Home decorating: Christmas ideas

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Forget the mistletoe and holly and decorate your home with fresh festive touches that are perfect for a sunny Antipodean Christmas.

Sleeping over

Christmas is a time of the year when our houses can fill to the brim with relatives and friends. Finding places for everyone to sleep can be a struggle.
Inflatable mattresses are a handy form of beding for guests. The AeroBed self-inflates in 60 seconds, deflates in 15 seconds, and stores away in its own compact bag. For details, visit www.aerobed.com.au or call 1800 111 996.
Folding screens can be used to create privacy in the corner of a room.
If you have a backyard, consider getting the kids to sleep in a tent – they’ll see it as a great adventure, and you’ll free up valuable beds (reassure children that Santa will be able to find them wherever they sleep).

Blessed are the children
For many of us, Christmas is really all about the children. Let children get involved in your preparations for the big day and it’s bound to become even more special for them. Biscuits can be baked for Santa and his rein-deer (see page 45), and also as sweet gifts for others. Kids love the whole ritual of leaving a stocking out to be filled and might like to help customise their own stockings with fabric paint, ribbons or iron-on transfers.

At the table
If you don’t have time to decorate your whole house for Christmas, it’s still worth making your table look special. Simple touches such as candles, table runners, flowers and ribbons instantly make a room look festive (see ‘Christmas tables’, page 162). If you don’t have a table large enough to seat your guests, consider trestles – Ikea sells tabletops and trestles for less than $100, and they’re also a good option for dining outdoors.

Paper route
Paper cut-outs are a simple and effective way to decorate your home for Christmas. Stick them to the wall with Blu-Tack, to avoid marking the paint. You can cut leaf or star shapes out of coloured paper then stick them to lengths of nylon or thread. Kids might like to draw Christmas stockings then write their names on them, cut them out and stick them to their bedroom doors, so that Santa will know which room is theirs.

Photography: Scott Hawkins Styling: Lisa Hilton

Published in Notebook Magazine

Issue: December 2005

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Latest comments:

alethia

added this comment at 4:27pm Tue 8th November, 2005

Love the simplicity of the word Joy the fresh colours and the ease at which any one could use it to inspire a new look for their Christmas decorations. Already I'm inspired and have started to think of different ways for this year instead of the usual. I do like to do traditional colours but with a more 21st century look. Thankyou.

Stellaluna

added this comment at 11:09am Wed 9th November, 2005

Here is the perfect way to manage all the new Christmas Dec's you have purchased. Unwrap them, Bag or box them for easy storage, then place in a large basket or container. This way they are always accessible and you can put them out of sight, if you are not finished using them. I am using this myself and it works very well.

jennifers

added this comment at 10:07pm Wed 9th November, 2005

I love all the ideas you have given me . The Christmas decorations are refreshing and young. I will definetly be using them in my house this Chrissie.. Thanks!

Stellaluna

added this comment at 9:02am Thu 17th November, 2005

Here is another simple idea, which looks very effective. Using a pretty container, could be a big glass vase or plate which you can put Christmas baubles in, use one color or co-ordinate with different colors, use colored tissue paper in the bottom for an added touch or a candle in the centre with the baubles arround it. I have this idea in my entrance, placed on the carpet and everyone loves it!