The reading shelf

Seasonal & Gifts

Decorating for the calendar and choosing things for other people.

22 stories · Page 2 of 2

Decorate a front door for Halloween with removable pieces

Use lightweight decorations and suitable removable fixings while keeping the door, lighting and approach clear.

Choose a blanket for the seat where it will be used, then let its texture and color connect to the rest of the room.

Offer a few visible essentials, then leave clear space for the things a guest brings with them.

Build a wrapping kit that opens on the table, handles the gifts in front of you and closes again without taking over a room.

Pack decorations around the places they return to, with enough information to make next season easier and less guessing about what is inside.

A gift for a small home should be easy to use, easy to put away and welcome in the household that is moving in.

Build the kit around the food, the distance from the car and the place you will sit, using kitchen pieces that are easy to carry home again.

Plan the table with the empty serving dishes first, then use the remaining space for a centerpiece that can stay through the meal.

Measure the floor space a tree will occupy, including its stand and lowest branches, before deciding how tall it should be.

Keep a short reserve of useful gifts and wrapping supplies, with clear limits on space, spending and the occasions they are likely to serve.