Find the middle ground when it comes to decorating and allow yourself to get swooped up in the festive holiday spirit. But think of your home and outdoor surroundings like you would your wardrobe – fun and elegant – not gaudy and tacky.

• Wreaths – make sure it has more than just the greenery. Add a ribbon, a handful of candy canes tied together, or small sprigs of red berries.


• Lights – choose either multi-colored or white but skip the ones that flicker on and off.

Indoor decorations

Opt for lush plants, garlands and candles rather than stuffed Santas on the mantle.

• Set up a train that moves around the tree with its track bordering the tree skirt.


• Stick to a simple color scheme with no more than three different colors, rather than a mish-mosh of multi-colored stuff.


• Go with a Winter Wonderland theme using white, blue and silver accented ornaments, white lights and white paper snowflake cutouts. Or embrace the classic red and gold theme with green boughs of garland hanging from the mantle. Wrap another garland around the stair banister and add red small satin bows.

Table decorations

I absolutely love the idea of using deep plum as the primary holiday color for my dining tablecloth and adding bits of nature as a décor element.

• Place a simple tree branch in a tall vase and tie small pine cones to its branches with a few sprigs of evergreens. Add some small clear ornaments into the vase for a magical, whimsical feel. Keep the rest simple with a row of tea light candles lined across the table.


• For beautiful décor that requires minimal effort, fill a hurricane vase with round, solid colored ball ornaments.

HINT: Take a break from poinsettias by placing Paper Whites or blooming Amaryllis flowers into the centerpiece of your kitchen and/or dining room table.