by Susan Morris

Created on: August 01, 2008   Last Updated: August 27, 2008

When buying Christmas decorations, the options are endless. With outdoor decor, you can create a magical life-sized Christmas scene that reflects your taste and expresses your holiday ideals. Choose from inflatables, two dimensional displays, and displays with motion. Lighted displays bring beauty to dark winter nights.

Indoors, express holiday cheer with collectible ornaments and tableware. Miniature holiday villages and train sets are lovely Christmas decorations. Garlands, poinsettias, and greenery complete the look.

An outdoor display needn't seem like something from the Griswold's "Christmas Vacation." For tasteful outdoor Christmas decorations, consider:

Style
Details in artwork
Durability
Weatherproofing
Storage

When buying interior Christmas decorations, shop collectible brands like Lenox or Waterford Crystal. Christmas plates made by Royal Copenhagen are another very popular choice. If they seem pricey, buy one each year.

Consider festive holiday tableware for your Christmas traditions. Perfect for Christmas cookies, the Christmas Tree pattern by Spode doubles as Christmas decorations and tableware.

If you are handy, try Christmas decoration kits. In my family, we make advent wreaths and Yule logs, and we treasure beaded holiday ornaments made by my grandmother. Hand crafted Christmas decorations make wonderful gifts.

Many families share the Christmas story each year while they arrange the nativity set. Some collectible brands include Fontanini, Hummel, and Lladro. When selecting your nativity set, consider the following features.

Indoors or outdoors
Size
Is it lighted?
Collectability
Do you wish to add pieces each year?

Your Christmas decorations express your holiday style. When you can, buy quality collectibles that you will treasure for years.

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