* Discard or give away any ornaments or decoration you don’t love.

* The trend again this year seems to be themes of colors with gold but mostly silver. Pick up an accent color from your home and continue this theme for your holiday decor. For example, if your cushions on your sofa are green, look for green ornaments and decor, then add a splash of sparkle, like silver.

* Arrange your Christmas decorations in groups or themes, creating vignettes. In other words, don’t scatter little ornaments here and there in your home. Look for areas, tables, consoles to turn into special displays.

* When you buy new items, buy at least two or three to have impact. For example, are you buying miniature trees or poinsettias or thick candles for your mantel or table? If so, buy two, rather three or more; a grouping makes a statement.

* Do look for a focal point, perhaps your tree or your mantel, but maybe not both side by side (you can find your focal point by closing your eyes while standing at the door to your room, and the first thing you see should be your focal point).

* Place your Christmas tree away from heat sources such as vents or fireplaces so that it does not dry out so fast, but place your tree where you can admire it the most.

* Hide your tree stand with fabric, maybe burlap, a tree skirt or a big fun bucket or pot.

* Use a timer for your lights to save energy and use white lights to mimic candles.

* Do put candles or ornaments (electric) in your windows toward the street.

* Look for natural decorations: a big bowl of pine cones, sugared fruit, red apples in a large bowl with holly or cedar branches.

* Greenery, greenery, greenery. If you have to cut branches from your tree (to make it fit in the stand), use the branches in arrangements, or lay them on your mantel. Ask the tree vendors for branches to use in arrangements.

* Arrange long branches of greenery in large vases, IKEA or HomeSense has some great big glass vases that can be used as fruit bowls, candle holders or for arrangements.

* Let your kids have their own decorations and little tree (fake) in their room to decorate as they wish.

* Make your guest bedroom inviting with select decorations.

* Don’t forget to add a Christmas touch to your bathrooms, perhaps a bowl of scented pinecones.

* Decorate your front hall and outside your door with fresh greenery, make the entrance into your home the best it can be. Use lights on timers.

* For special nights, or every evening if you like, light a candle (tea light) in a safe enclosed lantern outside your home.

* For a fun piece, place a string of lights in a large bowl (they now come battery powered). You can add greenery or pretty shiny decorative balls to the bowl.

* Do keep apple cider spices simmering on your stove for a lovely scent.

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This article was provided by Room4refinement.com. Cat Hackman is a Calgary based interior decorator and owner of “www.Room4refinement.com”:http://www.room4refinement.com. Call 403.705.4791 c. 403.681.4473.