Time-Honored Traditions for Holiday Trimmings

Time-Honored Traditions for Holiday Trimmings
Tips for Decking the Halls this Holiday Season

(ARA) - Years ago, decorating for the holidays meant hanging a wreath on the door and stringing popcorn around the tree. Today, sprucing up the home for the season has evolved into a grand tradition shared by the entire family.

Whether it's trimming the tree, hanging stockings on the mantle or using special holiday dinnerware, 90 percent of respondents to a recent survey conducted on behalf of Lands' End Home reported they will be decorating their home for the holidays.

"Many times, families find themselves overwhelmed with all there is to do around the holidays," says Dabney McAvoy, Lands' End Home design director. "While there is much to accomplish throughout the season, decorating the home is one of the most time-honored traditions that families embrace."

Celebrating the season in style should never involve stressing about home décor. As McAvoy suggests, choosing a theme will help take the guesswork out of decorating.

Tried and True Holiday Classics

Staying true to holiday classics is an easy way to ensure that your decorations are not simply a fading fad. Some tried and true holiday decorating traditions include:

* As early as 16th century Scotland, tartan plaid was used to accent the dinner table with the reds and greens of the holiday season. A tartan plaid table runner, place mats or napkins adorned with engraved napkin rings give an intimate and timeless touch to any meal.

* Incorporate greenery into any room, hallway or entrance with a decorative holiday wreath.

* Adorn mantles by hanging stockings with care from pewter stocking holders to emphasize the home-for-the holidays feeling.

Whimsical Characters of the Season

Everyone can relate to the cheerfulness that holiday snowmen or similar characters bring. Some suggestions for including these whimsical friends in your decorating include:

* Feature a cherished holiday treasure such as the icy snowman and accent home décor with similar colors such as cool hues of blue and silver.

* Turn your child's bedroom into a winter wonderland with fun, seasonal bedding featuring holiday favorites such as snowmen and reindeer.

* Replace everyday household items with festive alternatives, such as "Frosty" mugs, plates and dishtowels in the kitchen.

Old-Fashioned Holiday Retreat

Memories of good times and holiday traditions are hard to ignore when seasonal decorations have a vintage overtone. Some great antique-style touches to transform any home into an old-fashioned holiday retreat include:

* Needlepoint stockings hung from the mantle will give any fireplace that stylish look of the past. Add fresh greenery and red ribbons draped across the mantle to deliver extra old-world charm.

* For those overnight guests, deck the guest rooms with a vintage-style holiday quilt on the bed. Scented candles on the nightstand will give even the most tired travelers a sweet holiday retreat.

* Kids and adults alike will be reminded of holidays past with a handcrafted Advent calendar to count down the days until the big seasonal celebration.

To place an order or request a Lands' End Home catalog, call 1-800-345-3696 or visit cominghome.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com, e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information, contact Jenn Bradley at 608-935-6274 or jlbradl@landsend.com.

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