The Christmas tree is a large part of Christmas decorating, but there are years when it is just too inconvenient or too expensive to bother. On those occasions, you can still fill your home with the holiday spirit without buying and setting up a tree.
The mantle: Many homes have a fireplace in the living room or family room. If your home does not, decorate the top of the entertainment center instead, or choose another focal point in the room such as a picture window. Using green garland or live evergreen branches, fill the top of your fireplace or focal point with greenery. Next, integrate candles or Christmas lights into the arrangement. Be very mindful of fire hazards. Make sure candles and candleholders are tall enough to not touch the other décor. If you are using live plant material, you may want to forego using candles all together. Once this is done, further decorate the area with artificial poinsettia blossoms, shiny ornaments, or pine cones with artificial snow. Finally, hang a stocking for each family member from the front of your holiday arrangement.
Christmas Ornament: You do not have to forgo displaying your ornaments if you do not have a tree. You can display them on the coffee table in a large glass bowl. Your most prized ornaments can be displayed on a silver or gold display piece shaped like a miniature Christmas tree.
Wreaths: Wreaths are much easier to display than Christmas trees. You can hang multiple wreaths both inside and outside the home, for instant holiday spirit. Your wreath can also be decorated in an unlimited number of themes.
Poinsettias: Another simple way to create a festive atmosphere is to display poinsettia plants in the home. The brilliant red green and white colors of these plants are a wonderful addition to any holiday décor. For a fun twist, you can create a poinsettia tree by stacking multiple plants in a pyramid formation. You can also purchase a very large poinsettia plant and display it in the entrance to your home to greet your guests with an instant holiday atmosphere.
Table setting: If you just do not have a lot of space for decorations, you can use your kitchen or dining room table as a festive centerpiece. Decorating it with an Advent wreath, (a circular wreath with an evergreen base that holds 4 candles) and hang a star ornament from the chandelier or ceiling to celebrate the weeks before Jesus birth, and to symbolize the wise men following the North Star.
Windows and door: A quick, classy, and inexpensive way to decorate for Christmas is to place an electric candle in each window of the home, especially the windows on the front of the house. If you have enough wreaths and feel like using your ladder, you can hang them on the front of each window as well. Add a wreath to your front door and the exterior of your home will be ready for the holiday season.
