By Kathy Wilson
The Holidays are here, and most of us are getting ready to deck the halls in one
way or another. Before you pull out the tinsel and tree, take a couple hours to
make some quick changes to update your rooms, and provide a great background for
your Christmas and holiday trimmings.
Think of decorating for the holidays as making a cake. Before you get to the
icing, you need to have a good foundation. Then you add the filling, and lastly
comes the decoration on top! Here are ideas for all three!
*If you haven't already, pick a focal point wall in your room. This can be the
wall you see as you enter, the wall the TV is on, or the wall that contains a
wonderful view! Now make that wall special, a place where a person's eyes are
drawn to. This gives your room importance and style. Try painting that one wall
a rich color such as butterscotch gold, deep sage, plum, steel blue, or barn
red. These are all seen as the neutrals because they are muted colors, and blend
well into your color schemes.
*Add more importance to your focal wall by placing a large piece of furniture
there, group artwork, or paint panels of coordinating colors to represent
paneled walls.
*Now use your large furniture pieces to create conversation areas in the room,
group some chairs around a fireplace, rearrange your couch and loveseat to face
each other, or try something on a diagonal to add style. You can use an online
furniture arrangement for free by going to
www.HGTV.com and clicking on the Room Planners.
*Now add your filling! Using your focal wall color, add throws and pillows, use
coordinating ribbon to tie up your curtains, or frame some pretty fabric with
your colors to fill that empty wall. Adding winter white this time of year will
perk up any color scheme!
*If you only have blinds at the window, now is the time to layer with curtains!
Nothing fancy, just simple drawback curtains from the discount shop or the
sewing matching, tied back with that matching ribbon, of course! Layer table
cloths and runners, and add placemats to your kitchen table.
*Ok, now that you've spent an afternoon or two making the room a coordinated
showpiece, time for the icing! You can find free ideas for Christmas Decor at
http://www.thebudgetdecorator.com/holiday_articles.html Let loose with your
holiday decorating, remember there is always a way to make what you don't have,
and fill your home with love for the season Śnow that you have a background to
be proud of! (And it only took an afternoon!)
Kathy Wilson is an author, columnist, and editor of The Budget Decorator. For
hundreds of free budget decorating and homemaking ideas, and to sign up for her
free newsletter, visit her at
http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com