Deck the halls

Inside and outside, homes are dressing up for the festive season.

For some it may feature tinsel and a few hanging baubles, while others will deck the halls, rooms, and outdoors.

Increasingly, Kiwis are following their English and American counterparts in bringing Christmas outside so passers-by can enjoy the spectacle. From Santa and Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen, prancing across roofs, to icicles, fairy lights, and snowmen draping frontages, Christmas is coming on show throughout Christchurch. The city even has a Christchurch Christmas Light Display Enthusiasts group, which you can check out on Facebook.

Here are some ideas:

Fairy lights: Always popular, they can be hung from eaves, wrapped around trees, and used along fences for a magical night-time effect. Many have different display settings, and can be solar-charged.

Everyday items: Use your imagination and turn items such as an old bicycle into a work of art, draped in coloured Christmas lights. Wrap from the handlebars to the spokes, then park the bedecked bike along an exterior wall or against a fence.

Pretty porches: Make the most of sheltered porch corners with an outdoor Christmas table setting, bedecked tree, or empty boxes wrapped as presents. I use hanging baskets filled with silver tinsel across the front of the porch.

Front door wreath: Pick your favourite colours and make your own wreath, or buy one to hang. Remember quality decorations can be re-used every year.

Fences: Set the scene with Santa or candy cane cut-outs gambolling across the top of your fence, or go simple with tinsel, bows, and fairy lights. Many retailers, especially garden centres, stock outdoor Christmas decorations.

Christmas tree: Turn a front garden tree into an exterior Christmas tree by decorating with lights, baubles, and even balloons. ‘Tis the season after all.

Front entrance: Dress up your entryway with tinsel, hanging bell, and festive garlands. Add a few striped ribbons to the mix (maybe blue and white for a beach bach) and let it hang.

Porch seat: If you have a front porch or garden seat, how about a life-sized Santa sitting down before his busy Christmas eve?