Best Christmas Decorations - Christmas Decorating Ideas

It’s not too late to decorate for the Christmas holiday with some of your favorite Christmas decorations. You can even pick up some extras to add or save for next year’s decorating. I have some favorite decorations that I put up every time I decorate. However, there are some other Christmas decorations out there that are considered to be a key part of Christmas decorating that I would like to add to my décor.

Of course, a Christmas tree is the central part of any Christmas décor. Whether your tree is real or artificial, you must start with the tree. When I lived in a studio apartment, I bought one of those little boxed trees that came with all the miniature ornaments. That was my Christmas décor every year until I got my own house and started going nuts with all the decorating.

Now, I have about ten to twelve tubs of Christmas decorations that live in the shed eleven months out of the year. I decorate one ornament-loaded Victorian-style tree with some small decorative Christmas trees here and there, down to my Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

I know people who collect Santas, who collect snowmen, and who collect angels. Being a collector-type, I have a collection of each. I like old Santas and have picked up a number of them here and there. My step-mother decorates with snowmen, using them throughout the winter season. Whatever your interest, group items for an attractive setting or place them randomly throughout the house. Many of my angels that aren’t totally Christmasy-looking, I keep out all year long.

If you don’t have a snow village, you are missing out. These lighted little buildings add so much warmth and interest to Christmas décor. Whether you have just a few buildings or a whole village, you are sure to enjoy a charming little setting.

I started out with a little coffee shop that my brothers gave to me as a gift. (I keep that one out all year long.) Over the years, I added many buildings to it, and now I have too many to even use.

I have been putting a few on top of a tall glass case and a few under the Christmas tree. My favorite setting is the grouping of several I put on the mantle with the stockings hanging down in-between. Sometimes I switch out the buildings when I want something different.

Snow villages are fun, as you can add figurines--kids playing in the snow, couples holding hands. You can add mailboxes, fences, snow plows, and an assortment of vehicles.

Add trees and snow, and you have yourself a winter wonderland!

As I mentioned, don’t forget to hang your stockings by the chimney with care! Hang homemade or fancy stockings from your mantel, or, if you have no fireplace, on the staircase or taped to a wall or door. Make sure each person’s—or pet’s—name is on a stocking.

Lots of lights make the whole house and yard festive! I put lights around the window and mirror even in the bathroom. I put them around the kitchen to brighten it up without having to turn on the lights. I put short sets in random spots. I line the screened-in patio, which makes for an attractive, albeit chilly, seating area. Of course, the front yard looks awesome with lights all over the place.

Many people have wreaths. I have a couple of small ones that I hang on the front gate, but they are nothing fancy.

I can see the attraction of wreaths, as they can all be put together to look so different. I can see starting with a plain one and decorating it to my own tastes. I may have to check into this Christmas decoration more. Check out the one in the picture to the right. Beautiful!

I want a train! A Christmas train is something I have always wanted to put on the floor to toot-toot around a Christmas tree. I have a small wooden one that I put below the tree next to the lit village buildings, but I really want one with a track, with a train set that blows off steam and whistles. I must look again for the perfect train.

Have you seen those huge blow-up decorations in yards? Those are coming up all over the place. This is something I do not have, but that I am considering.

These things are so large that they get people’s attention from the street! At least they get my attention!

If you feel it will be safe, add candles here and there. Even with all my cats, I’ve never had a fire event with lit candles. They just add so much warmth to a Christmasy home.

You can also ecorate with Christmas cards, setting them on a shelf or taping them to the front door. Add shiny Christmas flowers here and there or real Poinsettias. Be creative! Add items that appeal to you to personalize your Christmas décor.

There are many online stores where you can shop at your leisure for your favorite Christmas decorations. I’ve found that Wal-Mart has some great deals, along with Kmart, Macy’s, Costco, and more. I’m going to check out these Wal-Mart discounts myself!

Heck, maybe this is the year I’ll find that train!