Thanksgiving Is Over, Time to Start the Christmas Decorating!

Alison Palmer • Nov 29, 2017

Things to Do Before Christmas Decorating Now that the Thanksgiving turkey is finally gone and the kitchen is all cleaned up, you have a few things to do.  First, start a diet!  Then get serious about decorating the house for the upcoming Christmas holidays.  Get out all your fancy, sparkly Christmas doodads.  Spread them out […] The post Thanksgiving Is Over, Time to Start the Christmas Decorating! appeared first on Custom Maid.

Things to Do Before Christmas Decorating

Now that the Thanksgiving turkey is finally gone and the kitchen is all cleaned up, you have a few things to do.  First, start a diet!  Then get serious about decorating the house for the upcoming Christmas holidays.  Get out all your fancy, sparkly Christmas doodads.  Spread them out all in the same room so you can see everything you have.

Maybe this will be the year to change up your decorating traditions.  Look over your garland.  Will you drape it over the mantle just like every year, or will you use it as a frame around your door.  You might even want to festoon the staircase with that garland.

So, to make a long story short, make a plan before you begin your Christmas decorating.  The plan will start with a little cleaning.  Make sure the places that are sometimes neglected are all clean and that things like the chandelier in the dining room sparkle.  You may have to move furniture to make room for your tree.  Take this opportunity to vacuum underneath and behind that furniture.  Remove cobwebs from corners and ceilings.  Wipe off the baseboards that will surround the tree.

Where Will You Put the Tree This Year?

Have you been putting your Christmas tree in the same corner year after year?  Maybe you should take a look around and consider putting the tree in a different room or at least a different corner.  You could center it in a front window.  Also, there is no reason you cannot have more than one tree in your home.  How about a slender tree for the foyer?  Is there a place in the bedroom that could use a little Christmas decorating?  Put a small five foot tree in that room to enjoy throughout the holiday season.

Now It’s Time for Decorating the Tree!

Many people now own artificial trees that come with the lights already strung along the branches.  These trees have come a long way from the pink plastic tree my mom bought us in the ’60s.  The branches looked like cheerleader pom-poms.  The one thing missing when you use an artificial tree is the aroma of fresh pine.

If you are using a live tree, buy it as soon as they appear on the lots.  That way you can be sure your tree is properly taken care of before you bring it indoors.  Using a saw, take about an inch off the bottom of the tree trunk.  Place the tree in a bucket with plenty of water and be sure to refill it every day.  A Christmas tree expert once told me that the live trees will never be any fresher than the day they hit the lot.  Of course, they will continue to decline after that.

Finish the tree off with garland, or long, flowy ribbons, or old fashioned tinsel for a vintage look.  One note of caution:  If you use tinsel, DO NOT vacuum it up into your upright vac.

Other Decorating Tips

It looks lovely to drive by a home that has candle light in every window.  Now there are battery operated faux candles that are completely safe to use.  You don’t necessarily have to line your whole house with outdoor lights.  Just put a lovely wreath on the door and leave your front lights on all night.  Your home will look festive and inviting.

Use inexpensive ornaments in a glass hurricane as a centerpiece on the dining room table or the mantle.  Tuck in a few springs of holly that you cut from your yard (or buy at the craft store) and your holiday decorating is done.

You will want to relax by the fireplace and enjoy your beautifully decorated home, so call Custom Maid and we will send a team over to keep your house clean.  Our Christmas elves can be reached at 499-8568,

Merry Christmas!

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Editor’s Note:  We originally published this article in November, 2016.  We have edited it for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness.

 

 

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