Decorating the house with holly, ivy etc- your top tips

[GeorgeEliot]

I would like to make my house look lovely and christmassy with garlands of holly, ivy etc. But no idea how to get started.

Please help me out with some ideas. We are in the country and ample supplies of stuff in the garden.

Thanks.

I would start small with the mantle and see how you get on. Use wire and ribbon, holly and ivy. I include orange (dried) and cinemon if I have been organised enough to get some.

How do you do it though Merrin? How do you get the stuff to stick together?

Am a complete novice at this !

I have just finished my door wreath. Used a wire coat hanger , pine, holly and a red ribbon. Wired the lot together with thin gardening wire.FIrst bits of pine, then holly and then the ribbon. ( Made the bow and then wired it on .)
To do a garland , again you need fine wire best use green and you have to wire the stems of the cuttings ..Its hard to explain but actually quite logical and easy to do once you get started Get a big roll of red / gold ribbon to wind over the to p and cover any wire , or buy those ready made bows....

I get two bits of holly, fairly long, wire them together and then add the rest till it looks presentable. Get green coated wire and it wont show.

Just go out and pick some and have a go, armed with wire you'll be surprised at how easy it is.

You're over-thinking it (and I know 'cos that's my trick )

Well, funny enough the first thing we do is get all the decorations down from the loft haha ( we have a artificial christmas tree, to stop mess creating) and pop the Christmas tree up and pop the decorations on the tree ( i always let my DS help with the decorations) and then put the lights in the window and then the mantle and the Christmas decorations in our hall and our other room. Everything not finished yet with being busy on YouTube and everything hahaha x

How long does ivy last? I've got loads in my garden, but was wndering whether I need an oasis thing to make it last?

I might be a bit late with my response but...I have an artificial (cheap) garland that I put on the mantle and then add fresh things to it.

Spruce/pine; ivy; holly and berries; candles in tall holders and some lights added to finish it off - it always look gorgeous and will last for a couple of weeks.

If you've got spindle bannisters on your staircase and weave ivy and tinsel up that. I know someone who used condoms to keep the greenery going on the staircase, but balloons might cause fewer awkward questions.

If you have a glass panel in your front door (or indeed any door if you get keen) you can do 'stained glass' with black card and coloured tissue paper. Would also look good in a window.

Top condom tip! :o

We have three fireplaces downstairs and I makw swags with a diferent theme for each. To fix to the mantelpiece you need two butchers hooks, one hooked over each end of the mantel, with the free end of the hook through the swag. Bows hide the metal work.

Thanks bluechampagne, I am planning to run the ivy up through the spindles. Think I'll use balloons rather than condoms!!