Posted in Holiday, News & Updates, Tips & Tricks for Apartment Living
Holiday decorating can be both fun and wallet-friendly when you take a DIY approach to your festive décor. And by focusing on simple designs, you can deck the halls of your Albany Apartment in no time, then sit back and enjoy the rest of the holiday season.
Here are some suggestions for simple, yet eye-catching winter holiday decorations. Most require only a few basic materials; the rest is up to you.
Cool Candy Cups
Fill clear glasses or mugs with peppermint candy, tying a matching ribbon around the base of each glass to add a finishing touch. These creations are quite versatile: They can be used for centerpieces, party favors, shelf/mantel decorations and more.
Hanging Branch
An attractive and functional way to dress up a wall space for the holidays is to tack a single evergreen branch in place. Once it’s secured, you can use it to hang ornaments, Christmas cards, gift tags and more. This works particularly well above a fireplace or buffet.
Silver Platter Centerpiece
Create a simple yet stunning centerpiece with a silver platter or serving tray as your base. Place silver ornaments on the tray (round Christmas balls work well) interspersed with evergreen branches. Place on your dining table of buffet for a splash of wintery color.
Light-Up Wreath
You can create a lit wreath wall decoration in a flash, using a metal wreath form purchased from a craft store. Simply wrap light strings around the form and then hang the wreath on a wall. Plug it in and enjoy the sparkling show.
Pine cone Candlesticks
Group several silver candlesticks on a tray, then top the candlesticks with silver-painted pine cones. (Paint the cones with a few thin coats of silver spray paint.) Fill out the tray by adding a few additional silver and/or blue ornaments.
Holiday Wall-Hangings
For an incredibly easy holiday touch-up to existing photo frames, paintings and wall-hangings in your home, try topping the frames with sprigs of pine and berries. The effect is especially useful for filling halls and entryways with holiday cheer.
Evergreen Bottles or Vases
Place a sprig of evergreen in a clear glass vase or bottle for a super-easy yet highly attractive decoration. Line several of the glass containers on fireplace mantels, windowsills or shelves. Grouping together different-shaped glass containers adds interest and depth to the effect.
Simple Napkin Rings
Sometimes the most simplistic table settings are also the most beautiful. For a rustic setting, gather hemstitched linen napkins, tie them with twine, and then tuck a sprigs of artificial cranberry branches in the middle.
Ornament Frames
Dress up wall space by creating a framed ornament as a focal point. Use a simple white picture frame, then hang an ornament from the hook in the back of the frame. Hang the frame on the wall (especially over the mantel or buffet). To expand the design, place a frame on either side, with wrapping paper in the place of a picture. Wrap the cardboard inside the frame with the paper, thus ensuring a snug fit.
Wire-Frame Tree
Create a striking tree wall-hanger using ornaments, wire and a frame. Create the tree by making a triangle from 16-gauge wire, then cut additional pieces to serve as horizontal “branches,” twisting the ends around the triangle. Hang the wire tree from a decorative picture frame, top with a bow, and add ornaments to each branch, using ornament hooks.
Gift Bow Wreath
Transform that bag of gift-wrap bows into a festive wreath by attaching a loop of floral wire (for hanging) around a 16-inch foam wreath form. Next, hot glue gift bows to the front and sides of the form, using red, white and/or green bows. Powder blue bows can also be used, for an icy appearance.
We are busy decorating for the holiday season here at The Lofts at One Broadway! Our tenants are so creative and use their space and floor plans to their advantage when it comes to decorating. We love seeing the halls, doors and apartments come to life with the festivities. We cordially invite you to come tour the premises.
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