Images from an Eclectic Christmas
By Lori Garcia, editor-in-chief

Many of us would describe our holiday decor as eclectic--a fun mix of different styles, colors, and themes.

This month's Style Chic is filled with images of an eclectic Christmas from porcelain nativity scene figures to wax village houses. Enjoy the sites of the season.

Also learn...

> Holiday Decorating Tips
> Tips on Hanging Lights

Holiday Decorating Tips

* Pick one main color to focus on: Red, Maroon, Pink, Blue, etc., and then pick corresponding colors to complement: Golds, Silvers, Greens. Never mix red and pink together.

* Add decorative holiday placemats to any coffee, side, or occasional table to add instant charm to your ordinary tables.

* Cover existing throw pillows with holiday patterns.

* Display Christmas cards around the house to add to your decor.

* Swap out artificial flower arrangements with more appropriate poinsettias, artificial or real.

* Repeat a theme: this is true with colors, ornaments, or other decorations. Say you want to do a candy land theme. Repeat this theme in the tree ornaments, in the garland on the fireplace and in your holiday figurines. You collect a new Santa figurine each year for your mantel, or any other type of figurine.

Tips on Hanging Lights

* When decorating the holiday tree, distribute lights from top to bottom and add strands as necessary. Make sure to test the lights before putting them on the tree.

* Net and hedge lights can save you tons of time for your outdoor lighting decor. You'll have them up in minutes not hours.

* Use icicle lights sparingly. These typically look good on angular roofs and not on straight ones.

* Ideal for seasonal use or for everyday security, innovative Photoelectric Outdoor Switch Timers make lighting efforts a snap. Look for systems, either mechanical or digital, that turn on at dusk and then off automatically at a preselected time.

*Eliminate plugging in your tree lights each day by using a convenient indoor lamp foot switch. By simply depressing the switch with a light tap of the foot, lights or other devices will illuminate instantly.