Decorating Ideas for Hanukkah

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight day winter celebration that honors the victory of the Macabees, the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple, and the miracle of a one-day supply of lamp oil that burned for eight days.

Bring the beauty of Hanukkah into your home with some creative decorating. You probably already have a menorah, but there are lots of other ways to make your home sparkle as is befitting a Festival of Lights! Deck your home out in the traditional colors of blue, silver, and/or white.

For your dining area, try a blue tablecloth accented with silver or white placemats and a menorah for the centerpiece. If you look in the right place, you can find placemats that are blue and boast the star of David in white or silver. Accent your table with coordinating dinnerware in blue, white, or silver, and wrap your silverware in matching napkins.

In the living room, why not accent your couch with blue pillows embellished with the Star of David. If you can't find them in stores, check the Internet. Often, you can even have them custom made.

You'll also want a Hanukkah bush. You can choose a Hanukkah bush from a nursery, tree lot, or the woods. Decorate the bush with twinkling lights in the traditional blue, silver, and white. Find Hanukkah themed miniature ornaments like menorahs, Star of Davids and dreidels. Of course, you'll want to top your Hanukkah bush with a large Star of David.

When decorating for Hanukkah, there are many ways to bring the spirit of the season into your home. Lighting doesn't have to be confined to your Hanukkah bush. Why not string festive lights around your home in different places like across the mantle?

Hanukkah colors are so complementary, that you can leave your decorations up all year round if you like! Shades of blue, silver, and white are timeless and look fantastic in every home.

Use your imagination and come up with your own ways to deck your home out for Hanukkah. Try creating your own centerpieces or doing a Hanukkah themed piece of needlework or art. The spirit of faith and giving can bring out the artist in anyone -- whether you're a painter, sewer, or interior decorator at heart! Half the fun of decorating for the holidays is getting to be creative!