Decorating & Design
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Holiday decorating on a budget Holiday decorating on a budget
Holiday decorating on a budget ofTips 1 to 5 Whether you're planning the Christmas party of the century, or burning the Yule log on your own, holiday decorating does not have to break the bank-or your festive spirit.Your creativity can take you far. Try these tips and projects to make your home a holiday haven, while only spending a Dickens' halfpenny. 1 Christmas close-outsCheck local newspapers often for special ‘close-out' sales. Often lasting only two or three days, close-out sales are gold mines for everything from kitschy candles to bushels of tree lights, at prices lower than wholesale. 2 Festive foragingGather nature's ornaments, such as pinecones, acorns and balsam fir tips from the backyard or local park. Add a touch of silver or gold spray paint to your gatherings and arrange in a glass bowl surrounded by votive candles. 3 Christmas aromatherapyDelight houseguests with the warm scent of a mulling spice bag. Combine whole cloves, allspice, cinnamon sticks, and nutmeg with dried orange and lemon peel in a small piece of cheesecloth secured with elastic. Simmer the spice bag in a pot filled with 3-4 cups of water, and enjoy the aroma. 4 Merry memoriesGather a collection of favourite family and childhood Christmas amaryllis plant is a holiday favourite, and should be potted six weeks before Christmas to yield large, stunning blooms. Pot two or three of the festive ‘Peppermint Stick' variety, which are white, swirled with red.Image courtesy of Williams-Sonoma Tips 6 to 10 6 Christmas by candlelightNothing creates a festive ambiance like the glow of candles. For a dining or coffee table centrepiece, group three pillar candles of various heights in holiday colours on a ceramic or other non-flammable dish. Scatter several tea lights in small glass holders along a mantel, bookshelf or buffet table.7 Charlie Brown-styleAt half the price of big trees, one to three-foot high mini evergreen trees make adorable desktop or table decorations. Perfect for apartments and other small spaces, ‘Charlie Brown' mini trees are available at many garden centres and Christmas tree lots. 8 How fairy festive!Add a twinkly, romantic effect with white fairy lights. String lights along the length of a window curtain rod to brighten a room. Arrange a strand of lights along a mantelpiece, weaving lights among Christmas cards and ornaments. 9 Deck the halls and doors …Fallen evergreen boughs and small pieces of greenery can be collected outdoors or purchased cheaply in surplus from Christmas tree lots. Natural boughs add a traditional Christmas look and scent and they can adorn banisters, doors and mantels.10 Fragrant fireplaceDress up a bare hearth by decorating a small wood log with flammable, decorative, scented accents, including sheet moss, pinecones, cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. When burned, this Yule log will make a glowing fire with a festive fragrance. (Use non-toxic white glue to decorate log rather than hot glue.) See below for instructions.Scented Yule logWith this decorative, burnable Yule log, the open hearth or top of a woodstove will always look and smell festive:Supplies:• 1 sheet moss (from florist or craft store)• small wood log• white craft glue• pine cones• cinnamon sticks• whole cloves• pot pourri (Christmas blend)• essential oils (pine, cinnamon, balsam frankincense)Instructions:Glue the moss to the top of the log. Glue potpourri pine cones, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks onto the moss. Sprinkle a few drops of essential oils to the moss and spices. Add a festive bow to the top of the log (to be removed before burning). Image courtesy of Williams-Sonoma- Credit
- Trish Sinclair
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Bargain beauty: Decorating for less Bargain beauty: Decorating for less
Bargain beauty: Decorating for less ofDecor on a budget Savvy shopper Marny Pelletier is proof you don't need to spend a lot of money to get stylish results. By combining thrift shop finds and creativity, she has decorated the Kitchener, Ont., home she shares with husband Glenn and their children for less than some people spend on one room. Looking for ways to cut costs after she decided to stay home with daughters Lucy and Ellen, Marny turned to discount stores and yard sales to furnish her house. "I go to Value Village and local thrift shops a lot," she says. "I've also shopped at Habitat for Humanity ReStore." And she's a regular at country auctions. "Especially small ones the dealers won't be at – that's where to get real bargains." Marny sometimes discovers her treasures in roundabout ways. She found her dining room's 100-year-old table for $80 at an auction sale in a barn. Piled with toys the owner was selling, the table initially went unnoticed. She almost got it for a mere $5, until a dealer spotted it, too, and bid her up. The beauty beneathThe ability to see beauty hiding beneath a grimy exterior led Marny to her collection of wartime cigarette boxes, found covered in dirt in a garage sale bin. "I cleaned them up and placed them throughout my house to hold buttons and other things," she says. "They add character and