Downtown Lodi Live, November 2007

Decorating your home for the holidays

Decorating our homes for the holidays is a family and cultural tradition. With each holiday season, we are creating memories.

Your holiday memories may be stimulated by an aroma of pine, cedar, sage, or cinnamon. It could be the smell of freshly baked cookies, or the sound of your favorite holiday tune. My earliest memories were of my father and me going out in the countryside and choosing just the right Christmas tree. Then my father would cut it down and excitedly we'd take it home. The tedious job of decorating began after the tree was secured in a tree stand. I say the decorating job was tedious because I couldn't wait to decorate, but my family insisted the lights were placed just so and each tinsel/ icicle had to be put on one by one. (wonder why I'm a perfectionist and pay attention to detail?) A Christmas tree has been a tradition in decorating my home forever.

How we decorate our homes has changed but the traditions are still there. Fewer live trees are used now and therefore, fewer families are still putting on lights. Depending on the size of one's space, some choose only to have a table top tree, while others may have several trees. Decorating can be "instant decorating" (purchase a completely decorated piece) or elaborate inside and out. Abundant décor is available for both interior and exterior.

Planning is essential for an enjoyable stress free holiday. First look at your floor plan and decide if the space allows for any or five trees and what the size of the tree should be. Decide if you want a live or artificial tree. Do you want to display Christmas throughout the home and outside? For collectors, villages, carolers, fairies, and Santas can be tucked in or displayed for you and your visitors to discover on mantles, shelves, cabinets, and tables. Once these decisions have been made, you need to decide on a theme. Your theme could be ornaments you have collected over the years. Perhaps, if you do multiple trees, you may have numerous themes. Themes can be color coordinated with your décor, special interests, traditional, or contemporary. Have fun and use your imagination. Your decorations reflect you. This year at Frames and Fine Things we have a Peacock, Asian, Rustic Elegance, Wine, Music, Just Red, Berry Berry, Country Traditional, Glistening Glory, Wintergreen, Floral, and Mark Roberts trees and vignettes.

Once you have reached a decision on a theme, you will need to do an inventory to access your product. After your inventory is complete, make a shopping list for any additional ribbon, ornaments, picks, or other product needed. Your garland, wreaths, and centerpieces should coordinate with your theme or themes. When planning your décor, don't forget about your tabletop. Festive table linens, place card holders, centerpieces, candles, as well as dishes all add to your holiday ambiance.

When decorating a tree, start with the lights.. Next I add ribbon; new ribbon each year can give a new fresh look for your tree, garland, and wreaths. The ribbon can be bows, streamers, or garland tucked into your tree and other greenery. Next I add pickseither floral, natural, or glittery. Stand back and look to make certain you have uniformly spread the product around the tree. Uneven multiples of three, five, seven, nine, etc. work best. I start decorating at the top of the tree and work toward the bottom of the tree. I like larger bulbs on the bottom of the tree, followed by medium. Lastly, I stand on a ladder and drop " snow" onto the tree. It's beautiful but you don't have to shovel it. It can remind me of Eastern Christmases without the work. Remember, there are no rules. It is your home and the décor should reflect you and your family.

Lastly dim the lights, put on your favorite tune, sip a glass of wine, and enjoy your creation.