Going festive with interiors

It is the season to be happy and there is no better way than to create the mood in your living space. Retail stores and restaurants are already setting the festive mood and you should be no exception.

It is OK to decorate a little in advance from the last week of November to enjoy the season décor for a longer time. There are two methods to use when decorating for Christmas, depending on your personality, pace of life and project management style.

Grand finale style

This is where you decorate everything at one go and let it serve the entire month. This style is especially suitable for busy people who do not have much time. It has the get-over-and-done effect that would require finding a free afternoon and engaging neighbours, children, nieces or friends to get into the creative adventure of setting a festive mood.

Given that it is the only time you may get, this may be the only chance to set up the tree with garlands and ornaments plus lighting and all things festivity. Decorate the walls, surfaces, staircases and tabletops and complete your decorating in one stage.

There is a risk of boredom setting in early and needing a change, but it works for those who decorate about two weeks prior to the festive week.

Gradual style

I have found a more interesting way to do  Christmas décor. I prefer to start out as early as possible. Set up the Christmas tree and hang the wreath at the front door then keep it for a week in that state.

This creates a visual teaser and anticipation of good themes to come. Of course you cannot do this in the usual last-minute Kenyan style.  This requires planning and setting aside pockets of time each week. But the results are worth it and eliminate the drudgery and monotony that can creep in with the grand finale style when overextended.

Decorating in stages also enables you to add exciting new ideas that you may see and want to adapt or even copy during the month. Always start with the bigger, harder or more expensive projects which may be to set up the Christmas tree or light up a pine tree in the gardens.

These will be the projects that cause you to procrastinate because of the mental obstacle that you may perceive. Once the bigger milestones are achieved, you can slot in time to add the garlands a week later to the tree, then the ornaments and finally create a big exciting theme closer to the date, with lights reflecting on garlands and gifts eagerly awaiting to be opened.

The final week will be the time to set up table-mats and lighting up candles in anticipation of hosting your guests or keeping it intimate for just your close family members.