Start a New Tradition

If Santa’s reindeer and the snowmen you used last holiday season look a little tired why not do something out of the ordinary this year? Make a break with the traditional and go south of the border for your inspiration. You can still recycle some of those decorations from yesteryear by bringing all the colors in your home décor together.

Hang tree ornaments in hand painted stamped tin. They add a touch of whimsy in bright purples, greens, reds, yellows and blues in the shape of angels, geckos, stars, butterflies, half-moons, wreaths, humming birds, candles and pineapples. Use strings of colored paper garlands and red chili pepper lights and you have a whole new look.

To create a centerpiece for your dining table, that works with your Mexican theme, drape a striped serape lengthwise across the table, center a hammered tin mirror on it and add candles in small tin luminaria ? use as many as will fit on the mirror. If the scent and look of pine boughs is a must, scatter them on top of the serape around the mirror ? what could say Holidays more?

This year put your poinsettias in clay pots and set them on the bathroom vanity, group them in the foyer or on top of an armoire. A simple wooden bowl full of shiny balls in every color makes a great coffee table decoration. To transform your fireplace mantle, group carved silver candlesticks in several sizes and use different colored candles in them. Suddenly all your rooms have come together through the use of color. If you have items in various colors left over from previous holiday decorations, this is the way to use them all. It’s a great change from red and green, gold and silver.

Outdoors you may line a walkway or steps with luminaria. No need to do the sand and candle routine. There are electric luminaries now that look great and are easy to set out and they won’t blow out in the wind. Still attached to that front door wreath to greet your guests? Buy one of straw and tie on handcrafted clay figures with raffia. Native pyracantha berries add color and are abundant this time of year. A few sprigs of natural willow branches and you have an original. If this sounds a bit intimidating, or you're just not feeling “crafty”, hang a wreath of chili peppers -- you may decide to leave it there all year!

The beauty of this style of holiday decorating is that it goes with every theme, not just Spanish Colonial, Santa Fe or Southwest Territorial. It looks wonderful in a contemporary setting as well. There are any number of local merchants that specialize in Mexican furnishings and accessories -- no need to travel to parts south. Have fun, use your imagination and enjoy a safe and happy holiday!

Hope you enjoyed this month's DECORATING TIPS. We'll have something for you each month so visit our website again.

by Jacque Ramsey