Southampton - "You've got to have style. It helps you get out of bed in the morning." Diana Vreeland

Vreeland famously loved red. It's not hard to imagine this season was her favorite.

It's been a time of changes for many of us, making it hard to get revved up for holiday decorating that is even remotely a "Big Deal," regardless of personal circumstances. Who's in the mood? Why are we doing this, again?

Sheet music with holiday songs can be a great way to wrap gifts. Image courtesy of www.santaspostbag.co.uk

A History Lesson
Economics aside, it has been a tradition to celebrate and decorate one's home and the area surrounding it at this time of year for many millennia.

From the time man lived in caves, he decorated his abode and the immediate area during the winter months until the very first signs of spring could be seen. It was thought that adorning the bushes around the entrance with clusters of berries, nuts, pinecones or other natural found treasure would entice friendly tree spirits (whom he believed had fled to avoid the harsh weather), to come home, bringing good luck and good hunting with them.

There's Something About Merry
Saturnalia was the ancient Roman festival celebrated during the month of December. History records this several days long blow-out fete as the probable source of the phrase "party like the last Roman." The early Christians had the inspired idea to hide their celebration of the birth of Christ in the middle of all this debauched carousing. The Romans were clearly way too happy with their own celebrations to object if they noticed at all - or so the story goes.

Use different colors and textures for garland around the stair rails or elsewhere in your home. Image courtesy of www.guardianecostore.co.uk

Where Does Tradition End And Your Style Begin?
In the same way you dress appropriately for the weather and any occasion, why stop at your closet door. Style is all about how you live with your décor year-round. It's also represented in the choices you make to celebrate any holiday. It follows logic that your choice of holiday decorations should suit your décor.

If your home is cool and sleek, standard Christmas decoration just seems wrong. Conversely, if you lean towards a more traditional style, would a silver tinsel tree really say "Your Home"?

There's no time like the present to review the customary trappings of holiday celebration with a fresh approach and a more creative vision by asking yourself a few questions based on your old assumptions about what constitutes timely embellishment

Hot pink or monochromatic colors may make more of a personal statement for you. Image courtesy of www.SoHodecor.com

Branch Out
It's always been all about the tree as the significant representative of Christmas cheer. Who says it has to be green, or a fir tree, or even a tree?

Here are some ideas to get you thinking differently about the usual decorative suspects.

 • Twig trees are big this year. The ultimate in minimalist statement, they don't even shed pine needles.

 • Another way to go is with a monochromatic palette. A silver tree with white lights and white ornaments, and only with just a small gesture of red could be stunning. What if all the presents were wrapped in black glazed paper with white ribbons? Or, keep it really simple and inexpensive. Use white butcher's paper for wrapping with scarlet ribbons. The disciplined uniformity is very beautiful.

 • You don't have to limit yourself to a white Christmas. You could have a hot pink themed Yule Tide, or any other shade that suits your fancy. Artificial trees can be flocked in any color. If you are up for the drama, a basic black tree is all the statement you will need.

 • Why buy a fir tree when any tree can be decked out for holiday cheer? Even the pots your houseplants live in can be wrapped with ribbon and tiny lights can be strung amidst the fronds.

 • Who said you can only hang bulbs? How about hanging Christmas cookie cutters with ribbon. What about cut paper ornaments? What about Origami figures in silver or gold foil?

Try tying ribbons on cooke cookies for your tree. Image courtesy of www.armchair.com

Deck The Halls, Etc.
Where do local florists and party planners buy their flowers and potted plants in your area? Wholesale nurseries will often sell retail too. Buy wreaths of magnolia leaves and twisted grape vines as a base layer to entwine the greenery of your choice. You will of course find holly, poinsettias and fir trees there as well, but most likely at a better price than the local retail lot.

Though red and green are traditional Christmas colors, the season is a joyful one so don't limit yourself. Bright happy colors say Happy Holidays, so use a rainbow of colors if you so desire. Try experimenting with different colored lights than usual too. Deep blue, mauve, or even copper colored lights could offer stunning new options.

It's A Wrap
The only investment you might have to make in decorative tools could be in rolls of ribbon. You can wrap all manner of items such as vases, lamps or candles and tie with a big bow. Stair railings and doorknobs offer possibilities as well as chandeliers. Use narrow ribbon to attach small bunches of greens or tiny ornaments as further decoration.

Even black can be used as a holiday color. Image courtesy of www.mmcustomcrafts.com

Speaking Of Green
Say Merry Christmas to Mother Earth while you are decking the halls. If you haven't noticed, a green approach is often the less expensive one too. Holiday decoration is another area where recycling is a great idea.

Go on a mission to locate lost treasures for conversion to decorations. Make the Ghost of Christmas Past your friend while trolling the local flea markets and junk shops in search of traditional ornaments, garlands, and holiday figurines from yester-year. You might also find Christmas themed linens, dishware and glassware as well. Nostalgia wears well this season.

Your treasure hunt might yield the makings of a small vignette representing a child's delight. A little sled (maybe quickly repainted), a stuffed teddy, a few dolls and small wrapped gift boxes clustered under a tiny tree could make a charming scene on a tabletop or a deep indoor window ledge.

Old baskets or other interesting containers from another era can be handy. Look for old sheet music of Christmas carols and children's Christmas books to fill them. Use them for small wrapped gift boxes, party favors for that holiday bash you might be planning or even pinecones or cloved orange pomander balls. Big bowls or other containers are beautiful filled with extra ornaments.

A Family Affair
However you choose to celebrate this season, the time and care you and yours take to create your own home-grown holiday cheer are the moments that the dearest memories are made from.

The best decorating advice to employ now and forever is remembrance of things past: The time-honored tradition of offering warmth, kindness, generosity and joy to all in this special season. These gifts cost nothing yet create the kind of "interior design" we can all cherish and aspire to.

Search for old sleds and sleighs that you can use to make your own personal statement during the holidays. Image courtesy of rosemal.com