In this article, I explain how to use a variety of unique, low-cost items to achieve the holiday style you crave.
Whether it's the splendor of Victorian elegance,
the frisky, fun modernism of the retro look, or the warm, homey comfort of folk-art, choosing the right Christmas tree decorations will help you get the look you love.
To create a Victorian atmosphere with your trimmings, think rich and luxurious. Deep colors and fancy trimmings are the order of the day. Lace, pearls, beads and bows - don't hold back, because it's very hard to go over-the-top with a Victorian look. Choose a few colors for your theme and stick to them, and from there, the sky's the limit.
Don't forget, rich and luxurious doesn't have to mean expensive. There are easy and frugal ways to achieve the Victorian look. One way to make your own Victorian-style ornaments is to invest in a few bunches of silk flowers in colors that match your theme. Remove the flowers from their plastic stems, attach wire hangers, and viola! You have a lovely set of ornaments which perfectly compliment a Victorian theme. Make them even more elegant by tying on some pretty ribbons.
Another way to make quick and easy Victorian-themed Christmas tree decorations is to buy a few yards of pearl trim, available at craft stores and many discount stores. Simply cut the trim into pieces a few inches long - no need to be exact - and attach a wire hanger to the top. Hang them among your other Christmas tree decor - they look like lovely pearl icicles, rich and luxurious.
If you want to spark up your holidays with a fun, festive, retro look this holiday season, choose decorations with clean lines and bold shapes. No fussiness, no frilliness - just pure, streamlined fun. Think jazz, think Jetsons, think go cat, go!
An easy way to get retro-riffic with your Christmas decorating is to opt for novelty lights. Most large discount stores now sell modern versions of retro favorites like bubble lights, figural or shaped lights, and big-bulbed lights at reasonable prices. These lights bring a light-hearted ambiance to your tree, and are the perfect backdrop for other retro-style Christmas ornaments.
For the ultimate retro look, consider hanging your Christmas tree decorations from an all-silver or all-white tree. These artificial trees first became commercially popular in the early 60?s, and their especially space-age look makes the ideal showcase for your retro Christmas tree decorations. They're funky and fun, and sure to give your home a cheerfully retro ambiance for the holidays.
If you're in the mood for warm, cozy, folk-art inspired Christmas tree decorations, think hand-made. Even if you purchase the decorations, as long as they look hand-made, you're set. Think natural fabrics, simple accents, and rustic carved wood.
Folk art-style Christmas tree decorations are some of the easiest and most fun to make yourself. For instance, you can whip up a batch of Christmas tree decoration craft dough, roll it out and cut it into festive shapes with your favorite Christmas cookie cutters, and bake the shapes and paint them to your liking. These Christmas tree decorations have a lovely, warm, folk-art look, and are a blast for the whole family to make.
You can also easily convert inexpensive satin balls into folk-art Christmas tree decorations with a few yards of fabric and some complimentary ribbon. Choose a natural fabric in a color that goes with your decorating scheme, and cut it into squares big enough to encompass the balls. Wrap the fabric around the balls like little packages, and tie it in place with some complimentary ribbon. You now have a set of whimsical, folk art-inspired Christmas tree decorations.
