Christmas is a beautiful time of year and one in which many of us spend extra time decorating our homes and yards.  Garlands can be an inexpensive way to decorate doorways, stair rails, pillars, mantels or even for framing pictures. 

Creating your own holiday garland can be completed in just one afternoon, depending on the length of the garland.  Here are some garland decorating tips, courtesy of Lowe's Realtor Benefits*:

• Decorate evergreen garland with flowers or poinsettias, holiday picks, ribbons, beads, berries, pine cones and other small holiday items.  Select a length of fresh or artificial garland and begin at one end weaving the items through and around the greenery.  Wired ribbons work best.  Attach florist's bows throughout the garland and continue adding picks, berries, wheat or other accessories.  Secure small items with florist's tape or wire.
• For carnation garlands, cut the flower stems off just below the buds.  String a length of double thread on a needle (as long as you want the garland to be) and then string the buds together by pushing the needle through them and out the tops of the flowers.  Tie the ends of the garland together, if desired, and store it in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• For fruit and candy garlands, use a combination of dried orange slices, popcorn, pine cones, cinnamon sticks and cranberries to make it natural.  Or, string together wrapped peppermint candy, pretzels, gumdrops, candles and red licorice.  Use double thread and a needle to string everything together, then tie the ends of the garland together, if you wish.
• Keep your garlands greener and fresher by using sharp, clean cutters to cut branches and then immediately putting cut ends in water until ready to use.  Crush the ends of woody stems to allow the cutting to soak up more water.  Immerse greenery in water overnight before arranging so the cuttings can absorb the maximum amount of moisture.  Be sure to keep the greenery out of sunlight.

For more decorating and home improvment tips, visit http://www.findhomesincharlottesville.com/ and click on "News You Can Use."  And, if you have a client who is moving and is in the market for a new home in the Charlottesville, VA or surrounding areas, please give me a call at (434) 220-2251.  I'd love to put more than 20 years of real estate experience to work for them!

*Reproduced with permission - http://www.lowesrealtorbenefits.com/.