Holiday decorating tips from Dawn

MANILA, Philippines - For actress, mother and Robinsons Department Store endorser Dawn Zulueta-Lagdameo, no season is more magical than the holiday season. “ Christmas is the most wonderful time to execute all these things in your dreams and fantasies. My goal, each year, is always to recreate these dreams through the decorations that I use.” Dawn, who is very whimsical and romantic when it comes to dressing up her home for the holidays, has worked with many themes and elements throughout the years, varying her décor in various stages of her life.

“Christmas décor is very personal,” muses Dawn. Décorating a home can vary on whether you’re single (something more sophisticated), newly-married (something more romantic) or, just like Dawn, a mother with kids who are just beginning to appreciate the magic and wonder of Christmas (lots of color, glittery stuff and the use of toys). Decorating for Christmas should also be very heartfelt. “If you love life, then you will surely enjoy decorating your home for Christmas because it allows you to enjoy your holidays more; it allows your family to enjoy Christmas more.”

Try out more of these great holiday decorating ideas from Dawn:

• White is a wonderful option to the usual green and red. A green tree with white trimming looks very nice and different. There is also something magical about an all-white tree — why not try a white tree with white and silver décor?

• You can also use white as a base for the brighter colors of Christmas. White helps to illuminate other colors. Wrap white tulle around your tree to bring out the brilliance of colors such as greens, blues, reds and golds.

• Mix up your tree decorations. Aside from the usual Christmas balls and lights, you can also put in crystals in different colors, small plush toys of Christmas figures such as reindeers, snowmen, Santa Claus (this works particularly well if you have young kids), or twigs that have been painted with metallic colors such as silver, copper or gold. You can even hang the Christmas cards you received that year or, just to remind you that Christmas is a family affair, hang photos of friends and family. “We did that several years ago and our Christmas tree became a family tree.”

• You can also try framing the prettiest of the Christmas cards you have received or hang them from the banister of stairways.

• Set up large urns or vases and put in wired twigs dipped in gold or copper dust. You can even fill transparent glass vases with the colorful fruits of the season such as pears, apples and oranges — the fruits don’t even have to be real!

• Give the Christmas buffet a more festive feel by throwing a nice mantle over the dining table and sprinkling it with candy, chocolate, nuts and glitter.

• Candles make great centerpieces. Dress them up by wrapping them in glittery trimmings or attaching crystals on them. Putting them next to bright red poinsettias would also make for great tabletop décor.

• Put candy canes in glass jars where both kids and adults — who are still kids at heart — can easily pull them out.

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All Christmas décor available at Robinsons Department Store.