texture. And every- one who sees them seems to have a story, like remembering how their grandfather had similar ones." Marny has even turned her love of the hunt into two home businesses. Seven years ago, she started Reinventing Interiors, helping people creatively repurpose items and refurbish flea market finds. For Throwbacks, the pillow company she runs with a friend, Marny seeks out vintage textiles and buttons to fashion into unique cushions like those on her sofa, one of which she made from an old chenille coverlet. What started out as a necessity has become a happy way of life. "I've often wondered, if I had a lot of disposable income, what would I really change?" Marny says. "I might make some fun architectural alterations, but I don't think I would change the major pieces because they have a history – there's a story behind them." Tips for treasure hunters It's yard sale season! Get the most out of it with advice from Jo-Anne Lauzer, publisher-editor of the B.C.-based website secondhandsavvy.com.Bring along• A measuring tape, blanket to wrap purchases, screw- driver. • Small bills and coins – most sellers won't have much change. • Lists of the items and sizes you need. • Pen and paper so you can leave your name and number. If something is beyond your budget, the owners might be willing to call and make a deal if it's not sold by end of day. Garage sale etiquette• If the ad says no early birds, don't show up an hour early. • Always check if prices are negotiable before haggling. It's best not to negotiate on items under a dollar. • Make sure items work and all the pieces are intact before you buy. • Avoid making negative comments while browsing. People get attached to the strangest things and feelings can be hurt. • A friendly smile and hello goes a long way – it is a social outing after all.- Credit
- Tracey Williams
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Decorating on a budget: Cheap chic Decorating on a budget: Cheap chic
Decorating on a budget: Cheap chic ofTips 1-5 Decorating is an act of passion, not just pulling out your wallet -- so don't worry if your budget's a little tight. Margot Austin, Senior Design Editor at Style at Home gives her tips for decorating on the cheap. You'll love the results.1 Train your eye: Know what great high-end design pieces look like so that you can have them in mind while hunting at discount or big box stores, flea markets or thrift shops. 2 Be patient: Wait for floor sample sales (usually July and/or January) to get good deals and don't feel like you have to race to finish your space. You want to find the right thing at the right price, not just anything at the right price. 3 Paint a piece of furniture (or a few) glossy black. This works on junk shop finds or new pieces with cheesy finishes. 4 Spend some money: All on-the-cheap rooms just look cheap, not chic. Every room needs a few splurges - special pieces that announce their quality. Decide what “splurge” means to you and do it! 5 Just say no to boring mass produced “art”. Instead, get creative with large collages made from wrapping paper, wallpaper scraps or maps. Paint a large canvas with leftover paints. Pop kids art into off-the-shelf frames with mattes. Hang a beautifully patterned fabric from wooden dowels. Tips 6-10 6 Go big with accessories. Many tiny items make a place look cluttered and cheapy. Instead opt for overscale accessories like standing floor vases, plump floor cushions, pillar candles rather than tea-lights. 7 Use texture: Combine shiny, matte, soft and rough natural textures to add richness to a space. Sparkle always adds a dash of glamour. 8 Don't scrimp on the size of your area rug. Many nice rooms are ruined by the use of a postage-stamp sized rug. Can't find one big enough and don't want to spend the earth: go to a broadloom store and order a piece to be cut and bound (choose a sisal look-a-like in wool or sythetic fibre). 9 Do what I did - decorate with black and white. Just like with fashion, these colours (or non-colours) never look tired and combined can result in dramatic spaces that look like their total price tag was much higher that the actual cost. 10 Buy gutsy lamps. Lighting is often an after-thought when decorating on a budget but spindly, too-small lamps are a common faux-pas. Instead, layer your lighting (overhead, task, ambient), switch bulbs to halogen or natural daylight bulbs and buy lamps that have a sculptural appeal.- Credit
- Margot Austin
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Colin & Justin: When to scrimp, when to save Colin & Justin: When to scrimp, when to save
