How to Store Artificial Wreaths and Garlands: Your Guide to Keeping Them Fresh for Next Year

The Christmas season is over, and if you are one of those people who pay attention to superstitions, you are probably just now deciding to take down all the Christmas décor, including those artificial wreaths and garlands. The old superstition is that you have to wait until the New Year to take these items down in order to ensure good luck for the New Year. Whether or not this is true…it probably isn’t by the way, many people do wait until January to take these items down just so that they can enjoy these for as long as possible.

For those who are ready to take down these artificial wreaths and garlands, as well as other décor, we have some advice that you can follow to store these for the next year so that they can be used once again and still look brand new.

Facts to Keep in Mind When Storing Artificial Wreaths and Garlands

1. Take the time to clean off those artificial wreaths and garlands that may have been outside. You will find that no matter where you are located, these items have seen some weather. So, clean them before storing them so that they look good as new when you hang these the next year.

2. Get the proper storage. Consider putting garland into hard plastic totes so that the garland is not pinched or smashed. You will find that wreath hanging bags are great especially if you have a closet or wall to hang these on. It keeps them looking great and ready to hang when needed.

3. Do not allow anything heavy to sit on these items while being stored, hence the reason that you need something strong to hold these. If something is heavy on these it will alter the way that these look when you take them back out next year.

The Origins of Christmas Ornaments: A Festive History Lesson

When you see the numerous magazines and websites that are featuring Christmas tree décor and themes, you often see the latest and greatest ideas. Whether this is a tree that is decorating to commemorate Mardi Gras or even those that are themed after movies like “The Grinch” or even “Die Hard”, these are some of the decor themes that people are using. However, for those who are looking for something that is going to have to more meaning, then they will want to look at using Christmas ornaments that have a rich history behind them or gives a nod to history in one way or another.

How Christmas Ornaments Help Us Connect with Our Past

1. Blown glass Christmas ornaments were very popular and have been given the recognition as being one of the first store purchased ornaments that people could find. Keep this history alive and use blown glass on your current tree this year.

2. Dried fruits and nuts were something that were used as Christmas ornaments, so if you really want to keep history alive, then you can do some DIY projects and make your own Christmas ornaments this Christmas season.

3. Paper ornaments that were handmade were highly popular for many people, as this was before the mass production of ornaments hit the market.

These are a just a few ways that you can keep history alive. And if you truly want to have something to talk about while viewing your tree, think about using ornaments that have a deeper meaning throughout history. Whether this is using a traditional star, candy cane, hanging a glass blown pickle in the tree, or the like, these are all a way to pay homage to those who came before you. It can be a neat theme to use for any tree, and you will find it easier than ever to find what you need.

Why Prelit Christmas Trees are the Perfect Choice for Your Holiday Decor

There are tons of prelit Christmas themes out there, and one of those is a cozy theme. What comes to mind when you think of cozy? Do you think about being in warm pajamas, a warm beverage in hand, watching the fire and just relaxing? For many people that is what cozy is all about. So, how can you create a cozy theme in your prelit Christmas trees?

Take the elements that make you think of cozy and use this on your prelit Christmas trees. For example, hang ornaments that are dark red and white throughout the tree to symbolize a glowing fire. You can even opt for ornaments that are hot chocolate or coffee to signal your favorite warm drink.

And one of the ways to make this even cozier aside from the décor on these prelit Christmas trees is to have a playlist of songs that are going to help build the cozy theme.

