The most wonderful time of the year is approaching and bringing with it the joy of decorating your home. The Christmas season is always fun when you have the entire family coming together. Decorating the house with your favourite festive items becomes almost necessary. This Christmas decoration buying guide will help you find the right type of decorations for your Christmas party or family get-together.
What does your Christmas look like?
Everyone has different ways of celebrating Christmas. But one of the basic requirements of every Christmas dinner or party is decoration. Before you go on to purchase any Christmas decorations, think about what you’re looking for. Whether you live in a house or an apartment is a big factor in the kind of decorations you will need.
Christmas decorations are not just limited to home dinners but are also for grand office parties. You might be going for a certain theme this Christmas and need very specific decorations. There is a lot to consider when choosing Christmas decorations. So, make a list of what you want and then browse for the items you need to purchase.
Christmas Tree Decoration
Decorating the Christmas tree is a tradition that most families participate in during Christmas. Knowing what type of decorations are right for the tree is important. You don’t want to buy Christmas tree decorations that are either too big or too small for the tree.
Getting the size right
You need to know the size of your tree before you purchase any decorations. So, the first step will always be to buy the tree. You need to be aware of the clearance between the top of the tree and your ceiling to leave enough space for the topper. If your topper is too big or heavy it can easily cause the tree to topple over.
Furthermore, the shape of the tree topper should also complement the shape of your tree. Putting a wider ornament on a narrow tree will not just look weird but might make it wobbly as well.
Ornaments
Always stick to basic ornaments unless you are following a specific theme. Even among ornaments, there is quite a selection for you to choose from. Globe ornaments, figurines, icicles, finials, snowflakes and sometimes heirlooms are the common ornaments most people use.
While these ornaments are mostly available in your traditional red, green and white colours, you can also find them in different varieties of colours. When it comes to specific themes, we would recommend keeping the tree decoration simple. Sticking to a simple colour scheme instead of loading the tree with too many figures or heirloom ornaments might not be the best way to go.
Don’t overload your tree
As mentioned above, adding too many ornaments to your tree can cause it to topple over. Try to buy ornaments according to the size and thickness of your tree. The thinner and smaller the tree is the lesser ornaments should be put. However, that does not mean that you need to stop at 40-50 ornaments. Usually, a Christmas tree of approximately 195 cm should be able to take about 100 ornaments at a time.
But the ornaments are not the only thing that goes on your tree. Lights along with ribbons and garlands are also a common addition to your Christmas tree. You need to find the right balance between these decorations.
Make it pretty
Simply adding decorations to your tree is not enough. Making the entire area around the tree neat and clean is what makes it look good. We highly recommend purchasing a tree stand and a skirt. A skirt is a piece of beautiful fabric that is laid under the Christmas tree. It is the perfect way to hide all those wires and can also be a backdrop for any presents laid under the tree.
Skirts are usually round and come in various sizes and colours. When selecting a skirt make sure that it is a few inches wider than the base of the tree which makes it more visible.
Christmas Lights
Lights are the best way to start when it comes to buying Christmas decorations. While lighting up the Christmas tree is the most crucial use of lights, you should not forget the rest of the house. There is a huge variety of lights you can buy to decorate the entire house for Christmas. For the Christmas Tree, you have quite a variety of LED lights depending on the look you’re going for –
- Multi-coloured LEDs for a colourful look.
- Candlelight LEDs give your tree a subtle candlelit look. Each individual bulb is shaped like the flame of a candle and the light is slightly dimmed.
- Colour + clear LEDs have a perfect balance.
- Fairy lights are usually the standard yellow colour and give the tree a very graceful look.
- Fibre optic lights are a great way to add some colourful movement to your decoration.
You can also purchase specially designed lights for the festive season. Different shapes, sizes and styles of lights can really amp up your Christmas decorations.
Artificial candles, multi-coloured LEDs and unique light instalments around the house can completely change the game of your Christmas decorations. Pre-lit garlands and wreaths are also easily available in the market and can immediately transform the look of your hallways or doors.
Mantlepiece and Hallway Decorations
There are several ways you can decorate your mantlepiece and hallway. When it comes to Christmas decorations, there is so much you can do. From garlands and wreaths to scented candles and pinecones, you have a lot to choose from. For long hallways, we would recommend getting pre-lit garlands or sparkly tinsel. Artificial candles are also a great way to decorate your hallways. They are usually battery-operated and are available in different styles and sizes as well.
Mantlepiece decorations include everything from Christmas stockings to snowglobes and plushies. You can go all-out with your mantlepiece decoration. Depending on how much space you have, you can purchase larger or smaller decoration pieces.
Christmas stockings
Most people would know about Christmas stockings. It is a great piece of decoration for mantlepieces and also a great way to include every member of your family in the celebration. You can buy the traditional stockings personalised ones for each family member.
Mini decoration items
These can range from paper to wood or ceramic. Ceramic figurines and mini Christmas trees are very popular items. These items are not too big and can easily fit in small spaces.
Christmas scents
A recent addition to Christmas decoration trends is scented candles, diffusers or oils. You can choose from a range of festive scents. So, along with the wonderful scent of the food you have been cooking for the family, you can add the scent of cinnamon, hazelnuts or pine to the mix.
Plants
Potted plants are a great way to make your place look greener. Christmas-themed potters and hanging potted plants can really brighten up any space. The best part about potted plants is that they can be placed anywhere in the house, from the mantlepiece to the dining table. A cute little Christmas-themed plant pot would be a great decor element.
Christmas Decor? Do It Yourself!
This is a great way to get everyone in the family involved in the decoration process. You and your family can get together to make paper decorations, snow globes, ornaments, garlands and so much more. There are several DIY kits and guides available online that can teach you how to make Christmas decorations on your own. Most of these projects don’t require a lot of effort and come with simple instructions on how to make beautiful Christmas decorations. Moreover, they are fun. It’s a great way for the entire family to hang out together. Anything made by you and your family will add a personal touch to the Christmas decorations. So, if you have the time, a little family DIY Christmas decoration session is sure to get you in the holiday spirit.