Decorating for Christmas
digg it!
Facebook
del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit
BY KATHRYN CATES MOORE/Lincoln Journal Star
Twenty years worth of Santas, collected in all sizes and shapes, stood waiting in their boxes and plastic tubs. In years past, they had perched on the mantel of this ranch-style home during the holiday season.
But in the past year, there had been some changes. The house went through a complete remodel. And now the redesigned mantel had a flat-screen television over it.
The Santas would have to find a new holiday spot.
It’s that time of year — time to haul out the holiday stuff and deck the halls.
Don’t be afraid to change up your decor from year to year. The tree doesn’t always have to go in the same spot, and the giant Santa doesn’t have to stand by the front door.
Here are some ideas from Carol Campbell of Campbell’s Nurseries to make the decorating go smoothly.
1. Get everything out ahead of decorating day to get an overview of what you have, what you want to buy and what may need to be tossed or donated.
2. When storing your artificial tree, know that it is best to keep it upright if possible and covered with a plastic bag to protect the lights.
3. If your tree decorations seem blah, try adding several ornaments in a bright color to update it.
4. Start decorating your tree either at the top or bottom, working up or down. Perch small ornaments on the tips of branches and nestle large balls toward the trunk, between branches, so they give color to the inside of the tree.
5. Sparkly sprays should be slipped between branches after the ornaments are on the tree.
6. Garlands do not need to be wrapped around the tree. Let them hang more naturally from the branches.
7. If the tree is too short for the space, stand it on a box. Wrap the base in yards of sparkly fabric to conceal the base/box.
8. When putting decorations around the house, don’t try to cover every surface with holiday items. Select a few for focal points.
9. If you put decorations on shelves, intersperse year-round items and books with holiday decor.
10. If your collections are becoming overwhelming, break them up into smaller groups. Yes, Virginia, there can be TOO many Santas.
— Kathryn Cates Moore
Decorating for the holidays would be different this year for Susan and John Hoppe. There were new places and new spaces to fill in their redone ranch.
Susan Hoppe allowed us to watch the transformation as it took place, from zero to Christmas. Her friend, Carol Campbell, of Campbell’s Nurseries, was called in to help reconfigure the couple’s boxed decorations and help them decide what new items to add to the mix — or not to use at all.
The 8-foot artificial tree came out of storage with a squashed top and bent branches. Two years ago, the tree had a burgundy and gold color theme, and the Hoppes updated by adding large orange ornaments to the mix.
“That really made the colors pop,” Campbell said.
A second skinny tree, which stood in the dining room corner, needed replacing this year. Hoppe uses that tree to showcase all of the sentimental ornaments, which are family favorites.
This year, a large coffee table is a focal point in the great room. Hoppe purchased a soft sculpture Nativity set to go there. The touchable group is aimed toward her grandchildren, she said. “I can just see them arranging and rearranging this.”
Three glass hurricanes with large candles will share the space with the Nativity set. The bases of the hurricanes are filled with ornaments and garland. When the holidays are over, other seasonal items can fill the bases, Campbell said.
Another focal point is a bumped out window over the kitchen sink. That area is filled with two cyclamen plants and a miniature lemon cypress tree. All are plopped into Hoppe’s waiting terra cotta pots, which were spray-painted gold.
Hoppe saved the best for last. In one box, separately wrapped in clear plastic, are Christmas stockings that are going up for the first time.
Her inspiration was needlepointed stockings she stitched for her adult sons when they were young. Joining those this year are stockings for their wives and children, to be spaced out across the mantel.
The stockings were designed by a needlepoint store to match the style of the originals, and each one was customized for the individual. Hoppe is quick to point out she did not stitch all of them and the project had been in the works for a long time. Two of the newest stockings for the newest babies are en route, she said.
Hooks are waiting, as they stretch from one end of the mantel to the other, telling their own story of the entire family.
And what about those Santas?
Campbell scatters them all around the house — a few in the entry area, some more on the edge of the mantel and still more behind the sofa.
Sometimes, she explains, collections show off better when they are divided into smaller groups.
“It’s not so overwhelming,” she said.
This year, cleaner lines and simpler holiday decorations are trendy, Campbell said.
Three hours from start to finish — the decorating is complete.
Reach Kathryn Cates Moore at 473-7214 or kmoore@journalstar.com.
Post Your Comment
Standards and RulesYour posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.