Here are some of the cozy Christmas songs that people love

I’ll Be Home For Christmas // She & Him

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas // Sam Smith

Blue Christmas // Elvis Presley

White Christmas // Bing Crosby

Santa Baby // Kylie Minogue

Baby, It’s Cold Outside // Idina Menzel, Michael Bublé

I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm // Ingrid Michaelson

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) // Mariah Carey

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas //Perry Como

Winter Wonderland // Doris Day

Holly Jolly Christmas // Michael Bublé

Wonderful Christmastime // Paul McCartney

Let It, Snow! Let It, Snow! Let It, Snow! // Frank Sinatra

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree // Brenda Lee

Frosty The Snowman // The Jackson 5

You’re A Mean One Mr Grinch // Pentatonix

Here Comes Santa Claus // Gene Autry

Santa Claus is Coming to Town // Frank Sinatra

Rudolf, The Red-Nosed Reindeer // The Crystals

Silent Night // Sinéad O’Connor

We Wish You A Merry Christmas // John Denver, The Muppets

Run Run Rudolf // Kelly Clarkson

The Christmas Song // Nat King Cole

O Holy Night // Leona Lewis

Do You Hear What I Hear? // Whitney Houston

Do They Know It’s Christmas // Band Aid

Fairytale of New York // The Pogues, Kirsty MacColl

Whatever you decide to do for your cozy theme, playing some of these songs is going to help you relax after you have decorated your home!

For those who are putting up prelit Christmas trees this year, there are several themes that you can choose from. For those who are wanting something that is bright and sunny to liven up the holiday times, especially if you live in an area that is more snow prone and gray skies, then the use of bright and sunny themes on these prelit Christmas trees is something that you will find is going to bring the light into your home. So, how can you use this type of theme on prelit Christmas trees? There are a few themes that you may want to consider!

1. The Beach Theme:

If you are truly wanting to get some bright sun into your home during the Christmas season that may be a bit dark, then use the beach theme. With this theme you are all about anything that reminds you of the hot weather on the beach, the bright sun and the fun in the sand that you had.

2. The Ocean Theme:

This is all about all the things that you can find in the ocean. Rather this is fish or sharks! Those who use this theme often love going into the ocean during their vacations.

3. Go with Gold:

You cannot go wrong with a gold theme that is going to shine and be bright in your home. This can be coupled with just about any other color that you want to make it shine and be bright.

4. Rainbow:

For those who love the colors of the rainbow, there are those who are using all these colors on their tree in order to make the tree look like a giant rainbow!

5. Go with White:

There are tons of white themes out there, but these when coupled with the lights on these prelit Christmas trees are going to be bright in your home, despite the snow that may be outside your windows.

If you want to add some sunshine into your home during the holidays, one of these themes is going to do just that. Of course, they are not really traditional themes, so you may have to decide if you are okay with going with a nontraditional theme. There is nothing wrong with going with a nontraditional theme, it is all about finding something that shows your personality and that you are comfortable in having displayed in your home.

Real vs Artificial Christmas Trees: Which Will Cost You More in the Long Run?

It’s just a matter of weeks before Christmas is around. Children will sing, folks will dance. Mothers will cook, and everyone will do what they know to do best.

But what’s a Christmas season without trees to bring in more life?

If you’re looking to add spice to your Christmas or you wish to make it the best of its kind, then buy trees.

It may be pretty daunting to decide which tree to buy, especially if you’re buying for the first time, but here’s a guide to help you.

What is the better choice for Christmas trees? A real tree or an artificial Christmas tree? What factors do you consider when choosing one for your home?

The Upfront Cost: Real Trees vs Artificial Trees

Price first.

Currently, the price of a live Christmas tree at Home Depot ranges from $65 to $110. Most local Christmas tree farms charge by height, with 78 dollars for an 8-foot tree and 80 dollars for a 7-foot tree.  And yes, sales of real trees increased by 20% between 2017 and 2018, reaching a total of about 32.8 million.

A Christmas tree’s price varies according to its quality, height, and other special features (such as pre-lighting).  In 2018, the average price of an artificial Christmas tree was $104.

At Home Depot, pre-lit LED trees currently cost a minimum of $159, with additional bells and whistles putting the price higher. Artificial Christmas trees are available anytime, which is one of their most significant advantages.

Peak sales usually take place during the last two weeks of December or during the end of the holiday season.

According to ACTA, the cost of purchasing and replacing an artificial tree is three times that of maintaining a real tree every year.

If you are concerned about cost, it would be better to buy an artificial tree.

