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Decorating for Christmas is a time of year we all look forward to but also dread a tiny bit because of the work involved. How you decorate and how much is dependent on two things – personal preference and budget. I tend to go a bit overboard, occupational hazard. It is also a result of things I have accumulated for over two decades. Each year I add something else to the collection, but decorating for Christmas does not need to be expensive or laborious. There are many quick and easy things you can do to add Christmas cheer to your home.

Garlands are a very easy addition and I’m not talking about just ones of evergreen and holly. I drape them around chandeliers and over artwork, hang them around doorways, beaded ones hang on the tree or from curtain rods, strings of frosted berries get coiled in a glass bowl like candy and so on.

Candle rings also work very well for a quick dose of holiday trim. Not just for candlesticks, they can decorate the arms of a chandelier or nest Christmas figurines in them. I use them to stand up tree topper finials and larger ones I hang on the walls.

Large containers of ornaments can be purchased from big box stores at a reasonable price. I pile them inside vases, punch bowls and baskets and sit them all around the house. These too can be hung from chandeliers or in the window. There are even attractive shatterproof versions if you are concerned about children or pets knocking into things.

Now all of these items can be stored and used year after year, but nothing beats the look and smell of fresh evergreens in the house. For those who get a live tree every year, it’s worth purchasing one a foot or two taller than you need and trimming the extra off to use around the house. It fills my window boxes and porch containers as well as getting tucked into baskets of ornaments or pine cones and arrangements throughout my home.

And I do mean throughout the entire house. Many people only decorate the “public” rooms of their home, but I strongly encourage you to spread the holiday spirit into the bedrooms and even the bathroom. It doesn’t have to be a lot. A simple table top tree or a garland intertwined a headboard will do the trick.

Another tip I want to share with you are some of the “tools” I keep in my bag of tricks that help me deck the halls. They are floral wire, which is indispensable for attaching the beaded garland to hang where I want it on the tree. Fishing line magically suspends lightweight objects. Then there is 3M’s removable adhesive hooks to place things temporarily for the season so you don’t have nail holes to patch later and finally suction cup hooks that allow you to decorate glass doors and windows. I consider all of these items essential for not only holiday decorating, but year round as well.

I hope you enjoy the video tour of my home which shows some of my Christmas decorating techniques and that they inspire you this holiday season. I have included the list and meanings for the 12 specific ornaments of the Bride’s Tree which is a German tradition for newly married couples symbolizing the happiness of their life together.

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

12 Bride’s Tree Ornaments:
1. Angel – God’s guidance
2. Rabbit – hope
3. House – shelter & protection
4. Teapot – hospitality
5. Bird – joy & happiness
6. Rose – affection
7. Fruit Basket – generosity & plenty
8. Fish – Christ’s blessing
9. Pine Cone – fruitfulness
10. Santa – unselfishness & goodwill
11. Flower Basket – good wishes
12. Heart – true love