Try new take on tasteful decorations

It’s easy to be intimidated by all those lovely magazine spreads showing the perfect holiday table.

But gorgeous holiday decorations can be more than just a checkout-line fantasy. Many ideas require little more than a trip to the grocer and a bit of experimenting.

“The first thing to do is relax,” says Diana McMillen, senior food editor at Midwest Living magazine. “And keep it simple. After all, the meal you are eating and companionship you are sharing are the most important things.”

So, if time is precious, skip the handcrafted gingerbread village. Instead, try a variety of vases brimming with candy canes or red and green mint candies. Add some lights and greenery, and you’ve got a photo-worthy centerpiece.

“In a way, you are just adding something to the meal that makes it a little more fun,” says McMillen. “Think of centerpieces as entertainment, not a measure of your being the host or hostess.”

The same is true for decorations throughout the house, whether it’s a trio of jars filled with sugar-coated gumdrops, stained glass cookies hung on the tree or a garland of popcorn and cranberries.

All are inexpensive and easy to master. There’s another benefit, too: a chance to pass along a holiday family tradition.

“Edible ornaments and decorations are some of our most popular content,” says Deanna Cook, director of creative development for FamilyFun magazine “We are in this age of customization and personalization. People like to make something that is meaningful.”

As with all holiday ventures, planning and getting an early start are crucial. Start the popcorn garland on Christmas Eve and you’re unlikely to do much hall decking with them, never mind create a family tradition.

So here are some simple, affordable ideas from the folks behind those glossy holiday spreads.

•Use ribbon to decorate items you already own, especially if they are family heirlooms. Grandmother’s gravy boat or attractive silverware are easily spruced up and serve as a reminder that the holidays are about being together.

•Fruits and candies make nice displays, especially when piled in a cluster of bowls (use an odd number, such as three or five). A centerpiece of bowls of wrapped candies, each bowl a different height, can double as decoration and dessert.

Or fill the bottom third of a trifle bowl with assorted fruits, such as oranges, tangerines or kumquats. Tall glass vases with a mix of lemons and limes also look nice, as do two varieties of apples in a wide, shallow bowl.

In addition, McMillan suggests playing with greenery and ribbon to enliven the display.

Don’t feel stuck in a rut of red and green. Purple, orange and all things sparkly look great, too. But stick to one color. Small lights, especially those with battery packs instead plugs, are perfect, not to mention safer.