You don’t want your guests to be disappointed with this year’s blend of Christmas ornaments on your tree!

For office managers or receptionists who are responsible for decorating prelit Christmas trees in the office, it can be frustrating to get this right. You want something that everyone is going to like, and something that is not going to be in any way offensive to those in the office. For this reason, many people opt to use prelit Christmas trees without any decor on them at all. However, there are tons of themes that you can use on these prelit Christmas trees that are going to be suitable for the entire office and be something that is super fun as well!

1. Go traditional!

This means using red and green throughout the tree…the typical colors of Christmas that everyone knows and loves. You will find that the traditional theme is going to be one that is easy to do, and it is going to be something that you can do year after year. After all, this is a traditional theme for a reason!

2. Go with a white theme on your tree.

This is a simple theme that can be beautiful and full of light! You will find that white bulbs, white garland, and other white elements, like flowers, on this tree to bring it to life. When paired with the white lights on the tree, it is going to be like the entire tree glows.

3. Silver and gold are two colors that are classy…

perfect for any office that wants to have a theme of elegance in their office. You will find that silver and gold are two colors that are easy to find, so it is easy enough to make this your office theme. You can even take this a step further and hang gold and silver throughout the office to bring the theme together.

4. Use a theme that matches what your office does.

You will find that this can be a fun way to bring the entire workplace together. For example, those who have a plumbing business may hang some PVC pipe and other types of elements on the tree. You will find that this is one of the themes that can make customers smile when they do come into the office.

What theme will your office be using? Let everyone have a say-so by letting everyone vote for the theme that they want out of the themes that are out there. It will make everyone feel as though they are a part of this!

When you think about artificial Christmas trees, you often think about dark green trees that look super life-like. While they may be artificial, you often find yourself wondering if they are real because they have such a life-like look to them! With this being said, there are some artificial Christmas trees that are entirely white. They are not going to be green with white flocking, but they are truly white. These white trees are something that was once widely popular, and they are still found today. Are they all the rage that they were before? Not really, but they are becoming more popular now. With this being said, for those who want white artificial Christmas trees, they are going to find that they are easily found.

Why go with white?

For many people, the idea of going with white artificial Christmas trees is one that makes them think of a cold winter day since the white is like snow. Most people find that they are super easy to decorate in whatever color that you want, including white for a true winter wonderland theme!

There are those who argue that a white Christmas tree is not something that can use year after year. Instead, they opt to use a white Christmas tree in select rooms of their home, rather than use this as the main tree in their home.

Colors to Consider with White

For those who do decide to go with white artificial Christmas trees, they often find that there are so many colors combos that they can use with this tree. For those who are looking for inspiration, here are some great colors/themes that can be used with these white trees for a beautiful end result.

1. Peppermint…you can make a white tree look like one big peppermint by arranging red ornaments throughout this tree.

2. Gold and silver are going to look great with a white tree…as it will almost have a glow about it when combined with clear or white lights.

3. Go with traditional colors like red and green to add a bit more traditional Christmas to the tree.

Basically, any color that you choose is going to go great with this tree.

So, are white artificial Christmas trees the best choice for you? They can be fun and elegant, depending upon how you decide to decorate this. It could be a nice change for you if you are up for a change this year!

Why Pre-Lit Trees Are the Perfect Addition to Your Dining Room

The moment it’s Christmas you know what happens next– bells jingle and lit trees sparkle. Everyone loves yuletide but not everyone knows how to begin when it comes to Christmas day decoration.

Do you begin with outdoor decorations? Or, your front yard? Maybe you just swing into your indoor space, like your dining room. Whatever way you begin, make sure a prelit tree goes into the dining room.

The dining room is one of the critical hot-spots during the festive period. Family and friends gather in the dining room for at least twice daily throughout the holiday.

When it comes to adorning your dining room, there’s so much room for you to explore your creativity. Dining room decorations require a bright and elegant design style. When selecting your decoration set up for your dining room, you should start by considering the available space. This would help you to know the kind of prelit tree size that can easily fit your dining room.

