Compliment Any Decor With Unexpected Christmas Ornaments - By: Virginia Butters

Unusual Christmas ornaments can help you turn your holiday decor from same-old to simply extraordinary. Get ready to think outside the "balls and bows" box - unique Christmas ornaments bring a refreshingly unexpected twist to any holiday decorating motif.

One of the best places to find these ornaments is thrift or charity shops. They're often goldmines of unusual vintage Christmas ornaments, which are usually sold at ridiculously low prices. And once you've thoroughly ransacked the Christmas section, don't forget to check out the housewares, knick-knacks, and even the jewelry - re-purposed items often make delightfully unique ornaments, so shop with a creative eye. As an added bonus, your purchases in these shops typically benefit a worthy cause. Unique items, fabulous prices, and your money going towards an organization which does good - how much better can shopping get?

Flea markets and yard sales are also veritable treasure troves of interesting Christmas ornaments. As with thrift shops, flea markets and yard sales are good bets for finding vintage Christmas items at prices so low you can hardly resist. These are also great places to find items to creatively re-purpose into unique ornaments. And don't forget to bargain! A reasonable amount of haggling is usually expected at these venues, so offer the price you'd like to pay, and see how it goes. You'll often be pleasantly surprised at how willing the seller is to accommodate you.

Some of the most gorgeous and unexpected Christmas ornaments can be found at no cost at all - right in your own backyard! Sticks and twigs, pine cones, and dried flowers and leaves all make lovely Christmas ornaments just as they are. And for just a little money - say, the cost of a can of clear spray paint and a package of glitter - can be easily crafted into beautiful decorations which are sure to accent and compliment your holiday decorating theme.

To compliment a Victorian theme, look for unique ornaments which reflect richness, opulence, and luxury. Look for items with bold colors, gilt accents, pearls and crystals. The Victorian theme lends itself to re-purposed jewelry, like strands of pearls or lavish brooches displayed prominently. And when you're browsing shops, markets, or even your back yard for unusual items with a Victorian theme, don't forget that a can of gold spray paint can go a long way toward creating a glimmering gilt effect.

A retro theme lends itself to unusual Christmas ornaments. One easy and eye-catching ornament you can make is to simply attach a wire hanger to an item of cutlery - yep, cutlery, plentifully available for next to nothing at most thrift shops. Retro fans may recall George Nelson's famous "Spoon and Fork" clock - hanging spoons and forks from your Christmas tree or incorporating them into your holiday decor is a fitting and fun tribute, and is sure to spark conversation. If you want to make the cutlery extra fancy, spray each piece lightly with a coat of inexpensive clear spray paint and dust with glitter. You can then hang them from the tree or attach them to chopsticks with floral tape to form striking floral picks.

Ornaments are very easily found to add zest to a folk art holiday theme, and one of the best places to look is your backyard. If you're luck enough to live close to pine trees, gather up those cones - they make delightful Christmas ornaments just as they are, and can easily be made extra special with a coat of spray paint or a few dollops of glue and glitter. Kindling bunches are another unique and whimsical decoration which perfectly compliment folk art decor - simply gather a small bunch of twigs, and tie them in the center with a pretty ribbon.

About the Author

Getting ready for the holidays? Check out my posts on Christmas lighting ideas and glass Christmas ornaments.

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