For a traditional Christmas decor theme, use Clement Moore's poem as a basis. This article gives tips, tricks and ideas on decorating with a Night Before Christmas theme.
We all know the famous poem written by Clement Moore. It begins, “The Night Before Christmas, and all through the house…” Why not use this delightful well-loved poem to bring magic and enchantment into your house this Christmas?
Night Before Christmas Mantle Decor
It’s a good idea to cut a piece of plastic to fit your mantle. You can use a painter’s drop sheet or a cleaner’s bag for this. It protects your mantle from damage. Then, place a thin layer of buffalo snow or a piece of quilt bat over the plastic to give the look of snow. If you like, you can create hills or drifts by using boxes to raise the snow.
Trim the mantle with left over Christmas tree greenery, or use artificial garland. Drape it or fasten it straight. The option is yours. Either way looks terrific. If you drape the garland, hang candy canes from it. Some stores sell sugar plum or life saver candy garland that looks very realistic. Drape a string of candy over or among the greenery.
Purchase a Santa, a sleigh and eight reindeer that are the same scale to give your scene a more realistic look. If you want to add Rudolph to the front of the team, buy a reindeer and use a red glass bead for a nose. This can be attached with a drop of school glue or a glue gun. Making small name tags for the reindeer is a nice touch, but not necessary.
Use Santa and his sleigh as the focus of your mantel theme. Add a few small illuminated houses that are approximately the same scale as your Santa and reindeer. These are easily found in any store that sells Christmas villages.
Pick up a few miniatures presents, make a small red Santa bag out of some red fabric and slip the false presents inside, making sure that some are showing at the top of the bag. Place the bag in the back of Santa’s sleigh for an authentic look.
Arrange four pair of reindeer in front of the sleigh. If you’re using Rudolph, set him ahead of the other reindeer, and centered. If the reindeer don’t have harness, make some out of ⅛ inch ribbon, or a little colored Christmas string. Black or red ribbon works perfectly, especially if the reindeer you purchased is white.
Buy miniature mice to place beside Santa’s sleigh or in front of the houses. This represents “not even a mouse.” Over the mantle, hang a moon-shaped lamp, which can be found at most Christmas novelty shops. Hang your stockings and add any finishing touches