Colin & Justin: When to scrimp, when to save of6 dos and don'ts of scrimping and saving Our motto It's not how much you spend but how you spend it that makes all the difference. With that in mind, think carefully about your household costs and splash out in the right places. 1 DO work out the costs before tackling your redesign, and always stick to budgets. Know your limitations and choose accordingly. 2 DON'T turn a blind eye to the bigger items that you may not be changing (like sofas and beds). Work around them and choose complimentary accessories. Just because you like that amethyst-colour cushion doesn't mean it will look good on your gold velour sofa.3 DO measure twice, cut -- or buy -- once. You know it makes sense. Just try getting that seven-foot sofa up your stairs without first working out if it fits. If you need to, make a 3-D cardboard box template to make sure it will get up there. We do this all the time on TV projects, much to the amusement of our Canadian homeowners. Same goes for fabrics and any other design materials: measure twice before it's too late, or you'll end up having to buy more. Watch it, Edwina Scissorhands! 4 DON'T paper over existing wallpaper. Remove it and start fresh when it's time to change direction. If you keep papering over paper, you'll soon be living in a padded cell! 5 DO wash any shrinkable fabrics before cutting out your patterns for slipcovers. It's a no-brainer. Do it the other way around, and your gorgeous new homemade cover may not fit your trusted old comfy friend. Think pre-diet Oprah trying to fit into a small-Oprah dress. 6 DON'T use Band-Aid solutions. If cracks start to appear in your plasterwork, for example, you shouldn't simply patch them over and hope for the best. For all you know, there could be an underlying problem that needs immediate attention. Ignore it at your peril! 3 more dos and don't of scrimping and saving 7 DO spend time attending to regular maintenance; it will save money in the long run. Your home is your biggest investment, so look after it.Tackle simple jobs to keep problems from building up and becoming costly repairs. For instance, if you let the seals around your external doors become loose, the elements -- and moisture -- will soon take hold and, before you know it, you'll have rotted woodwork and damp-infested sills.8 DON'T wait until you're selling your home to have it surveyed and appraised. We recommend having experts carry out an inspection every few years. Surely it's better to know there's a problem so you can fix it before it gets out of hand, no? You have your car regularly checked, so why not your biggest investment? Hmm? Precisely! 9 DO allocate a few dollars for weatherstripping for your windows and doors; you'll save loads of money as much-needed heat stays inside your home rather than escaping to the street. Come on, keep your loved ones warm inside, not those pesky raccoons under your stoop! -
Decorating on a dime Decorating on a dime
Decorating on a dime ofFabric, lighting and windows How do you get a million-dollar look on a tight budget? We asked designers across the country for their best money-saving decorating tips. With a few simple strategies and a lot of creativity, you can take your home from drab to fab without spending a fortune. "The most effective way to enhance your surroundings is through lighting. Install dimmer switches wherever you can. Use lamps and avoid direct overhead downlighting. Since very little yardage is needed, use the more expensive fabrics and have cool lampshades made. Spend the extra money on decent light bulbs -- low voltage halogen bulbs without the pink cast. Directional downlights are more expensive than fixed ones -- so be particular in placement. Keep in mind that light can alter pattern, colour and intensity; it can serve to vary the function and mood, enhance certain features and diminish certain flaws." -- Susannah Walker, Susannah Walker Interiors, Vancouver"Spend your money on your window treatments. You can use a prefab rod and get your material, like silk, at a discount store. But window dressings are probably the most dramatic element in a room. That's where you get the impact." -- Eric McClelland, Fleur-de-lis Interior Design, Toronto"Change the fabric of the cushions on the sofa. If you can do your own sewing, slipcovering the sofa is another easy way to make a big change. You can also look around other rooms in your house and move the furniture from one room to another and break up matching pieces, for a more eclectic look." -- Betty Atkinson-Clark, Atkinson-Clark Design, Fredericton Seasonal touches and antique finds In the spring, it's lovely to get tulips, or a bunch of cut flowers from the supermarket. Use garden-cut flowers in the summer and take away throws and other accessories to make the room less crowded. In the fall, bring in leaves or hang a wreath, and in the winter add layers (cushions, throws, etc) and put in potted plants -- paper whites or narcissus add freshness to a space." -- Brenda Porter, Brenda Porter Interior Design, Calgary"Paint the room a dramatic colour -- a really warm dark brown, which is a very chic look. (Try Wainscot by Farrow & Ball). Buy a couple of nice pieces of furniture and spend the rest on a bottle of Champagne!" -- Scott Yetman, Scott Yetman Design, Montreal"Get rid of the clutter. Remove everything from the room. Place the articles that you really need (ie. seating, storage units, etc.), then add the accessories. Try to be a little more asymmetric in the room -- angle your furniture, don't balance the bookshelves on either side of your fireplace, put a large vase on one side and lots of books on the other to counterbalance. Use what you have and then buy that special accent piece you have had your eyes on." -- Marian Hoffos, Holliday-Scott Interior Design Studio, Saskatoon"Add fresh flowers -- all one kind, all one colour. And wash your windows! That will increase the amount of natural light in your space." -- Jeanette Hlinka, Jeanette Hlinka Design, Toronto"Take the time to see what's out there. I've been very lucky to find really old pieces at secondhand stores -- people don't know the value of them. Refinish them. Get a piece of marble, glass or granite cut down to size and put it on top of a dresser, for example. The piece you buy will become an original all over again." -- Carol Thomas, Carriage Way Interiors, Lake Echo, NS"Invest in some new accessories like pillows or a throw. They tend to give a new look without you having to spend a lot of money."