Festive Decoration

Yes, inescapably it's that time of year again when all the old lights come out of the boxes and we spend half a day sprucing up the living room with a tree, tinsel, baubles - and if you're going for it, the other half of the day goes on the rest of the house. This can easily become a tedium, especially if you do more or less the same thing every year - so why not mix it up a little bit and bring the fun back into Christmas decorations?

One of the things you can do that many disregard these days is the traditional Christmas wreath. When people do use these, they're usually purchased and typical in the twisted branch and leaf approach. Why not have a bash at making one yourself - only breaking the norm? You can get perfectly aesthetic results from a circle made of wire adorned with tiny baubles made into a wreath shape, or even strands of pine bristles stuck all together. Just see what materials you have and let your creative juices flow!

Then it comes to the tree - does it have to be green, with the silver tinsel and gold baubles? Absolutely not! Come up with an idea and just go for it - why not a white tree with a candy cane theme, or a golden tree with nativity decorations? The options are limitless. And what about tinsel - does it have to be on the tree? Absolutely not! How about draping it from the ceiling and seeing what effects you can come up with?

All it needs is a break from routine and a little creativity and you'll escape the routine that too many of us associate with the 'necessary' decoration, and you'll have that little bit livelier Christmas!