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Holiday Decorating Tips

Mother and daughter decorating the Christmas tree
  • Written on November 30, 2021 By Stanley Martin

‘Tis the season to deck the halls and fill your home with holiday cheer! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year, and even if you’re not hosting a grand party, your home can still burst with Christmas spirit. Whether you’re unpacking ornaments and decorations from year’s past or hitting the stores for new pieces, we have a few helpful tips to spread the magic of the season throughout your entire home.

  1. Welcome the scents of the season: The smell of fresh pine, the hint of sugar cookies and the aroma of toasted marshmallows; The smells of the season transport your imagination to the most enchanting memories of the holidays. As you hang your decorations and trim the tree, don’t forget to bring in these nostalgic scents to complete your décor. Now, if you don’t have time to bake fresh cookies every day to fill the kitchen with that inviting aroma, then here are a few simple options -- Oh, and if you are baking cookies on the daily, we’re on our way now! Anyway, try whipping up some stovetop potpourri, make old fashioned holiday garland, create scented cinnamon ornaments, or make a fresh sage wreath. And remember, you can never go wrong with a delicious smelling candle.
  2. Don’t stop at the living room: Sure, you want your main gathering space to house your tree and hold your favorite holiday decorations, but the details go beyond the main room. Bring the ‘fa-la-la-la-la’ to every room! Add a festive touch to the bathrooms with pine scented hand soap, themed hand towels, cheerful nightlights and a warm Christmas candle. Add a few red and green throw pillows to the guest bed, tie some sparkly bows on your kitchen bar stools or hang stockings in your formal living area. Why not touch every room with a little magic?
  3. Include the family: Decorating for the holidays doesn’t have to be a chore. Make it a family-friendly activity! Let your kids decorate their rooms with small Christmas trees and handmade ornaments or battery powered menorahs. Start a new tradition with an evening of holiday movies, hot cocoa and decorating. Some of the best holiday memories are made in the ho-ho-home!
  4. Try a few decorating hacks. Even if you’ve been warming a home for the holidays for years, a few hacks can go a long way. Are you sick of stepping on sharp ornament hooks? Try using plastic coated paper clips to hang your ornaments from the tree. Another tip to remember is to test your lights before stringing them all around the house or tree. You can even purchase a light repair tool to fix those pesky bulbs that won’t shine. Another trick? Zip ties! Instead of sticking, tying, wrapping or nailing, just zip tie the garland to the staircase banister and snip it off in the new year.
  5. Try a color combination. If you get easily overwhelmed with the mix of red, green, silver, gold, pink, and blue, pick a color scheme, and stick to it. Maybe you can focus on the colors that are already weaved throughout your home. For example, if you have blues and greys in the house, select silver, royal blue and white for your holiday color palette. This themed décor gives an elegant look that screams “magazine photo!” Whatever colors you choose, you can add to your collection each year to create an entire matching winter wonderland.

We hope these holiday decorating tips help as you fill your home with cheer. Just remember, there’s no such thing as too much holiday spirit in your house. The more the merrier! Our team at Stanley Martin Homes takes pride in creating homes that are perfect for family-memory making. It’s one of our specialties!