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> Littleways to drawout the festive cheer in
modest-sized home interiors
A
stroke
of
Christmas
C
HRISTMAS
decorations
tend to be lavish and
extravagant, usuallymade
for bigger homes. However,
as we are now in an era where living
spaces have shrunk tremendously
and homeowners – especially the
millennials – have aminimalist
outlook on life, we share some tips
on how simple adjustments and
alterations, that do not require huge
spending, can add a little festive
sunshine to smaller living spaces.
The trick is toworkwithwhat is
already available in the home,
focusing on areas that have been
unattended to for some time.
DRESSINGWALLS
The walls of our homes are like
reusable canvases; where
decorations can be put up and taken
down, as andwhen. With Christmas
just around the corner, dig up those
old Christmas cards that have been
kept aside over the years as here’s a
way to finally put them to good use.
Christmas cards can be hung up
in somany creative ways and these
can add to the festive feel in the
home. Some well-lovedways to put
up old cards as decor include via
rustic photo frames twined loosely
across the inner frame; using wood
pegs to hold the cards; displaying
themon boards in the shape of
Christmas trees; hanging them
along a strip of festive red ribbon
attached to doors or the ceiling; or
simply clipped onwreaths.
For amodern take, put the cards
up on a bare wall and hold themup
using bright-colouredwashi
(Japanese paper) tape. Neon colours
are great to give a pop of bright
colour in an otherwise warm red
and gold Christmas feel. Besides,
washi tape can also be used to
create geometrical wintry shapes on
a wall. With some planning and a lot
of confidence, create a sharp outline
of a deer head, gift boxes or even
galloping reindeer.
Here’s another fun idea: if you
have a floating shelf, use washi tape
to create a “fireplace” and hang
stockings from the shelf as in the
glowing fireplaces seen inmovies
that emanate a warmand fuzzy
feeling of a cosy home.
CHRISTMAS TREE
If having a Christmas tree in the
home is amust, then opt for a small-
or medium-sized one that can fit on
a tabletop. By elevating the tree to a
higher area, an illusion of height
similar to that of a large-sized tree,
is achieved. Moreover, the elevated
tree won’t take up floor space,
providingmore room. Additionally,
presents won’t be accidentally
stepped on or kicked around by
children running wild!
Another tip – instead of the usual
tree skirt, place the compact tree in
a wicker basket for a rustic look. If
you’re handywith the needle, use
other popular Christmas options.
For the hallway that needs a little
festive glow, follow
IHeart
Organizing
blogger Jennifer Jones’
suggestion of hanging snowflakes
from the ceiling. Jones uses a
silhouettemachine to cut out the
snowflakes. If you do not have one,
there aremany DIY paper
snowflake tutorials readily available
online. The decoration is not only a
fun project to take onwith children
but canmagically transformdreary
hallways and narrow corridors into
a whimsical “winter” wonderland.
UNCONVENTIONAL PLACES
Take a good, hard look at your home
and find spots that are easily
overlooked and under-used, those
long, lost and forgotten deserted
corners. These are great places to
put decorations up and given a
refreshing, new look. Some
suggestions to dress these little
nooks and crannies include using
books fromyour home library, and
stacking themup to look like little
reindeer, Santa Claus or tree
embroidery thread to create
colourful patterns on the basket for
a pop of colour. The tree can also be
placed inmetal baskets, tin buckets
or wooden boxes – whichever that
complements your home design
style. Ribbons and bows in festive
hues can also be stuck on if sewing
is not your thing.
For amore unconventional tree,
try
EnjoyYour Home
blogger
Ludmila’s idea. She recommends
using loose fir tree branches,
placing them in a clear glass vase,
then decorating the branches with
Christmas ornaments, as one would
dowith a conventional tree. These
quirky-looking trees will make a
perfect tabletop or shelf decoration.
And they can be quite stylish too.
EVERY WHICHWAY DECOR
So you can gowithout trees, but you
LOVE the glitter and shine of
baubles and lights and simplymust
have these around the house at
Christmas. So, what’s the big deal?
Just pop them randomly around the
house! You can also spruce up the
dining area with a DIY-ed ornament
“chandelier”. Simply suspend
Christmas ornaments on long
lengths of ribbon attached froma
ceiling hook. Use glittery chiffon
ribbons for extra sparkle and vary
the lengths of the ribbons,
preferably the longer ones in the
centre, the shorter on the outer
layers. If a whole cluster feels too
messy, then consider using a wire
wreath frame and space out the
ribbons along the frame. If you use
pendant lighting, you can suspend
the ornaments from it instead.
Even scraps of old Christmas
wrapping paper can be used in
decorating. Fold and cut the scraps
of paper into triangular shapes or as
a flag, and glue themalong a thin
cord, then string themacross the
windows, below shelves or under
the doorway. Cuttings in the shape
of trees, reindeer and lightbulbs are
TURN TO
PAGE 20
X
BY
ALYSSA J. OON
PHOTO: BRIT.COM
PHOTO: ENJOYYOURHOME.BLOGSPOT.MY
PHOTO: IHEARTORGANIZING.COM
PHOTO: REALSIMPLE.COM
PHOTO: DRIVENBYDECOR.COM
19
theSun ON FRIDAY
|
DECEMBER 8, 2017