Ivy Garlands
Cut lengths of ivy when out for a walk, the longer the better. Twine together and secure with picture wire (or opened up paper clips!). Drape along the mantelpiece, or festooning the stair banisters.

Ribbon Bows
Buy a few metres of gold, silver, red and blue ribbon and tie bows onto your garland or Christmas tree. They make easy, beautiful and elegant decorations.

Fruit Magic
A bowl or salver brimming with satsumas makes a lovely centre piece (that you can all help yourselves to as well!). Intersperse the oranges with pinecones for an extra touch.

Candlelight Christmas
Traditionally festive, the glow of candles makes any room special. Just remember not to leave candles unattended, and to make sure they are not placed in the way of hanging decorations or curtains that could catch light.

Old Fashioned
Get the kids to help thread popcorn into strings for an old-fashioned tree garland. After Christmas, you can hang the strings out to give the birds a New Year treat.

Shopping for Special Things
If you do want to go shopping for your decorations, why not buy things you'll love all year round? Red and green velvet cushions and fabulous throws will still be special after the big day.

Evergreen
Make arrangements of evergreen boughs and fronds in large vases. You can hang them with silver lametta strips, or tie them with ribbons if you want to make them even prettier.

Silver Spray
Pick pine cones and cut long branches of twigs. Spray them silver and arrange the cones in a bowl. You can put the silver branches in a vase, with the evergreens (see above) if you like.

Fairy Lights
White Christmas lights hung around a mirror reflect the magic of light back into the room. You can also twine lights through your garland for a really stunning piece.

Fireplaces
The mantelpiece is an obvious place to decorate, either with cards, a garland, candles or all three! Placing tea lights in tea light holders should help keep the house fire-safe, although don't ever leave burning candles unattended. Log fires are beautiful at Christmas, but if you don't have a working fireplace (maybe the flue is blocked up or closed off), a salver of pillar candles in the grate creates its own beautiful glow.

The Livingonline Editor recommends: if you live in the city (and don't have access to holly and ivy!) try Habitat for some very stylish decorations and pieces for your home (www.habitat.ie).