Dine under the stars – tips for incorporating pre-lit trees into your dining room decor

Light up your dining room area with Prelit Christmas trees! During the holiday meal, allow beautiful Prelit Christmas trees to create a sophisticated ambiance.

Large dining rooms can accommodate a full-sized elegant Christmas tree. You can place a full fir Prelit tree.

Cozy dining rooms can accommodate medium-sized Prelit trees. You can select a slim shaped tree to fit perfectly into your space.

To complement the prelit tree, you can also hang curtain lights for a more aesthetic background. Select tree ornaments using a defined color scheme. Ornaments with matching the color of dining room linen and tableware would have a more decorative look.

Add a beautiful centerpiece to your dining table. For longer tables, you can add a couple of small-sized prelit trees down the center of the tree.

Prelit Christmas trees give the dining room an elegant profile. You should add one to yours during the next holidays.

The Best Christmas Xpress Online Deals You Can’t Miss!

All aboard the Christmas Xpress! Christmas Xpress Online is your one and only stop for everything related to Christmas. We take our love of all things Christmas, whether it is artificial Christmas trees, Christmas ornaments, outdoor decorations, prelit Christmas trees, garland and much more and turn this into blogs that you can learn from, share with others, and ultimately use to make an amazing Christmas!

Take a moment and think about what would make your Christmas holiday one that you consider perfect? Most people when they think about a perfect Christmas often think about those memories that they have from when they were children, and while you cannot go back in time, you can use the information that we have as a way to start decorating and designing your upcoming Christmas season. Just what can you learn from Christmas Xpress Online?

Why Shop at Christmas Xpress Online?

For those who are going to be putting their trees into their dining rooms…how about taking this and running with it to the point that your entire dining experience feels as though it is a part of your tree theme? This is just one of the ways in which we are helping bring magic to the Christmas season with what we offer!

Looking for a holiday gift for your boss? After all, you feel the need to get them something but maybe you don’t want something that is going to be considered highly personal. We have several ideas for gift giving, including what to give your boss and the other people in your family!

Our website is a wealth of Christmas information. We examine how you should be storing your artificial Christmas trees, how to use prelit Christmas trees with outdoor décor, how to get your entire family involved in the decorating process, themes to use with these artificial Christmas trees, whether garland is a must have or not, and other relatable topics. The idea is that with us on your side, your Christmas is going to be much easier for your to design, implement and rock at!

If you are ready to start figuring out your Christmas season, then it is time to get aboard the Christmas Xpress Online. Start following our blog to stay up to date on the latest information that we release, find the best theme for your tree, and ultimately make your Christmas one that everyone will remember for many years to come because it is so perfect.

Add Some Sparkle to Your Holidays with Silver Artificial Christmas Trees

Every year, it seems that gold and silver are two colors that many people use within their artificial Christmas trees and other décor throughout their homes during the Christmas season. However, it seems that this year we are going to see more silver being used throughout these trees. Why the increase in silver? Many people are finding that the cooler tone of the silver helps to bring in that winter, snowy feel that is outside, without the freezing temps!

Do you feel like silver could be beneficial in your artificial Christmas tree décor? The good thing about silver is that this is something that can be added to whatever décor that you like. It is a simple, more neutral color that is going to go with the other colors of your tree. You can even integrate this gold, as a silver and gold theme is a popular option with artificial Christmas trees!

So, how can you make sure that silver is going to reign supreme in your tree? We have a few tips

1. Try to use silver bulbs throughout the tree, as this is going to add the silver into the tree with ease.

2. You can opt to use a silver star at the top. Or if you are feeling more creative, you can make a Christmas bow to string through the tree that is silver to add in the silver in this method.

3. Consider a silver Christmas tree skirt, as this is going to add a full pop of silver to the entire look.

When it comes to artificial Christmas trees, you are going to find that any décor goes. You can personalize this however you want. But, if you are truly want to make your tree stand out, then going with one of the trending themes out there will do this!