Happy Thanksgiving

As the holidays get closer, many people are asking about decorating on a budget. This can be both challenging and fun. One of the easiest decorations is usually free, depending on where you live.

Collect pine cones from your yard. Wash them off. If you want to make them glitzy, paint the edges with glue and sprinkle with glitter. Then place them in a large bowl. This makes a great centerpiece.

Inexpensive ideas:

1. You can do the same thing with Christmas ball ornaments. Pick a color that you like and buy a box of the ornaments to fill a bowl.

2. Tie a Christmas ball to fishing wire and hang with tape from a banister. You can do this between each banister and hang at different lengths or use different size ornaments. Since the fishing wire is clear, the balls look like they are floating.

Another idea is to use decorative water crystals. These are plastic “pellets” that, when combined with water, expand to become “marbles”. Since these are available in several colors, they can be used anytime of the year, but are especially great at the holidays. I like to use clear water crystals and then “float” mini ornaments in a vase. It provides for a great conversation piece!

The basic standby for holiday décor is to use candles. These are easily accessible and reasonably priced. You can use crystal candleholders, holiday plates for large pillars, votives in holiday dishes, and the list goes on with the possibilities.

The final suggestion in my list is to use food items for décor. All of the fall squash choices make pretty, colorful decorations and are certainly plentiful this time of year. You can also spray paint the squash in gold or silver to make it more festive, which of course, would make it inedible.

For more holiday entertaining ideas, please follow us on @eventperfect on Twitter for updates and more information.