It’s easy to be intimidated by all those lovely magazine spreads showing the perfect holiday table.
But gorgeous holiday decorations can be more than just a checkout-line fantasy. Many ideas require little more than a trip to the grocer and a bit of experimenting.
“The first thing to do is relax,” says Diana McMillen, senior food editor at Midwest Living magazine. “And keep it simple. After all, the meal you are eating and companionship you are sharing are the most important things.” So, if time is precious, skip the handcrafted gingerbread village. Instead, try a variety of vases brimming with candy canes or red and green mint candies. Add some lights and greenery, and you’ve got a photo-worthy centerpiece.
“In a way, you are just adding something to the meal that makes it a little more fun,” says McMillen. “Think of centerpieces as entertainment, not a measure of your being the host or hostess.”
The same is true for decorations throughout the house, whether it’s a trio of jars filled with sugar-coated gumdrops, stained glass cookies hung on the tree or a garland of popcorn and cranberries.
“Edible ornaments and decorations are some of our most popular content,” says Deanna Cook, director of creative development for FamilyFun magazine
Here are some affordable ideas from the folks behind those glossy holiday spreads.
Use ribbon to decorate family heirlooms. Grandmother’s gravy boat or attractive silverware are easily spruced up and serve as a reminder that the holidays are about being together.
Fruits and candies make nice displays, especially when piled in a cluster of bowls (use an odd number, such as three or five). A centerpiece of bowls of wrapped candies, each bowl a different height, can double as decoration and dessert. Or fill the bottom third of a trifle bowl with assorted fruits.
For something a bit more nostalgic, consider making pomander balls, pieces of fruit that are studded with cloves. These not only look great but fill the room with the smell of fresh citrus and spice.
In the December/January issue of County Home magazine, contributing style editor Matthew Mead suggests studding oranges with whole cloves in interesting patterns, such as clumped in polka-dots or rows to form spirals.
Nuts are always popular at the holidays, and they can look especially nice when displayed thoughtfully.
Spiced almonds work well set out in a martini glass. If you’re serving nuts in the shells, a fanciful nutcracker or a display of a variety of nutcrackers is more fun than the standard, unadorned version.
Gingerbread houses look great and don’t have to be complicated.
If time doesn’t allow you to bake the gingerbread from scratch, graham crackers make a wonderful (and instant) alternative.
Use royal icing to hold the walls and roof in place, then use the same frosting as “glue” to decorate with candy.
To populate your houses, stack marshmallows two or three high to make snowmen.
Make hard candy ornaments. Baking craft supply shops sell easy-to-use molds in numerous holiday shapes, meaning all you have to do is boil some sugar syrup and pour. Attach a ribbon and hang the candies on the tree or in the window.
