Make the simple super this holiday

Holidays can get complicated: lights, wreaths, garland, trees,

stockings, ornaments, cards, presents, special foods ... you get the

picture.

Even when I swear not to get caught up in the madness, I

eventually cave in and just make it worse for myself by having guilt

and a deadline.

So go ahead, decorate the house. You know you will anyway. But get

creative, and make the simple super.

Candles have an instant effect. A dozen tapers arranged on a

mantle are very dramatic. If you don’t have enough candlesticks, run

out to Cost Plus and stock up on the simple glass variety that come

in different heights. While you’re there, get a few boxes of candles.

I like using one color all at once. But you can shake it up. I give

you permission.

If you have silver or crystal bowls hibernating in a closet, bring

them out of hiding. I like fill trays, candy dishes and revere bowls

with old glass ornaments. If there are a few chips or cracks in your

tiny treasures, it’s all right. Patina is in. No one will have to

know they’re not “vintage” -- after going through a few kids, all my

breakables look a little worn. I just pretend they’re old and very

valuable. It’s all attitude.

Mounds of fruits and vegetables are an easy and relatively

inexpensive way to add color and texture to your tabletops.

Mother Nature really knows her stuff: green and red apples;

chartreuse pears; big and baby pineapples with green leaves and

pomegranates all look great en masse. Any and all citrus are

wonderful: limes, tangerines, kumquats and variegated lemons are some

of my favorites. Of course, you can dress them up with whole cloves

pressed into the rinds in geometric patterns.

Color a few walnuts and almonds with gold spray paint, add them to

your fruit arrangements and you have a party. What more can you want

than fruits and nuts having a holiday gathering in your living room?

Poinsettias add instant gratification. Buy a “speed cover” (those

foil-like wrappers that come in gold or silver) and you have a fast,

no-fuss accent or hostess present.

My find of the week was at Trader Joe’s. I hate to even tell you

-- there might not be any left for me to buy as teacher gifts -- but

I will anyway.

TJ’s has miniature junipers planted in small, galvanized tins.

They are around 10 inches high, deep green and $3.99 apiece. They are

definitely my Best Buy of the week. (Sorry, Greer. I don’t want to

cut into your action, I just can’t help myself.)

I bought several for my house and was feeling very clever and

original when I went to a friend’s open house and saw that she had

even more TJ junipers than I had. She was apparently braver than I

and had loaded her cart to the brim.

Thanks, Julie, for letting me share your mantle with the readers.

Lengths of undecorated cedar, pine and holly make beautiful

adornments in any location. The same is true for sprigs of pepper

berries, eucalyptus and hydrangeas. Decorations don’t have to be

fancy to be beautiful.

Of course, if you want to dress things up a bit, here’s a great

trick; get a can of spray adhesive and lightly spritz your fruits,

nuts and boughs with sticky stuff. Quickly follow with a dusting of

gold or silver glitter. It makes the edibles inedible, but they sure

do look good.

Make your house festive, but don’t knock yourself out. You don’t

need to.

Simple can be super.

* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs

Saturdays.