Debbie's Top Ten Decorating Tips

#1 Sophistication = Consistency of Color and/or Theme

For a sophisticated look in my family room, I used a two-color palette for holiday decorations. The traditional green and ivory look fantastic next to the bright lime walls and mellow brick fireplace. Stars are the recurring theme in this mantel treatment, moving from star wreaths on the wall to star votives on the mantel.

#2 It's Okay to Mix Fresh and Faux

I love using a fresh cedar swag on my fireplace—the texture and aroma can't be beat! But, I don't hesitate to mix faux greenery with fresh greenery in any of my decorating areas. For the mantel, dried greenery forms the star wreaths and the centerpiece of the fresh garland is a faux arrangement of silvery leaves and pinecones.

#3 Add Sparkle A-Plenty

Sparkle is part of the fun of Christmas and I like to liberally sprinkle sparkle throughout my house. This tray on my living room ottoman incorporates four essential elements of sparkle—mirrors, glass, candlelight, and beads.

My living room mantel (below) also reflects (literally) the elements of sparkle. Mirrored trees, a beaded wreath, metallic candleholders, and glass containers filled with colorful balls all add pizzazz to this mantel arrangement.

#4 Highs and Lows of Decorating

This mantel scene is also a good example of the highs and lows of decorating. Elements on the mantel are carefully arranged at different heights to make it interesting and inviting. A wreath on a stand creates the high point for the arrangement. Notice that the two mirror trees are not the same height, a candleholder raises one tree candle and not the other; red and green color is sparingly spread over the mantel but colored items vary in sizes and shapes.

#5 Personalize

Whether it's embroidered names or initial ornaments on the stockings, or grandpa's handmade napkin holders on the Christmas Eve table, it is important to keep Christmas personal. No matter where my decorating takes me each year, I find a spot for all the precious family ornaments and grandpa's napkin holders on my table.

#6 Begin at the Door

I like to set the scene for the holiday in my entryway. It doesn't take much—some greenery for the candle sconces, a beaded placemat to ground a group of gold candlesticks, some shiny votives and metallic trees—create a welcoming entry into your holiday home.

#7 Use What You Have

To create a holiday vignette for the kitchen sideboard, I dug into my linen closet. I love to use napkins to create spots of color and to set the scene for any of my seasonal decorating. For the holidays, I draped the sideboard with red and green napkins and used another napkin to cover the base of the small tree. An everyday tray holds an assortment of my favorite vases which just happen to be in holiday colors. A few favorite ornaments on the wispy tree and my holiday vignette is complete.

#8 Make It Quick

I love to sew for the holidays, but sometimes I run out of time. So, for quick pillows last year, I used fusible web, ribbon, wool, and a striped fabric. Most of the work was done with my iron and I created quick accent pillows in a spot that needed some color.

#9 Be Inventive

I have a glass terrarium that sits on my hearth that is frankly too heavy and awkward to move—so I just dress it up for the holidays! Some beads around the roof and a small poinsettia inside, make the terrarium into a Christmas decoration instead of a summery garden artifact.

#10 Light Up the Night

Winter is often dark and dreary so every year I do one special thing for myself--I put my outside lights on timers so that my house is all lit up when I come home from work. What a lift I get from this simple innovation! It brightens my spirits and puts me in the mood for….more decorating!