Tehama Country Real Estate

H O W T O for C hr i stma s D U Y H The holiday season is rife with traditions that focus on fun and family. One such testament to the festive spirit of the holiday season is the many homes and businesses decorated with the lights and colors that have become syn- onymous with the season. Decorating for the holiday season can be time-consuming. While decking the halls may not consume as much time as holiday shopping and wrapping presents, according to data from a 2013 American Time Use Survey, interior and ex- terior decorating for the holidays may consume anywhere from 2.5 to 3 hours per session. Holiday decorating includes things as simple as setting up a menorah or as complex as stringing lights on the exte- rior of a home. ough elaborate displays can take hours to erect, time-crunched holiday celebrants can still create festive, welcoming displays. • • • Hang holiday wreaths. Holiday enthusiasts without much time to decorate can invest in a couple of holiday wreaths, which can be dressed up as much or as little as celebrants prefer. If you do not have the time to string lights on the house, wrap them around wreaths hung in windows or hang the wreaths on a home's main entrance. Celebrants who want to go a less traditional route can hang wreaths made of holly, citrus fruits, ribbons, or any other greenery instead of the more customary evergreen wreaths. • • •Decorate with ornaments. Ornaments are not exclu- sive to Christmas trees. Fill a vase or bowl with metallic ornaments and place it in a prominent location, such as a busy hallway or the foyer of your home. Hang ornaments on clear lament from the mantle or within the main win- dow of the house, where they can re ect tree lights and add sparkle. • • • Bring in more greenery. Drape evergreen boughs on staircase handrailings or on the mantle, or use greenery to frame doorways. e scent will be inviting and things instantly will look more festive. • • • Use throws and decorative pillows. Change the look of a room with holiday-colored decor if you do not want to clutter the space with knickknacks. A red and green blan- ket draped over the sofa can give o a comforting holiday vibe. • • • Focus on the front door and entryway. Celebrants who do not have the time to decorate their entire homes can create a warm, inviting space by decorating their front doors and entryways. Place greenery, bows, tinsel, lights, and winter-inspired accessories by the front door so friends and family visiting for the season catch the holiday spirit the moment they walk through the door. • • • Place LED candles in windows. Rather than con- tending with twinkle lights and electric cords, homeown- ers can employ battery-operated faux candles to create a homey appeal in windows and hallways throughout their homes. Simplify holiday decorating with some easy tips to make houses cozy and festive.

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