Dressing Your Home for the Holidays

By Lori Fickling

The holiday season is upon us, and if the thought of dragging out the decorations and getting them up at least a few days before it’s time to take them down again strikes fear in your heart, fret not.

Here are a few easy tips to give your home the warmth and feel of the season without shutting down your home for a week or spending a week’s salary:

1. Set aside one evening to gather your holiday decorations and in one place. Sort through them and place the ones that have seen better days in a separate box, or discard them altogether. (Don’t feel obligated to use every single item just because you always have.)
2. Add one or two new items each year to keep your collection fresh, interesting, and a good mix of old and new. You will be surprised how great those new napkins from the local import store will look with your Spode!
3. Allow one evening to put out the most special objects, and if time allows, add the rest to fill in. Involving the whole family can be fun, and a great way to find a new place for an old decoration.
4. Clean holiday entertaining items, such and tablecloths, special dinnerware, etc., and gather in one easy-access area so you will be ready for impromptu gatherings of friends and family.
5. Whether decorating the tree is a family event or something you prefer to do alone, cut yourself a little slack and don’t try for perfection. Remember, it’s the spirit of the season that matters.

If that still seems a bit overwhelming, or if your decorations have never been accused of being a “collection,” you can still add a holiday look with little effort or expense.

A simple basket filled with pinecones or fresh fruit in the colors of the season is enough to add a little pizzazz to any room. A few sprigs of greenery and a string of lights will make your mantel look like you worked on it for hours. And always bring out the candles for added ambience – they add instant warmth to any room.

If even the simplest solutions still make you cringe, you can always hire it done. Companies like The Design Company DFW can come to your home while you’re at work or away one evening and turn your décor into holiday magic.

And if you’re not willing to risk your life hanging lights at the peak of your roof, call an off-duty firefighter to do it for you. Find resources at www.offdutyfighters.net.

Whether you go all out or just keep it simple, don’t let the holidays pass before you get motivated to get in the spirit of the season!

Lori Fickling is the owner of The Design Company DFW, an interior design firm specializing in property staging, interior design, and redesign. Her firm is also available for specialty decorating for the holiday season. For more information, email her at lori@designcompanydfw.com.

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