Merging the Holidays: Decorating Ideas

As the last piece of Halloween candy dropped into a child's plastic candy collector, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations magically appeared, simultaneously, in department stores.

Between Halloween and Christmas, Thanksgiving is treated like a middle child...given a nod of acknowledgement, and then quickly passed by to shower the favorite, Christmas, with attention.

I admit to not decorating for Thanksgiving. I don't have a good eye for decorating. My friend Sharon does; she can take pine cones, wreaths, candles, a tasteful turkey statue, and plaid, solid, and paisley fabrics, and somehow make a Thanksgiving-themed room suitable for Better Homes and Gardens. When the dust settles, I'm wide-eyed in amazement.

I work long hours. I don't have the time for decoration. (That's the best excuse I can come up with).

I promised myself that this year would be different. I asked myself, "How can a busy and decorating-challenged person pull off Thanksgiving home decor that can transition into Christmas without spending a fortune?"

A wreath. It is a holiday decoration that can be used from Thanksgiving to the New Year. recommends fresh wreaths for stunning holiday decorations. They are also 100 percent recyclable. Once the holiday season is over, there is no reason to throw your wreath in the trash because branches are biodegradable. Use the wreath as mulch for your garden or as a bird’s nest.

You'll want to spritz the wreath with a little water every few days to prolong its freshness, according to the Home Depot. 

A table centerpiece. It is all that's needed for eat-in-kitchens when decorating on a shoestring budget. "We have quite a few Thanksgiving floral arrangements and centerpieces to choose from," Gail of on Canton Road told Northeast Cobb Patch.

Flower Mania's Cornucopia Centerpiece (shown) is a beautiful array of myrtle, orange Saturn Roses, bicolored orange Circus Rose, yellow Viking Daisy Poms, orange Apricot Lady, mini Carnations, rust Tampa Alstroemeria, purple Monte Casino Aster, red Hypericum, Solidago, miniature pumpkin, pheasant feathers, miniature cattails and preserved fall leaves. The pheasant feathers and preserved fall leaves can be reused in Christmas decorating projects.

The Harvest Moon floral arrangement from Flowers Mania includes a round ceramic bowl, dried miniature Cattails, preserved fall leaves and Lotus pods that can be reused.

Linens. While we're talking table decorations, gold and deep red or maroon placemats and linens available at will work Thanksgiving to Christmas.

I purchased green, brown, black and white plaid placemats (shown), which will serve well at Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts. I add a small decoration to the corner of the placement, or a holiday-theme napkin ring, to help make the transition.

Candles. There are plenty of budget-friendly decorating items to be found. In the clearance aisle at I've found a lot of candles for $4 and when placed in the center of holly berries or miniature wreaths you can find at , you can create quick and easy candle displays. You can add small pinecones and preserved leaves to the wreath for Thanksgiving, then replace with holly sprigs or small glass ornaments for Christmas.

A great idea from Southern Living is the Advent Wreath (shown). Group pillar candles wrapped with strands of thread and arrange them in a large wooden bowl filled with dried black-eyed peas, pomegranates, and artichokes. Quick and easy.

Ornaments. Southern Living recommends setting out clear cylinders full of ornaments as decorations. Walmart sells ornaments in clear cylinders. Throw in gold or silver spray painted pinecones for Thanksgiving. Decorating can't get any easier than this!

If you have holiday decorating ideas for busy people (or the decorating-challenged) please add your pictures and share your ideas in the Comment Box below.