Home for the Holidays

As today begins the first day of December, along with it comes the holiday madness.  Many people are gearing up for out of town guests, holiday dinners, and gift exchanging with family and friends.   It is truly the most wonderful time of the year.  Everyone is happy and joyous and no matter how tough times are, the holidays are where everyone comes together as one and celebrates life and family. 

Perhaps you are getting ready to host a holiday dinner at your home and are preparing for guests to visit.  Whether it is family, friends or co-workers, getting your house ready for such an event can be both stressful and difficult, especially with all of the other activities that come with the holidays.  But there is no need to worry, as there are many different ways to make your home feel magical this December.  

Below are some quick tips on how you can get your home ready for the holidays!

• Decorate your dining room table.  There is nothing that is more inviting than a vibrant and warm dining room table with gorgeous table linens, napkins, candle holders and other decor.  All that is missing is the delicious home cooked holiday meal!  Try dressing up the dining room table as much as possible.  This is the time to use bold colors that are reminiscent of the holidays such as rich reds, sparkling metallics and deep greens.  Try a table runner or a plate charger to jazz up your dinnerware.

•  Subtle Accents.  As much as everyone enjoys decorating for the holidays, at times, people tend to over-do it.  The best way to decorate without stressing yourself out is to use subtle accent pieces.  Why?  First and for most, it will make your life easier in the end and lastly, it will give your home a great deal of unique character as the common phrase is said to be true..."less is more".  Get a few cinnamon scented pine cones (found at craft stores) and fill a glass vase with them.  Perhaps you can even fill a centerpiece bowl with ornaments to make your home look festive.  The possibilities are infinite.

• Decorate Near Your Front and Back Doors.  Add pointsettias to your steps to make your home look festive for the holidays.  Find a new holiday doormat that works for the season.  A wreath for your door with complete the total look and can be done quite inexpensively.

 The best part of decorating is having the freedom to do how much or how little you desire and thinking outside of the box.  Not finding the table cloth you are looking for?  Why not purchase your own fabric and make your own table linen?  There is so much versatility when it comes to this time of year as you can truly create your own special look to ensure that everyone feels at home for the holidays.