Yes, you're right. I get an idea in my head and I can't let it go. Well, this time it has to do with the power and pleasure of "theme-ing". For those of you who don't know what I'm ranting about, it's a method I feel makes decorating fun instead of frustrating, and it can work for your holiday decorations as well.
For instance, here are a couple of obvious Christmas tree themes to hang your hat on this holiday season. Certainly for the children, Santa comes to mind, but there are always snowmen, stars, silver and gold, a Victorian holiday and a rustic/outdoorsy holiday. In fact, I'm sure if you went out to your local holiday decorations store, you would find a plethora of items to fit any one of the themes I just mentioned.
Now, here's what you do once you've selected a theme. Let's use snowmen as an example. Start making a list of all the things you might expect to find around snowmen. Snowmen, of course ... snowflakes ... certainly a variety of blue, silver and white glass ornaments would be appropriate.
Icicles make sense, too, but now we need to think of some really unique additions to the tree that not everyone would think of. How about hanging a couple of pairs of children's ice skates on the tree? Large stuffed snowmen are fun to see sitting on the branches. Maybe a black top hat and a garland that looks like a striped knitted scarf would make everything just a little jollier this year.
Do go crazy when you're making your list, because some of the most creative ideas will come out of something that may seem ridiculous at first - like hanging carrots on the tree because of the traditional snowman's carrot nose, or placing a pair of black boots at the foot of the tree ready and waiting for Frosty to appear.
If you like the way your theme tree is going, you can expand on it and spread small vignettes throughout your home. Something nice in the entryway, perhaps on a side table or going up the stairs, would be a great start to the theme. How about a themed centerpiece for your dining table and a wall hanging or holiday picture in the hallway? If the theme stays consistent throughout the house, as small as the vignettes may be, it will surely make a strong statement.
Some of the newer themes these days are "A Seaside Holiday," with starfish and sand dollar ornaments; "A Bohemian Holiday," full of bright, jewel-toned colors, and "Adirondack Style" which combines primitive lodge styles with country.
But the most exciting and rewarding style for this year's decorations is "The Red, White and Blue." For reasons we all understand, this is a very popular theme, and I must admit I kept quite a few of my traditional ornaments boxed up in the attic this year so I could adorn my tree with the red, white and blue.
I started with tiny white lights and then added a red, white and blue flag-designed ribbon. My version of the flag colors is slightly muted and deepened, so as not to end up with a Fourth of July tree. I found a Santa with a deep red coat and navy velvet pants and several snowmen with navy or deep red hats and scarves.
The three colors of glass ornaments look lively on my green tree, and the addition of deep red and navy berries and large, spherical ornaments of berries help give the tree a homey feel. Mittens out of felt and a variety of rusted star ornaments demonstrate the variety that allows me to feel creative yet stay within my theme.
Whatever theme you choose, may it include love, laughter, family and friends. And, from Matt and me, all the best for this holiday season, and may we all enjoy peace with the coming new year.
(Shari Hiller writes this column with Matt Fox. They also co-host the Home & Garden Television show Room by Room. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)
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