Great Christmas decorating ideas -- from the most traditional to the contemporary to fabulous retro motifs

Don't tell us putting the tree up, hanging stockings and setting the dinner table doesn't get you excited about all the festivities.

Don't tell us putting the tree up, hanging stockings and setting the dinner table doesn't get you excited about all the festivities.

Red and gold

• Evergreen garland above doorways and on mantelpieces with red and green wire-edged chiffon ribbon
• Chunky church candles with sprigs of greenery poking out from underneath
• Table centrepiece of 'gilded' pears (spray painted gold), red apples and eucalyptus leaves in a large crystal or silver bowl
• Garland with gold wire stars entwined with red tartan ribbon
• Shaker themed table decorated with white linen, wooden scatter santas, wooden santa candleholders and red linen napkins tied with red ribbon
• 'Elegant' table decorated with ivory linens, gold scatter stars, gold crackers and gold candles

Blue and silver

• Individual bells hanging from tree branches with blue ribbon
• 'Night sky' table decorated with blue linen, silver snowflake and star confetti, silver wire stars as napkin holders
• Mantelpiece decorated with greenery and candles: silver star candles, blue pillar candles and votive candles
• To display Christmas cards, fill galvanised silver bucket with silver-sprayed curly willow (weight down and secure branches into sand, punch a hole in the cards and secure to branches with blue and silver curly ribbon)
• 'Twinkling silver' table decorated with silver mini-star candles, silver confetti, crackers and silver chocolate favours -- finished off with tightly packed white roses in a short silver cup for a centrepiece

For the little ones

• If all your friends have children, host an afternoon party for kids of all ages!
• Cover tables in brown parcel paper and cover with red star and green tree confetti and gold streamers
• Decorate with red and gold balloons
• Serve gingerbread men, mulled wine, festive fruit punch and mince tarts
• Festive jellybeans, chocolate coins and jelly heart favours

Under the sun

• Cold weather getting you down -- hold a Christmas fiesta party!
• Serve lime margaritas, strawberry daiquiris and hot weather food like chips and salsa, marinated veggies and jerk chicken skewers
• Decorate tables with bananas, pineapples, gold balloons, gold poppers and gold and purple confetti
• Hand out glow necklaces, gold maracas and party poppers as guests arrive

Retro ideas

• Spray-snow and electric 'candles' burning in the windows
• Make small paper cones from stiff wrapping paper, punch two holes opposite each other at open cone end. Tie a piece of ribbon through and fill with festive jelly bellys, silver dragees or chocolate coins. Hang them on a small tree near the door so guests can take one as they leave
• String cards on ribbon or twine and hang across fireplace

Homemade cards

• Snowflake  Fold blue patterned origami paper into quarters, cut into snowflake pattern, unfold and place in small vellum envelope. Punch hole in corner, fasten to gift ribbon and write message in silver pen.
• Gift tag  Using brown wrapping paper, cut out leaf shapes using pinking shears, punch hole in one end, fasten a small swatch of evergreen branch/holly berries/small tree decoration and fasten to gift with tartan ribbon.
• Stocking  Cut small stocking shape (3") out of burlap/felt/other thick material, glue decorative ribbon around the upper edge and write on stocking using permanent marker. If you're feeling really creative, stitch your message with embroidery thread.
• Clothes pin  Attach cards to package ribbon using clothespins that have been covered in brightly coloured paper shapes (stars, stockings, woolly hats, trees, etc). Get creative and add ribbon, glitter, photocopy transfers and confetti.

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