-- Connie Hayward, Hayward Interiors Plus, St. John's"Use a large matte and a pre-made frame with a small piece of art or a picture you have found. It will look fantastic on a wall. Group such pieces for a big impact."-- Rob Everitt, Everitt Design Associates, Winnipeg- Credit
- Heather Camlot
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Decorating on a budget Decorating on a budget
Decorating on a budget ofBudget decorating Redecorating your home on a budget that won't allow for an interior decorator? If the annual rite of spring cleaning means giving your home a style boost this year, below are a few simple projects that put you in the decorator driver's seat while keeping bank balances in the black.Colour your worldPainting is a fast and economical way to give your walls, floors or ceilings a facelift. While price isn't the barometer for quality, don't be too thrifty when purchasing paint for kitchens and bathrooms. Look for durable paint made specifically for these rooms, which are mold and mildew-resistant. Keep in mind that natural and artificial sources of light will play a role in how your colour appears on the wall, as sunlight, incandescent, fluorescent, recessed or spot lighting can enhance or drastically distort the colour. Before choosing your shade, view your swatches under the light in the room you intend to paint, during the day and night.Let there be lightLighting is the most overlooked way of transforming a space - it can be as easy as moving a lamp. The right lighting is not only functional, but can act as a powerful mood setter. Adding dimmers to a ceiling light fixture or floor lamp, for example, allow you to create and control mood and light levels. Larger spaces can be divided into smaller, intimate nooks by focusing light in particular areas. This way, you avoid using physical barriers and the room remains one integrated space. Try combinations of lighting, including track or spot lighting, recessed lighting, wall sconces, floor lamps and pendant lamps. Mirror, mirror on the wallFeel like you can barely squeeze through that hallway? Use mirrors to trick the eye. Installing mirrors along those walls can make that narrow passageway feel like double its width. In small rooms, mirrors placed opposite windows, open doorways or interesting objects make the space feel larger by providing depth and brightness, or giving the impression of a neighbouring room. See what optical illusions you can create with large, framed or unframed mirrors, or by grouping smaller, framed mirrors on a wall. Budget creations Sitting prettyHiding kitchen back splash by painting designs on ceramic tiles. This can be a fun activity involving the whole family. Look for ceramic paints (solvent-based paint) in bright, opaque colours and paint brushes in wide and thin widths, at art supply or craft stores. Before you begin, make sure tiles are free of dust and grime. Then, picking a sequence of tiles or a random selection of tiles, you can paint shapes, patterns, letters, or objects such as animals, flowers or vegetables. Allow 24 hours for safe drying afterward.Have fun!- Credit
- Angela Garde
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Update your bathroom for under $100 Update your bathroom for under $100
Update your bathroom for under $100 ofBathroom renovations: Update your bathroom for under $100 From time to time, even the most elegant bathroom can use a facelift. But you don't always need to go whole hog and do major bathroom renovations; there are many ways to freshen it up for under $100. Here's a list of inexpensive spirit-lifters, from quick and cheerful impulse-buys to jobs that take little more than an afternoon (or two) of your own efforts to pay off.1 Paint it. Unless your bathroom is truly palatial, it only takes a quart or two to change the wall colour. If you already have paint equipment in the house, such as trays and brushes, this bathroom renovation transformation will be even cheaper. Use painter's tape and plastic drop cloths to tape off fixtures and floor.2 Buy new hand towels in a bright colour; nothing cheers up a bathroom faster and more easily. If you still have some cash left, throw in some matching facecloths and bath towels too, perhaps in a contrasting shade. Finish with a matching bathmat and it will look like you had a major bathroom renovation.3 Most shower curtains tend to get tattered after a while. Treat yourself to a new one and buy some pretty shower curtain rings - either plastic ones in a cheery colour or sleek chrome ones. Finish off with a tieback made with an oversized tassel.4 Change the faucet. Yes, that's right. Local building stores have many styles for under $100 and most are