Albuquerque Journal

simple ways to dress up home during holidays

TIPS TO BRING THE HOLIDAYS INTO YOUR HOME

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Add holiday cheer to your home

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS RIFE WITH TRADITIONS THAT FOCUS ON FUN AND FAMILY. One such testament to the festive spirit of the holiday season is the many homes and businesses decorated with the lights and colors that have become synonymous with the season.

Decorating for the holiday season can be time-consuming. While decking the halls may not consume as much time as holiday shopping and wrapping presents, according to data from a 2013 American Time Use Survey, interior and exterior decorating for the holidays may consume anywhere from 2.5 to 3 hours per session.

Holiday decorating includes things as simple as setting up a menorah or as complex as stringing lights on the exterior of a home. Though elaborate displays can take hours to erect, time-crunched holiday celebrants can still create festive, welcoming displays.

HANG HOLIDAY WREATHS

Holiday enthusiast­s without much time to decorate can invest in a couple of holiday wreaths, which can be dressed up as much or as little as celebrants prefer. If you do not have the time to string lights on the house, wrap them around wreaths hung in windows or hang the wreaths on a home’s main entrance. Celebrants who want to go a less traditiona­l route can hang wreaths made of holly, citrus fruits, ribbons, or any other greenery instead of the more customary evergreen wreaths.

DECORATE WITH ORNAMENTS

Ornaments are not exclusive to Christmas trees. Fill a vase or bowl with metallic ornaments and place it in a prominent location, such as a busy hallway or the foyer of your home. Hang ornaments on clear filament from the mantle or within the main window of the house, where they can reflect tree lights and add sparkle.

BRING IN MORE GREENERY

Drape evergreen boughs on staircase handrailin­gs or on the mantle, or use greenery to frame doorways. The scent will be inviting and things instantly will look more festive.

USE THROWS AND DECORATIVE PILLOWS

Change the look of a room with holiday-colored decor if you do not want to clutter the space with knickknack­s. A red and green blanket draped over the sofa can give off a comforting holiday vibe.

FOCUS ON THE FRONT DOOR AND ENTRYWAY

Celebrants who do not have the time to decorate their entire homes can create a warm, inviting space by decorating their front doors and entryways. Place greenery, bows, tinsel, lights, and winter-inspired accessorie­s by the front door so friends and family visiting for the season catch the holiday spirit the moment they walk through the door.

PLACE LED CANDLES IN WINDOWS

Rather than contending with twinkle lights and electric cords, homeowners can employ battery-operated faux candles to create a homey appeal in windows and hallways throughout their homes. Simplify holiday decorating with some easy tips to make houses cozy and festive.

 ??  ?? Celebrants who do not have the time to decorate their entire homes can create a warm, inviting space by decorating their front doors and entryways.
Celebrants who do not have the time to decorate their entire homes can create a warm, inviting space by decorating their front doors and entryways.

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