Holidays can be full of fun, excitement and creativity. December can be a very busy time. There is so much to celebrate. It is the perfect time to do special crafts, cooking or decorating together. You and your friends or family can have fun decorating together.

During the Christmas season you can add a different look to your home. Normally, during the other eleven months of the year you may prefer to decorate you home in a very tailored décor. However, during Christmas you may choose to decorate you home really fancy. You may choose to use a lot of ornaments, flowers, music boxes, etc.

Red, burgundy and green are the common Christmas colors, although many other colors are used as well. The nice part about Christmas is that you do not have to worry about the red and green colors clashing with your normal everyday décor. However, it is exceptionally nice if you are able to purchase holiday decorations that match your everyday color palate.

If you have an open staircase with a banister you can really show it off during the holidays. You can use garland and accessories, ornaments or flowers to decorate the garland.

Garland placed on staircases or mantels should look full and beautiful. When placing your garland on your staircase area you will need to know how much garland you will need and where to attach it to look nice. Take a string, ribbon or rope and tape it to the staircase railing in the desired areas to make the drooping of the garland look even. Try to make the spacing consistent. Using the string and tape will help you visually see where the garland will be placed. After you are happy with the placement areas on your railing that you marked, put little pieces of masking tape on those spots. Take the string down and measure the string. This measurement will tell you how long your garland will need to be. You can connect one garland length to another by wiring it together or by twisting its little branches together. Now you have one long length of garland. It should be the same size as your string. If there is any excess garland that is longer than the string, cut if off.

To create a beautiful full garland in an inexpensive way, combine two or more garlands together loosely. You already have the string measurement for the first long garland. Make another long length of garland. Put both lengths of garland together by inter-twining them together. Please make sure you pull apart and pull open each little branch before you wrap one length of garland loosely around the other garland. Now, add your lights around the garland (if desired). If you are planning to use lights around your garland make sure you have the end of the lights close to the electrical outlet. Sometimes an extension cord is needed to reach electrical outlets safely. Be very careful with all electrical cords especially if you have children or pets.

One way to attach your garland to the staircase rail or banister is to use fishing line or long twisty ties. You can connect bread or garbage bag ties together to make a long connection of wire. Wrap the long twisty tie or fishing line around the garland at your marked or taped spots. Twist or tie it in place tight. Take some of the short little green branches from the top and bottom of the garland and cover over the twisty ties or fishing line to hide it. Now it is time to add the accessories or ornaments. You can wire ribbon, ornaments, flowers, fruit or special collectables into the garland. Try to be consistent in the placement of these items on your garland. Make sure to remember to take the tape off of the staircase rail that marked the spot where your garland should be placed.

You can add the same look in your garland, with or without lights, and place it in many areas of your home such as the mantel, on top of cupboards, over doorways, over pictures or mirrors. Garland can be the beginning of a center piece for a table. There are so many places to place and hang garland.

Decorating your home, especially during the holidays, can bring the creativity out of you that you never knew you had.

Enjoy your decorating with others. You will be making special memories. Decorating can give you a sense of accomplishment. Decorating for the holidays can make you feel better about yourself and the ones you love.