How to Create Classy Holiday Decorations

Tacky tinsel and garish garland need not clog up your home for the holidays. You can create classy holiday decorations that will wow your neighbors-and yourself. Classy holiday décor will surely bring on holiday cheer, plenty of good tidings and a soothing holiday spirit. Besides, your dog won't choke on the tinsel.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Keen eye
• Miscellaneous décor
• Spray paint (optional)

1. Pick a color. A surefire way to make holiday décor classy is to keep it monochromatic. Popular Christmas choices are always red or green, but don't forget all silver or all gold. Use the entire color spectrum of the chosen hue: reds run from crimson to maroon, greens from lime to forest, silvers go all the way from white to dark gray and gold can include blasts of sunshine yellow.

2. Browse stores, forests and street corners. Don't stick to the normal holiday fare in the store's center aisle. Check out the dried flower selection, cool-looking branches on a forest path or unusual shaped junk lying on the side of the road. If it doesn't fit your color scheme, spray-paint it.

3. Light up your life. Ambiance definitely comes from the lighting. In addition to choosing strands of lights that match your décor, use colored bulbs in lamps around the home.

4. Inhale. All classy decorations appeal to as many senses as possible, so make your home smell like a holiday haven. Holiday potpourri and scented candles are a must. You can veer from the color scheme with the potpourri, but use bowls the same color as the scheme.

5. Throw on some mood music. High-pitched rodents singing about Rudolph isn't going to cut it. Opt for a jazz compilation of carols, Motown's greatest holiday hits or soothing holiday music in French. If area stores are lacking, shop for CDs online.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep it simple. Classy decorations never go overboard.
• If you must add another color, pick one item to contrast, such as a glorious angel or perhaps a baby reindeer spray painted gold.
• You can make decorations you already have on hand fit the color scheme by painting them.
• Avoid mechanical anything. While a laughing, life-size Santa may be cute for the kiddies, it tends to lack class.
• Don't buy blinking lights.
• Don't be afraid to experiment. There is nothing wrong with a golden strand of holly or a pea-green angel.