designed for easy DIY installation, using only basic tools, and it's great way to add to your minor bathroom renovations.5 Bed-and-bath stores are wonderful places for accessories of all kinds. Buy a toothbrush holder, soap dish and wastebasket in a slick style, such as stainless steel, bright retro plastic, or a pretty Victorian pattern. Wicker baskets and trays are great for displaying rolled-up towels or facecloths, toilet tissue rolls or tiny soaps - the classic hotel look.6 The drugstore is another great place to splurge on inexpensive decorating finds. Buy a set of toiletries in pretty bottles and jars and arrange them together on a shelf. Or stock up on loofahs, delicious-smelling soaps and other bath accessories for the edges of the tub.7 Spend an afternoon detailing your bathroom; even the most immaculately kept bath is vulnerable to hidden grime. Take an old toothbrush and scrub around faucets, whirlpool jets and insides of cabinets. Use grout cleaner to clean up tile grout. Finish with a really good, overall cleaning.8 Visit a poster store or IKEA and buy a grouping of inexpensive framed black-and-white prints, or have a photo store reprint some family photos in black and white and frame them yourself. It's an instant lift without major bathroom renovations. (If the backs are sealed, and they're not in direct contact with water, humidity is not generally a problem, but to be safe, avoid hanging valuable or irreplaceable pictures in the bathroom.)9 Update drawer handles and knobs. Nowadays, you can get everything from plastic starfish and other sea creatures to elegant old-fashioned porcelain knobs with reproduction transfer patterns. Or, if you like, splurge and get some really elegant ones from a design store; chances are you only need five or six at most, so why not treat yourself?- Credit
- Martha Uniacke Breen
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High-style, low-cost High-style, low-cost
High-style, low-cost ofHigh-style, low-cost There's no denying it – the new year is well on its way and it's not uncommon during this time to experience mid-winter decor fatigue. Your fantasies may run to whole rooms of elegant new furnishings, fabulous carpets and stunning window treatments – but your post-holiday budget puts it out of the question. Is there anything you can do to put a fresh face on the old place, without taking a part-time job to pay for it?According to Toronto decorator Margie Doyle-White, there are all kinds of ingenious ways to rev up your home without sending your credit card into overdrive. Margie will be hosting the new showDesigned To Sell debuting this fall on W Network. The show's premise? Margie will take homes for sale and redecorate them spectacularly, often leading to quicker sales and higher returns – while spending as little money as possible. Many of her budget-friendly makeover tips work just as well for a home you want to stay in, too. Here are a few of her favourites.Sometimes all that's wrong with a sofa is the fabric. Buy fabric from a discount fabric outlet and have a new slipcover made. If you're good with a sewing machine and a tape measure, you can even make it yourself; there are several books on the market that contain instructions on cutting and sewing slipcovers, such as The Reader's Digest Complete Book of Home Decorating. You can also buy ready-made slipcovers that require only tucking and tying.A large quilt or duvet cover sometimes makes a good slipcover; tie a length of decorative cord or ribbon around the base of the sofa to keep the fabric in place. Or drape a smaller-size cover artfully on the diagonal,over the back and seats. Have your sofa, chairs and rugs professionally cleaned; often that's all they need to look bright again. While you're at it, have the windows washed (or wash them yourself).Paint is one of the most economical ways to transform a room, and one of the easiest home projects to tackle yourself. Try one of the new washable flat paints for a truly elegant look.Create a family photo gallery: have the local photo store reprint a selection of your favourite family photos in black and white and frame them in inexpensive, identical frames with white mats.Frame cards, swatches of fabric, or squares of wallpaper in small, identical frames. A stylist's trick is to hang them in groups of three or five.Replace all of your lampshades.Shop at building centres and department stores for deals on area rugs and accessories. Bed linens and towels are often on sale this time of year.Two sheets sewn together on the sides and bottom make a great duvet cover, for a fraction of the cost of a store-bought one. Seam them together along the sides and bottom; if desired, add Velcro tape to close the bottom.Buy two lengths of fabric twice the height of your window; finish edges with a sewing machine or use iron-on hemming tape. Drape them over a curtain rod and tie back with ribbon.Make an instant Roman blind by finishing the edges of a piece of fabric cut to fit the top half of your window and attaching it at the top with Stickum picture-hangers.Get rid of the clutter – it's amazing what a difference it makes to a room to merely edit out excess tchotchkes and even furnishings.- Credit
- Martha Uniacke Breen
