Quick and Easy Holiday Decorating

You're tired. You've worked hard all week. Suddenly,by holiday.
the kids shout gleefully... "let's decorate!" ... in anticipation
of the coming holiday. The "let's not" is miraculously not- Make or buy some snacks or treats to enjoy
permitted to escape your lips. Instead you take a deeptogether at the completion of your decorating time.
breath while you wonder about how this decorating
could become an easier and more fun-filled activity.Here are some favorite quick and easy decorating
areas and tips:
Well, it can be!
1. The front door- Have a welcome sign that is theme
- First, insist on family members pitching in to help andoriented and you can easily change by season or by
treat this like a family project. This should not just restholiday. You can either hang up a completely new
on your shoulders to accomplish and it will be muchthemed sign, or there are some that come with
more fun if you all are making changes and creatinginterchangeable pieces you swap in and out
memories together.representing different holidays or themes.
- Next, pick a day and time you'll all devote no more2. The dining room table or a table that is centrally
than one to two hours for a quick holiday makeover atlocated but not used that often- Change the table
your home (for a major decorating holiday schedulerunner or the tablecloth to a holiday themed one. Then
two or three longer blocks of time). It helps if you canshowcase your holiday decorations by arranging a
set the decorating date about one to two weeks fromcombination of your kid's holiday creations and your
now, if time still allows for that. This gives you time toown figurines or other holiday decor on the table.
gather items together for the project.
3. The mantel or entertainment center- Add a string of
- Ask the kids to create one or two new arts andlights and if you wish, you can also vary the string of
crafts decorations that are suitable to the holiday tolights by color best suited for the coming holiday
have ready for the decorating day. Or, ask them totheme. Wall hangings can be changed around this area
select ones from among any they may already havetemporarily as well. Holiday accessories, flags, figurines,
on hand, for instance, from school projects.etc. are easy to rotate in and to view on or around this
area of your home.
- Decide on 3 to 4 areas you will focus on decorating
this year. Here are some choices: the front door, the4. Special areas by kid's choice- Smaller children can
front yard, the entry hallway, the kitchen table, thehelp by adding little decorations to windows and glass
dining room table, the living room, the patio, thedoors. They enjoy taping up their creations or they can
bathroom, the bedroom. There are other areas youeasily put up static cling decorations. Other areas small
could consider as well. But if you want quick and dirty,children enjoy decorating include outdoors, the dog
then focus in on only 3 to 4 of the areas forhouse and their own rooms. Allow them to handle this
decorating this year. Anyway, you can select otheraspect of decorating while you take pleasure in their
areas next year for a change.big smiles and hugs!
- Keep holiday decorations in separate bags, boxes orFinally, make your decorating time even more
baskets in the same closet or in the attic so they'll beenjoyable by having holiday background music or other
easy for everyone to retrieve when they are neededfavorite tunes playing in the background. Then, when
next.you're done decorating, finish up with a big family hug
and munching on tasty snack treats together!
- Buy items you really love when you see them
advertised or they may not be available when youAuthor Resource Box:
later. It's common for seasonal merchandise to change
from year to year and also they are not stockedLiz Hekimian-Williams is founder of Giftsprings.com, a
year-round typically. So, your item may no longer begifts and home decor online shop that features
available if you wait too long to decide you want it.personalized gifts, custom engraved stones, holiday
Then stash your figurines, statues, wall hangings, anddecor and special occasion gifts.
other holiday decorations in your bags or boxes, sorted