(Photo credit: PositivelySplendid.com)For many, holidays are about tradition. Everything from the food to the décor stays the same, year in and year out, because it just feels right.
But if you're looking to try something different this year, start
by rethinking the way you decorate for Christmas. Try a new theme or
new colors. Classic Christmas decorations are constantly being revised
and twisted and turned into new, delightful trends.
Decorating with red and green is no longer mandatory; instead,
homeowners are opting for blues and whites or a rainbow of colors. Santa
doesn't need to make an appearance in your Christmas décor; instead,
you might feature birds and reindeer.
If you want to break the mold, check out some of these alternatives to classic Christmas decor.
Updated classics
(From Holly Adler, via KurtAdler.com)Adding
a little glitz and sparkle is one way update classic holiday décor. For
a twist on the popular "Nutcracker" theme, try a Hollywood version of
the classic by matching the most basic elements with a twist in color
and design. Pink, teal, purple and glitter separate the nutcrackers pictured (from Holly Adler via KurtAdler.com) from the rest of the pack.
Crafters are also adding a little glam to Christmas village
collections. Instead of buying up lots of expensive little department
store houses to create a small Christmas village, try using cardboard
homes from a craft store and decorating them with all kinds of festive
items, from glittery walls to sparkly snowy roofs. (Visit Positively Splendid to learn how to make the Christmas village pictured at the top.)
New colors
Every year there are new twists on Christmas colors as retailers such
as Target and the Home Depot feature lines that incorporate new color
combinations. Jewel tones are increasingly popular, such as deep
purple, bright teal, dark blue and burnt orange. Pastel purples and
blues along with icy white imitate winter's natural snowy shades.
Try matching brown, bronze and gold with splashes of deep red to
create a warm interior. Metallic colors are gaining popularity; combine
classic shades of silver metal with metallic yellow, green or gold for a
unique color scheme.
Themed decorations
Many retailers and homeowners are also using themed Christmas
decorations. It helps them develop consistency in their décor and allows
them to get more creative in how they decorate.
You can opt for candy-themed Christmas decor with bright colors and
an abundance of lollipops, mints, candy canes and decorated gingerbread
houses. (If you don't want quite so much color, stick just with the
swirling stark contrast of red and white candy canes.)
Try a natural theme and stick with lots of evergreen trees and
wreaths and natural hand-carved elements like deer or birds. Use acorns,
pine cones, chestnuts and red berries in small bowls, and opt for lots
of Christmas plants, such as poinsettias, hollies, mistletoe and red and
white roses.
Or try to gather up some vintage decorations, from oversize holiday
lights to cherry-cheeked elves and classic tins. Find some bubble lights
and tinsel and get your needle and thread ready to string together some
popcorn to truly adorn your Christmas tree in vintage style. Cut out
construction paper in holiday colors to make classic decorative chains
as well.
Look around for Shiny Brites, colorful glass balls sold at Woolworth
in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The colors are bright, the patterns are
bold and the imagery is often cutesy or kooky.
And if you're not a fan of picking up all the littered needles left
behind from real trees, check out an aluminum one in an unusual color.
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