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Stretch your decorating dollars Stretch your decorating dollars
Stretch your decorating dollars ofStretch your decorating dollars Adding your sense of flair and style to your home can be an expensive endeavour. But sensible decisions will allow you to get more bang for your decorating buck. These do's and don'ts will help to get you on the right track.Do check out standard sizes of construction materials before designing custom built-ins. Working with common sizes saves time and money. Do go to factory outlets and manufacturers' warehouses for basics such as carpet and tile. Seconds or overruns are often sold at discounted prices. Do trade decorating services with a friend whose sewing skills equal your own painting skills. A fair barter is a rewarding exchange. Don't buy furniture or accessories that only work in one space. Moving pieces from room to room extends your enjoyment of them. Don't overlook economical favourites such as Venetian blinds to stretch decorating dollars. Their variety of finishes makes them appropriate for almost every room. Don't use solid wood when a veneer can do the job. Even such exotic or expensive woods as wenge, burled walnut, satinwood and rosewood are available in affordable veneer plywood or MDF sheets. Image courtesy of Crate & Barrel.- Credit
- Kimberley Seldon
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10 tips for seasonal style on a budget 10 tips for seasonal style on a budget
10 tips for seasonal style on a budget of1 to 5 Stylist, decorator, and TV personality Stephen Fermoyle is well-known for his knack at creating great interiors for next to no money. According to Stephen, dressing up your home for the holidays doesn't have to mean blowing the bank. He offers up 10 great ideas for seasonal decorating that are all big on creativity and style but small on expense.1 Avoid shopping at malls for holiday decor; many great seasonal materials can be found from low-cost -- even no-cost -- sources. Strings of lights, bows, ribbon, inexpensive satin or glass balls, and small pots and bowls can all be found at dollar, import, and discount stores; grocery stores also often supply inexpensive platters and vases. Scout your backyard or the local park for pine cones; garden shrubs such as yew, holly, and juniper are laden with berries right now, providing a great (and free) source for small sprigs. Even cut-off bottom boughs from your Chsitmas tree can be recycled for holiday arrangements.2 Keep in mind that for a truly lush, festive look, more is more -- but it's quantity, not cash, that counts. Fill every horizontal surface in your house with greenery and other seasonal displays. Hang bows on the bottoms of paintings; arrange candles, crystal, pinecones and garlands on your mantel; wrap the banister in greenery, strings of white lights, and pinecones; add more bows and greenery to your dining room chandelier.3 Wrap lots of tiny boxes (available at craft stores) with red tissue and small bows. String them along a piece of sturdy twine and hang on your mantel. Arrange little piles on tables as well.4 Fill small clay or white china bowls from a dollar store (or use plant saucers) with “wedding gourds,” small white gourds available at florist shops. Dust with red glitter and display on tables. 5 Fill two large glass or crystal vases or bowls to the brim with Christmas ornaments and display on your dining table. (If you don't already own any glass vases, florists and grocery stores are both inexpensive sources.) Image courtesy of Pottery Barn 6 to 10 6 Pull out your box of old family photos; frame them in inexpensive silver or wooden frames. Arrange evergreen boughs on a side table and tuck pine cones, ornaments and sprigs of berries through it, then arrange the framed photos on top: instant nostalgia. 7 Nothing puts you in the Christmas mood quicker than a lovely aroma. Fill small bowls with dried cranberries and spray them with Christmas scents. Even easier, invest in quantities of Christmas scented candles and put them in every room.8 Don't spend money on pre-decorated garlands and wreaths; buy plain ones (false or natural) and decorate them yourself, for a fraction of the cost. Wire or tuck in pinecones, dried fruit or magnolia leaves, and holly sprigs. For a more luxe look, spray-paint the decorations gold before attaching to the garland.9 Make your own wreaths. Bend two wire coat hangers into circles, wrap short lengths of greenery around one and a string of tiny white lights around the other, and wire together. Tuck sprigs of holly, berries and bows into the wreaths and hang them in all your front windows.10 Gift wrap your front door. Buy heavy-duty florist's foil in a holiday colour such as silver, gold, red or green; apply wide ribbon in a cross or diagonal across the front; finish with a giant bow. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn- Credit
- Martha Uniacke Breen
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Gift guide: We shopped till we dropped to find the best gifts for all the home lovers on your list; Going green: Make your home look freshly festive with do-it-yourself projects featuring lush greenery like moss, silver sage, myrtle and ferns; Decor... more -
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