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Dec
3
1. Less is more – don’t make your home into Santa’s workshop. Choose quality decorations and arrange simply for the biggest impact.
2. Pick 2 to 3 colours and stick to your scheme throughout the house. Start with a neutral like white, cream, or beige, add a metallic like silver, gold or bronze, and finish with your accent colour. This year’s big statement is the blue family. Try plumy purple, aquamarine, or chose the season’s rising star, cobalt blue. 
3. For the slightly more adventurous – try embracing the monochromatic trend. Use white, cream and silver to evoke a warm but wintry feel, or experiment with copper, beige, bronze and brown to create a natural-yet-super-chic feel.
4. Mix textures – smooth, shimmering ribbon nestled in a “birds nest” bowl adds contrast and interest. Burlap is a big winner in this season’s decorating trends. Mix with rich velvets, sophisticated linens, shiny balls, and metallic ribbon.
5. Pattern has made a comeback of late in both fashion and home décor and it is big on the scene for Christmas. Lace is everywhere from clear glass balls with lacy designs to crocheted table runners and tree ornaments.
6. Bring the outdoors in. Whether your style is traditional or super modern, natural elements make great accents and centerpieces. Cedar boughs, pine cones and holly speak of tradition, while stones, shells, and sculptural branches make a more modern statement. 
7. Use your costume jewelery to add sparkle and elegance. Imitation diamonds, pearls, and beads of all colours wrapped around linen napkins make a unique statement at your table and personalize each place setting. Matching earrings can be tied around goblets so guests keep track of their glass while socializing.
8. Crystal always looks fantastic and lends a touch of elegance to mantles, coffee tables and dining arrangements. It doesn’t have to cost a bomb either. Thrift stores always have a good supply of vases and bowls. Fill a crystal vase with shiny sliver and bronze miniature balls with a candle on either side for a shimmery centerpiece or use a small string of twinkle lights in a crystal bowl and fill with blue and silver balls with bits of green holly.
9. Silver is another of my favourites and also widely available at the thrift stores. Small trays are great as gifts with homemade cookies or candies. Simply cover with saran wrap and add a big bow. I bought packages of fake diamonds at the dollar store and sprinkled over a silver tray with votives for a sparkling candle arrangement.
10. Creating great Christmas décor does not have to break the bank. While the colours and textures may be rich, your budget doesn’t have to be. Use objects you already have around the house, plan time with your children for do-it-yourself projects, and get creative. Visit the thrift stores and dollar stores – you never know what you will find and think of ways you can re-purpose an interesting object. Look to your children for ideas – they always think outside of the box – and have fun. That is what Christmas is supposed to be anyway!