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Here’s a new old twist you can try out for Christmas this year. Some Christmas decoration pieces are usually handed down from generation to generation and December is the only time you can bring these heirlooms to light. Why not go for an all-vintage theme this year? Vintage Christmas decorations shouldn’t be too difficult to find and they’re relatively inexpensive too.

If you don’t have a stash of old Christmas decorations hidden in the attic, you can probably find vintage decors at garage sales, flea markets, and antique shops in your area. No time to go out? There’s always the vintage shopper’s favorite online store, eBay, with their almost unlimited collection of antique angels, vintage orbs, and centerpieces.

As with any theme, begin decorating at the focal point of your holiday decors: the Christmas tree. Vintage-style Christmas trees are usually trimmed with bright and colorful glass balls and ornaments. But don’t just limited yourself to glass balls; any old doodad will certainly add charm to your tree. Tree ornaments made of hard plastic are rare collectibles, so watch out for them when you go vintage decor hunting!

Embellish your dining table with antique candle holders, Christmas villages, and vintage Christmas cards. A crocheted, cream-colored table cloth and holiday China with snowflake-shaped napkin rings will also give your dining room that charming old-fashioned feel. For your finishing touch, add novelty pieces like Santa Claus salt-and-pepper shakers.

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Christmas is only a week away and if you’re expecting company for the holidays, now’s a good time to start sprucing up your guest room. It doesn’t take too much time and effort to make your guest room look festive and inviting, and the decor will make your guests feel right at home.

Cover the bed with a Christmas-themed bedspread. You don’t have to buy an expensive comforter set because you’ll only use it for a few weeks every year and it’ll take up a lot of closet space. Instead, get red and green polar fleece that’s big enough to cover the bed. Polar fleece is maks a warm and cozy blanket, but the best part about it is that you don’t have to hem the edges to protect the material from getting frayed. It’s also relatively inexpensive compared to other kinds of fabric.

For quick and easy decorations, hang a colorful wreath or a large stocking on the door of the guest room. A pot of poinsettia will also lend a seasonal touch to the guest room. Tie a green, red, or gold ribbon around the pot or put small Christmas balls on the soil.

If your guest room has its own bathroom, provide your guests with red and green towels and hand cloths to give the bathroom an instant holiday feel. Another thing you can do is to place small, clear bottles of red or green soap and shampoo on the counter or the sink. You could also put a Christmas-themed toilet cover and bathroom mat. This looks especially great on white bathrooms because the colors stand out.

Finally, hanging small bags of holiday scented potpurri adds a wonderful finishing touch to your guest room’s Christmas atmosphere. It’s a subtle finishing touch that will keep your guests’ holiday spirit alive and make them feel at home with you this Christmas.

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The buzz of activity during the holiday season can make organizing your home and keeping everything neat quite a challenge. Here are several tips you can follow to control clutter in your home so you don’t get too stressed-out over the fast-approaching holidays.

Don’t overdo the Christmas decorations. Matching your display according to your personality, budget, and time limitations will make it easier for you to enjoy the holidays. If you don’t have extra time to dust, don’t put a lot of indoor decorations that will require you to dust them perfectly. Keep everything minimal and only put out a few well thought-of decorations like wreaths and centerpieces.

Plan out your clutter. Focus on getting your shopping done first then spending an entire evening wrapping gifts instead of leaving out your gift wrapping supplies during the days before Christmas. That way, you only clutter up your house once then everything gets put away once the task of wrapping gifts is done. You can do the same for other activities like baking, making decorations with your kids, or writing cards for family members and friends.

Finally, control incoming clutter that appears during the holidays. During this time of the year, your kids will probably come home with holiday projects done in school. Whether you want to display it, send it to grandma, or archive it, make sure you have a plan in place so you can enjoy your children’s holiday efforts while knowing that it won’t add clutter to your busy home.

Putting these simple tips together to control the clutter in your home will make the holiday season something to enjoy instead of something to stress over. After all, spending time with the people you love is what’s important during the holidays.

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