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Deck the mantle with boughs of cedar and fir

I'VE always thought of the hearth as the heart of the home. It's a place for gathering and entertaining and a wonderful place to showcase holiday décor. This year choose a minimal look with a striking duo of green and white.

I'VE always thought of the hearth as the heart of the home.

It's a place for gathering and entertaining and a wonderful place to showcase holiday décor. This year choose a minimal look with a striking duo of green and white. These two colours are simple and alluring when combined together with a soft glow of off-white ball ornaments.

To create a wintery landscape, place boughs of cedar, noble fir and other evergreens on the mantle. Insert painted white twigs into the greens in a random fashion (GardenWorks has white plastic twigs).

Carefully wind a string of green holiday mini lights through the greens, making sure to hide the wires as much as possible. Remove the tops of the white, glass ball ornaments and insert two to three mini lights in each ball. Have an extension handy to attach to the end of the light strand for easy plug in.

Add other small pine cones and vine balls (available at Michaels) for added effect.

Complement your mantle with a similar arrangement of greens and white balls for your coffee table. A dusting of faux snow is wonderful to suggest a picturesque snow setting.

Be sure to always be home when illuminating the glass ornaments and use a safe, low-voltage mini-light strand. Never leave indoor mini lights unattended.

lunter@shaw.ca