This post is sponsored by BIG W.
Being that it’s summer in Australia at Christmas time, many families spend all or part of Christmas Day outdoors. This year we will be spending the afternoon and evening at my parent’s home so when BIG W set me the challenge of sharing hints for decorating the home this Christmas, their outdoor patio seemed the logical space in need of a little Christmas cheer! Here’s how I set about the challenge…
Step 1. Decide on a colour theme
I chose a silver and red theme primarily because I loved the long, red, plastic ornaments that I found at BIG W (shown above). Don’t be afraid to bring a little of the indoors outside if your outdoor entertaining area is protected from the elements. I hung silver tinsel and large, red plastic baubles in combination with those lovely long ornaments under my parent’s patio area.
Step 2. Dress the table
Start with a tablecloth that you love, such as the Christmas Time Tinsel Dove Tablecloth shown here. Create a simple Christmas table centrepiece (or two or even three depending upon the size of your table). I started with a large Etc Verdi bowl shaped vase and an assortment of small and medium red and silver baubles that we weren’t using on our candy coloured Christmas tree.
Step 3. Add candles
Candles are fabulous in the evening if your outdoor area is protected from the wind. I used two red pillar Waxworks Citronella candles to help discourage rogue mosquito attacks come early evening, in combination with regular white pillar candles in two different heights. It all came together thanks to a round, red plastic tray and some red and silver decorating gems (that even include sweet little transparent snowflakes).
I also added three red, Christmas themed Etc Astra Candle Holders with tea light candles to a set of open shelves that my parents have in their patio area.
Step 4. Include something for the kids
What would Christmas be for children without a candy cane or two? Presented on a tray with a glass jar of Cavendish & Harvey Fruit Candies I know of at least one little girl who will enjoy this sweet corner of the patio come Christmas evening!
Step 5. Light it up
Lights are to Christmas as butter is to bread! Each year we go looking at the homes in our neighbourhood that have been decorated with Christmas lights and sparkling Santas, reindeers, stars and all manner of Christmas cheer. And every year Immy asks if we can decorate the outside of our house with Christmas lights. It hasn’t happened yet! I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she spies the Christmas Time Indoor/Outdoor LED Santa. It might not be the whole house but it will still be special.
Santa has been joined under the patio with a Christmas Time Connectable Starter Kit (24.9metres of LED lights) and a set of Solar LED Star Garden Stakes. The Star Garden Stakes have a nice long lead so that the solar panel can be placed out in the sun, even when the stars are in the shade. Remember to test all of your lights before hanging as there is nothing more frustrating than hanging everything up and flicking the switch to find nothing happens!
You can see how I pull all of these hints together at my parent’s home in this short video…
Music source: Jingle Bell Swing (Mark Smeby) / CC BY-ND 3.0
One lucky Australian reader has the opportunity to win a $100 gift card to spend at BIG W this Christmas.
This is a game of skill and entries will be judged based on creativity and originality. To enter, leave a comment on this post in response to this question:
What is your favourite way to add a little decorating Christmas cheer to your home?
Open to Australian residents only. Entries close 6pm AEDST, Tuesday, 3rd December, 2013.
The fine print:
1. The competition begins at 9am AEDST, 27th November, 2013 and ends at 6pm AEDST, 3rd December, 2013.
2. Entry is open to Australian residents only.
3. Entries will be judged based on creativity and originality.
4. There one prize to be won, with a total prize pool of $100.00
5. Entry is limited to one comment per household/IP address. Please register a routinely checked email address in the email field of your entry.
6. The winner will be notified via email within 14 days of the competition closing.
7. Should the winner fail to make contact via return email within 72 hours of notification a new winner may be selected.
8. The winner’s contact details will be passed onto BIG W and the prize organised directly by them.
9. All tips and hints shared may be republished anonymously by BIG W.
Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.
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