| Archived Decorating Question: Holidays | |
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Question: I'm having a holiday party at my home for my husband's office, however, we don't really celebrate Christmas. How do I create a festive atmosphere without using "Christmas" items?
Answer: There are lots of things you can do to create a wonderful holiday party atmosphere. First, during your party use lots of candles everywhere in your home. If you have a large coffee table you can create a "candle forest" on a tray using several white pillar candles (or candles in candlesticks) of various heights and sprinkle artificial snow and silver glitter around the base of the candles.
Decorate your sidewalk or front porch with candle luminaria so guests get into the party mood even before they enter your home. "Wrap" your front door in silver paper and a big white bow. Order or make your own beautiful centerpiece using greens, white flowers, and glittery silver accents.
Look for white blooming hydrangia and azalea plants and decorate the pots with silver or blue mylar plant pot covers. These would look wonderful in your entry, on a coffee table, or in the powder room. You could also consider selecting a "winter" theme (such as "snowflakes" or "silver pinecones"), and decorate using that theme on the table, napkins, party favors, etc.
One wonderful party idea is to choose a beautiful ribbon (satin, velvet, metallic, plaid, or plain silver), and tie bows on everything -- candlesticks, plants, garlands, centerpieces, chair backs -- whatever adds to the look. Buy several bolts of the same ribbon in various sizes and use it everywhere.
Decorate your food platters with festive garnishes and leaves. If you are crafty you might want to look into getting some silver leafing supplies (adhesive and a book of silver leaf sheets) and applying silver leaf to fruit and use those to decorate your buffet or dining table.
The inexpensive "wire" garlands easily available during the holidays are also festive looking and easily added to centerpieces, plants, garlands, and other arrangements. Sprinkle glitter confetti around the buffet or down your dining room table. Use festive napkin rings made of ribbon or wire garland pieces.
Even your written invitations can be a beautiful preview of your party. Welcome your guests with a seasonal greeting and enclose a bit of glitter in the envelope to add some fun to the invitation.
Any or all of these things will create a wonderful party atmosphere. Enjoy your party!