole spices. |
| the festive evergreen, with its wide range of | | | | 3. Hang a wreath on your front door or balcony |
| ornament choices and special pine fragrance. | | | | to welcome Christmas carolers and your holiday |
| But there are plenty more possibilities to help you | | | | visitors. You can find a wide variety of styles and |
| deck your home with colorful touches inspired by | | | | types to suit your taste and match the rest of |
| nature and the winter season. The dark green | | | | your seasonal decor. And if you want to ring the |
| hues often associated with the Christmas | | | | changes, look for more unusual materials such as |
| decorations are a wonderful backdrop for red, | | | | boxwood as an alternative to the familiar holly or |
| gold and silver accents, and the branches of trees | | | | pine. You can personalize your wreath with natural |
| such as the Balsam Fir, the Fraser Fir or the | | | | or painted cones or berries -- and, of course, a |
| Scotch Pine can be used to decorate | | | | jazzy ribbon to contrast colors! |
| mantelpieces, form a basis for table center | | | | Even if you buy a standard wreath, garland or |
| arrangements or provide a background for | | | | swag, you have all kinds of possibilities for |
| Christmas wreaths. | | | | decorating it in your own personal style. And |
| Here are some ideas for holiday decorations to | | | | another good aspect of these additions is that |
| bring a festive look to your home, inside and out: | | | | you may be able to detach them when it's time |
| | | | to take decorations down and store them for |
| 1. Centerpieces for the festive table: do you have | | | | re-use next season. |
| a collection of small wicker baskets in your | | | | Christmas wreaths, door garlands and swags are |
| kitchen or garage? You can use one of these to | | | | delightful embellishments to complement your tree |
| form the base of a table decoration for a special | | | | and extend the evergreen theme of winter to |
| holiday lunch or dinner. Use some floral foam or | | | | other parts of your home, inside and out. With a |
| oasis to anchor pieces of fir, holly or pine -- then | | | | little imagination and creativity, you can personalize |
| add accents to complement the design: berries, | | | | store-bought items to give them a unique look |
| cones, even tree ornaments. | | | | and charm. |
| 2. Decorate a doorway or arch with a garland of | | | | |