I always decorate with traditional Christmas decor: ornamented tree, strings of garland, and table runners in red and green. However, it all has to be taken down by the first of the year -- but non-holiday winter decor does not. Save yourself the work of decorating twice between now and spring. Decorate for the entire winter season with these 2012 winter decorating trends.
Do-it-yourself. The only way to ensure your winter decor is unique is to do it yourself. I like to put together my own crafty arrangements when I am able. For example, I have a vase full of branches in my dining area. I plan to place them in a clear vase for the winter and hang miniature ornaments from the branches. You can also create your own table centerpieces using pine cones, glitter, and candles or ornaments inside a wintry bowl or shallow vase.
Wintry arrangements. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. A simple arrangement of evergreen branches in a bucket, wrapped with a large red ribbon looks nice in the entry or outside the front door. Skip the poinsettia this year and create a table centerpiece with fresh flowers adorned by baby's breath, flanked by a few tea lights, all on a silver platter.
Metallic accents. I like to add metallic accents to my decor any time of the year, but it's especially pretty in the winter. Candlelight glows, reflecting off the shiny surfaces. Silver is a common choice in my home. Incorporate metallic photo frames, candle holders, tree ornaments, and so on among your regular winter decorations.
Snowy scenes. I have never been one to set up a winter scene on a table, complete with cotton snow, miniature houses, and snowmen. Although they are adorable, I prefer to hang paintings of snowy scenes in place of regular wall decor (where it works). Another easy winter wall decor option is to hang wall clings in the shapes of large snowflakes where there is space.
Home color trends. I have always decorated with the traditional red and green for Christmas. However, I think it would be nice to decorate with pretty winter-inspired hues for the entire season, rather than having to pack everything up and take out my regular decor as soon as Christmas is over. Winter color alternatives include: navy blue, royal purple, plum, gold, fire engine red, mint green, or combinations of any of these colors.
Tonya graduated from the interior design program at Alexandria Technical College in 2008. She currently lives in South Dakota and writes articles related to design, decorating, and home improvement for various Internet sites.
